Victoria sat in her office chair, spinning it slowly as she stared out at the city skyline, her usually sharp focus fractured by an unfamiliar restlessness that had been building for days. The executive floor of Sharp Innovations hummed with its usual efficiency around her, but she felt disconnected from it all, as if she were watching her own life through frosted glass.
It had been a week since she last saw James, seven endless days that felt more like seven months. What had started as a simple investor meeting had snowballed into a series of opportunities that kept him away far longer than either of them had anticipated. Apparently, word of his innovative gaming venture had spread through the investment community, and several major firms were now vying for the chance to back his project.
Victoria should have been thrilled. This was exactly the kind of success she had envisioned for James when she first recognized his potential. His formal application for extended leave had been professionally submitted and immediately approved, because how could she deny him such career-defining opportunities? But knowing something was right didn't make the ache of missing him any less acute.
A knock sounded from the door it was Amara: "Ms. Sharp, the quarterly reports are ready for your review. Also, you've been staring out that window for twenty minutes. Everything okay?"
Victoria realized she had indeed been lost in thought, something that rarely happened during work hours. She straightened in her chair and responded back: "Bring the reports. And mind your own business."
However, even as she tried to refocus on work, her mind kept drifting to James. She found herself checking her phone constantly, calculating time zones and wondering what he might be doing at any given moment. The rational part of her mind recognized this behavior as completely unlike her usual controlled demeanor, but she seemed powerless to stop it.
True to his word, James called every morning and evening, his voice becoming her anchor in the sea of longing that threatened to overwhelm her. He was sweet about maintaining their connection, sharing details about his meetings, asking about her day, whispering how much he missed her during their late-night conversations. But talking to him through the phone only intensified her desire for his physical presence.
She wanted the real deal, his hands on her skin, his laugh vibrating through his chest as she lay against him, the way he unconsciously played with her hair while they watched movies together. She wanted to trace the line of his jaw with her fingertips, to feel the solid warmth of his body next to hers in bed, to have him there to share in the small moments that made up their daily life together.
Her house felt cavernous without him. Even JJ seemed to sense James's absence, spending more time than usual curled up in James's favorite chair anytime he comes by, as if guarding it for his return. Victoria found herself sleeping on James's side of her bed, surrounded by the fading scent of his cologne on the pillows.
Her assistant knocked and entered with the quarterly reports, setting them on her desk with careful precision. "Ms. Sharp, don't forget you have a meeting with Mr. Winters at three o'clock regarding the Anderson Group proposal."
Victoria's mood darkened at the reminder. Chad had requested the meeting to discuss their joint submission to the prestigious multinational conglomerate, and while it was legitimate business, she suspected he had ulterior motives. After their disastrous dinner the previous week, she had hoped he would have the good sense to maintain purely professional boundaries.
The Anderson Group represented one of the most coveted contracts in their industry, a massive digital transformation project that could catapult either of their companies to the next level. Both Sharp Innovations and Nexus Technologies had submitted separate proposals for the same contract, though Victoria had secured her opportunity to pitch through Chad's connection to the Anderson family. Their previous successful collaboration had opened this door, with Chad providing the crucial introduction that allowed Victoria to compete for such a prestigious account.
At precisely three o'clock, Chad arrived at her office looking impeccably put together, though Victoria could detect subtle signs of strain around his eyes. He had clearly made an effort to project his usual charming confidence, but there was something brittle about his demeanor that hadn't been there before their confrontation.
"Victoria," he greeted her with a professional smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thank you for making time for this meeting. I know how busy your schedule is."
"Let's focus on the Anderson proposal," Victoria replied curtly, gesturing for him to take a seat across from her desk rather than at the conference table. She wanted to maintain the physical barrier between them.
For the next hour, they discussed their respective proposals and the competitive landscape they were both navigating. Despite their personal animosity, they shared insights about the Anderson Group's preferences and strategic priorities. Victoria found herself grudgingly acknowledging that Chad's connection had been valuable in securing this opportunity, even as she remained wary of his motives.
"I think we've covered the key points," Victoria said finally, closing her proposal folder with a decisive snap. "The Anderson Group should be making their decision soon."
Chad nodded, but made no move to leave. Instead, he leaned back in his chair and studied her with an intensity that made her uncomfortable. "You know, Victoria, we make a good team when we put our differences aside."
Victoria's expression immediately hardened. "Our collaboration is strictly professional, Chad. Don't mistake business efficiency for anything more."
"I'm not," Chad said, though his tone suggested otherwise. "I'm simply observing that we complement each other well. We always have." He paused, then added with studied casualness, "How is James's venture progressing? Still keeping him busy, I assume?"
The mention of James sent a fresh wave of longing through Victoria, followed immediately by suspicion about Chad's motives for bringing him up. "James is doing exceptionally well. Multiple investors are competing for the opportunity to back his project."
"How wonderful for him," Chad replied, though his smile seemed forced. "It must be difficult being separated for so long, especially for a new relationship."
Victoria stood abruptly, her patience finally exhausted. "This conversation is over, Chad. Our business is concluded, and I have other meetings to attend."