Chapter 64
The next morning, I woke up to a soft, golden light spilling through the blinds. I rolled out of bed and headed to my very strenuous morning routine. I knew from the noise that the routine was awake.
Charlie all six years of boundless energy, was darting around the living room in his dinosaur pajamas, trying to avoid the clothes I held out for him. I picked out his clothes last night when I was cleaning up.
“Come on, buddy,” I laughed, waving his little blue shirt and jeans. “The T–Rex has to get dressed too, remember?”
He stopped, looking at me with a mischievous grin before charging toward me with tiny growls and arms outstretched like claws. I pretended to be terrified, letting him “catch” me before scooping him up, his laughter ringing through the room.
“Okay, okay, Mr. T–Rex,” I said, still smiling as I wrangled him into his clothes. “Now, how about some breakfast?”
We made our way to the kitchen, where he settled into his booster seat, watching me with wide eyes as I poured him a small bowl of cereal. He picked up his spoon, his face all seriousness as he carefully scooped up each bite.
“Mommy, will you pick me up from school today?” he asked between bites, looking up with that earnest expression only he could manage.
I nodded, smoothing a hand over his soft curls. “Of course I will, sweetheart. I’ll be there right when you finish.”
With a smile and his breakfast finished, we went through the usual routine of shoes, backpack, and his favorite dinosaur lunchbox. I put him in front of the TV and went to get ready.
I always get him ready first because we had to fuss to get him done. Thank Goodness he insist on bathing himself because he is a big boy now. After showering, I wore my signature pantsuit, brushed my hair back, and went through my usual routine before I went back to the living room. The school bus was on its way here so I usually leave when it gets here. I headed toward the door.
But the moment I opened it, I froze. Right outside, a bouquet of wildflowers, vivid purples, yellows, and reds sat wrapped in rustic brown paper, as if waiting for me. A note peeked out from the top, its corner catching the breeze.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I knelt to pick it up, my fingers brushing against the paper’s crisp edges. I opened the note, the ink dark and confident on the page.
“Can I take you to lunch? – Aragon.”
“Mummy, what’s that?”
“Just flowers,” I told him.
Luckily the bus pulled up and I watched him run to meet his mates, waving goodbye at me. I grinned but it faded when my eyes darted back to the
flowers.
I shook my head, my lips twitching in a reluctant smile. He was persistent, I had to give him that. It was a strange feeling, really somewhere deep inside, I felt the tug of warmth. Part of me found it endearing that he didn’t give up, that he kept trying, regardless of my walls.
But there wasn’t time for that now. I had a day packed with meetings, projects, and more deadlines than I could keep track of. So, with one last look at the flowers, I locked the door and headed to work, determined to keep my focus on where it needed to be.
When I reached the office, Clara, greeted me at my door, her tablet in hand and her eyes sharp.
“Cood morning, Clara,” I said, though I barely had time to catch my breath before she raised an eyebrow at me.
“Good morning! Just a reminder, you’re expected in the conference room in ten. And, uh, might I remind you, this is the meeting you…kind of…bailed on last time?”
I closed my eyes, wincing as the memory came back. “Right. Thank you,” She didn’t have to remind me twice. The team had put a lot of effort into securing this client, and my absence hadn’t exactly sent the best message.
With a deep breath, I straightened my shoulders and strode to the conference room, my heels clicking rhythmically against the tiled floor. But as I reached the door, I hesitated. Bracing myself, I opened it and stepped in, my gaze sweeping over the room.
And then I saw him.
Seated on the left side, casually flipping through some notes, was Aragon.
A wave of shock washed over me, rooting me in place. My grip on the door tightened as I tried to process the sight of him sitting there, as if he belonged. He didn’t notice me at first, his focus unwavering on whatever was in front of him. I took a breath and forced myself to move, gently dosing the door before slipping into a seat across the room, my mind still spinning.
The representative began the presentation, and while I should’ve been taking notes, my gaze kept drifting back to Aragon. He sat there, unbothered, has attention fixed on the speaker with that same intense concentration he always had. I wanted to look away, but the question kept circling my thoughts What was he doing here?
“Miss White?” My assistant’s voice cut into my thoughts, bringing me back to reality, I glanced up, feeling the weight of everyone’s eyes on me, but Clara quickly stepped in, covering for me with a seamless answer to the question I’d missed. I shot her a grateful smile, which she returned with an understanding nod. The meeting moved on, and I managed to keep my head down for the rest of it, silently willing it to end as soon as possible. When the last slide disappeared from the screen, and everyone began gathering their things. I didn’t waste a second. As soon as the meeting adjourned, I bolted for the door, eager to escape the tangled mess of emotions Aragon’s presence had stirred up. But I barely made it halfway down
Setting
1902
Chapter 64
the hall when I heard footsteps behind me.
“Millicent,” Aragon called, smooth and steady.
I didn’t stop walking, hoping he’d take the hint. But within moments, he was beside me, matching my pace with infuriating ease.
“We need to talk,” he said.
I sighed, still keeping my gaze fixed ahead. “Aragon, I have a lot of work to do. Whatever it is, it can wait.”
“No, it can’t.” He sounded calm, but there was a seriousness in his tone that made me falter. With a resigned sigh, I turned to him, meeting his gaze. His eyes held that same determined glint I’d seen so many times before, and despite myself, I felt a slight crack in my defenses.
“Fine,” I muttered, walking toward my office, feeling his presence close behind. Once inside, I shut the door and took a steadying breath before facing him.
He crossed his arms, leaning casually against the edge of my desk, watching me with an unreadable expression. “I didn’t expect you to be so surprised to see me,” he began, a faint hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Well, you’re not exactly a common sight in our conference room,” I replied. “And you certainly didn’t mention anything about this in your little
note.”
He raised a brow, his eyes glinting with amusement. “I didn’t think you’d show up if I had.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but the words died on my lips. He had a point, and the realization made my stomach twist uncomfortably.
“Look, I’m not here to make things difficult,” he said. “But I’ve tried everything else, and I thought maybe… if you saw that I was serious-
“Serious about what, exactly?” I interrupted, folding my arms tightly across my chest. “Sending flowers to my doorstep, showing up at my meetings, how exactly is this supposed to prove anything, Aragon?”
He held my gaze, unflinching. “Serious about you, baby. About us.”
The words hung in the air between us, each syllable echoing louder than the last. I wanted to scoff, to push him away, but his eyes… there was something in them, something raw and unguarded that made me hesitate.
“This isn’t a game, Aragon.” I murmured, dropping my gaze to the floor.
“I know that,” he replied softly. “And I’m not here to waste your time. I just need you to see that I’m not walking away.”
I looked up, searching his face, but he didn’t flinch. “Why are you doing this?” I asked.
“Because you’re worth it,” he said, the sincerity in his tone sending a shiver down my spine. “And because I know there’s a part of you that believes it
too.”
Silence stretched between us, heavy with unsaid words and emotions I wasn’t ready to admit. I swallowed, feeling the tension build, but before I
could respond, he pushed off the desk, taking a step closer.
The foreboding feeling I felt inside me increased as the minutes ticked. I was suddenly speechless and unable to come up with anything to say. This was what I wanted, isn’t it?
Setting
