Victoria stood at the departure gate watching James disappear through the security checkpoint, her chest tight with an unfamiliar emotion she refused to acknowledge as longing. She maintained her composed exterior until he was completely out of sight, then turned on her heel and strode back toward the exit, her heels clicking authoritatively against the polished airport floor.
The ride back home felt longer than usual, despite Davidson's efficient navigation through the afternoon traffic. Victoria found herself checking her phone repeatedly, though she knew James's flight wouldn't even take off for another hour. The silence in the car felt oppressive after the constant connection she had grown accustomed to with him.
Halfway home, her phone chimed with an email notification. Victoria glanced at the sender and immediately rolled her eyes in exasperation. Chad Winters. The subject line read: "Dinner Tonight? - C"
She opened the message reluctantly, already anticipating some business-related manipulation disguised as a social invitation.
Victoria,
I hope this finds you well. I'm in the city for the weekend and was hoping we could meet for dinner tonight. There are some additional aspects of the partnership I'd like to explore, and I believe a more relaxed setting might be beneficial for both of us.
Would you be available tonight at 8 PM? I've taken the liberty of making a reservation at Le Bernardin - I recalled it was one of your favorites.
Looking forward to your response.
Best regards,Chad
Victoria stared at the message, her business instincts warring with her personal irritation. The fact that he remembered her favorite restaurant felt calculated rather than thoughtful. Everything with Chad always was. Still, if there were genuine business opportunities to discuss, she couldn't afford to let personal history interfere with potentially lucrative partnerships.
She typed back a brief confirmation, keeping her response professionally cordial but distinctly cool.
By the time she returned home, James's flight had taken off. As she walked through the front door, JJ, her white kitten and thoughtful present from James, immediately ran up to her and rubbed his head against her leg, purring loudly in greeting. Victoria picked him up and hugged him close, grateful for his warm, comforting presence. Although JJ provided company in the otherwise silent house, she still missed James terribly. She found herself wandering through her house aimlessly, the absence of his presence creating an unexpected void in her afternoon. She missed his voice, his laugh, the way he anticipated her needs. The house felt lonely and too empty without him there.
At four o'clock, her phone rang with James's number, and Victoria answered perhaps a bit too quickly.
"How was the flight?" she asked, bypassing any pretense of professional distance.
"Smooth. I'm at the hotel now, reviewing the final presentation materials." James's voice carried a slight echo, probably from the speaker phone in his room. "The meeting was rescheduled for tomorrow morning at nine."
Victoria found herself smiling at the familiar sound of his voice, her heart warming at the connection across the miles. "Good. Remember to emphasize the scalability metrics in slide twelve. Investors always want to see exponential growth potential."
"Already highlighted. And I've prepared backup slides addressing potential regulatory concerns." There was a pause, then James added, "I miss you already."
The admission sent warmth flooding through Victoria's chest. She had been missing him desperately since the moment he disappeared through airport security. "I miss you too," she admitted softly, abandoning her usual professional reserve.
"Focus on your presentation," she added, though her voice was filled with love rather than her usual sharp efficiency. "We can talk more tonight after your dinner meetings."
"Of course. But Victoria?" James's tone grew tender. "Thank you for believing in this project. In me."
Victoria felt her throat tighten with emotion. "I will always root for you," she said, meaning every word with a depth that surprised even her.
After they ended the call, Victoria sat in her living room staring out at the city skyline, James's voice still echoing in her mind. The realization of how deeply she missed him was both overwhelming and wonderful. She had grown so accustomed to his presence, his quiet competence, his ability to anticipate her needs before she voiced them. More than that, she had fallen completely in love with him, and his absence left her feeling incomplete.
Shaking off these unproductive thoughts, Victoria threw herself into preparing for dinner with Chad. She approached the evening with the same strategic mindset she brought to any important business meeting. Her choice of attire was carefully calculated: a sophisticated black dress that projected authority while remaining elegantly feminine, paired with her grandmother's pearl necklace for a touch of old money understated luxury.
Her makeup was flawless but subtle, her hair styled in a classic chignon that emphasized her cheekbones and the elegant line of her neck. Every detail was designed to remind Chad that he was dealing with Victoria Sharp, successful CEO and formidable businesswoman, not the vulnerable graduate student he had once known.
Le Bernardin was exactly as she remembered it: intimate, sophisticated, and outrageously expensive. The maître d' recognized her immediately and led her to a secluded table where Chad was already waiting, looking impeccable in a custom navy suit that probably cost more than most people's monthly rent.
As she approached, Chad stood and moved to greet her, his smile warm and seemingly genuine. Before Victoria could react, he leaned in to kiss both her cheeks in the continental style he had always favored, a gesture that managed to be both sophisticated and slightly possessive.
Victoria tolerated the greeting with practiced grace, though she stiffened almost imperceptibly at the familiar scent of his cologne. Some things never changed with Chad, including his tendency toward overly intimate gestures that presumed a closeness that no longer existed.
"Victoria, you look absolutely stunning," Chad said, his eyes appreciatively taking in her appearance as he held her chair. "Though I suppose that's redundant. You always do."
"Chad," she replied coolly, settling into her seat with practiced elegance. "Thank you for dinner. I trust this meeting will be more productive than our last conversation."
Chad's smile widened as he took his own seat across from her. "Always straight to business. Some things never change."