"And those are my thoughts on this project," Angel declared with confidence, concluding her presentation.
With her cheeks flushed from maintaining a smile, she felt it was worth it as she looked into the eyes of those seated around the conference table, hoping her presentation had been persuasive enough.
As if her prayers had been answered, she heard a client say, "Hmm, you seem quite convincing, Miss Angel. You know, I think it would be great to strike a deal with this company. So, expect to hear from us, and we'll proceed with signing the contract," the woman said, while her assistant nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, Angel was bubbling with excitement inside, yet she maintained a calm exterior.
She couldn't believe she had actually done it!
"Thank you so much," said Arthur Lamar, the CEO of the company, as he sat among the chairs, addressing his client.
Before long, the conference concluded.
The clients were the first to exit, being warmly seen off, and then, filled with excitement, Angel celebrated joyfully.
She was thrilled to have secured another billion-dollar deal, her happiness was overwhelming.
Now, two months have passed, and she has made a meaningful impact within the company.
"Congratulations," Arthur said, Angel regained her poise as Arthur approached with an outstretched hand to congratulate her.
Smiling, she gladly accepted his hand.
"Thank you," she replied, watching as Arthur gave her a playful wink.
A light giggle slipped from her lips, and she lowered her head.
"I believe we can celebrate this on another occasion," Arthur remarked with composure, bringing immense joy to Angel.
"Absolutely," she replied.
In the following instant, she observed Arthur leaving the room, her heart skipping a beat as she watched him exit.
She was in disbelief, and as she touched her cheeks, she felt the warmth of a blush spread across them.
"Angel, congrats!" Angel snapped out of her thoughts when Sophia, her lively and energetic friend, suddenly hugged her from behind.
Angel flinched momentarily before letting out a laugh and turning to look at her.
"Oh wow, we absolutely need to celebrate this. How about a party tonight?" proposed Sophia.
"What? I still have work to finish," Angel protested, aware that listening to Sophia would likely lead to something wild.
"Come on, Angel. You've been working tirelessly all night, and now that you finally have the chance, just this once," Sophia pleaded with a hopeful look, and Angel, unable to resist, let out a small laugh.
"Alright, fine. I'm going," Angel conceded at last.
"You know what, I'm just going to handle the arrangements, so don't worry about a thing." Sophia said cheerfully.
"Why do I get the feeling you're planning something wild?" Angel questioned, casting a wary glance at Sophia.
It was midnight when Angel emerged from a cab, wearing a sultry purple mini dress. She stepped out alongside Sophia, who exited the cab with her.
Sophia was adamant about setting things up, and all she could manage was to dress exactly as Sophia instructed.
It had been two months since she last received any word from him; throughout that time, Tryson had unexpectedly remained quiet and hadn't even reached out to her.
Despite the ongoing buzz about Tryson and Riley online, she immersed herself in her work to distract from the heartache, focusing intensely on her tasks to avoid thoughts of him.
Accompanied by Sophia, she entered the pub, renowned for its young billionaire clientele. Surprisingly, Sophia hadn't mentioned anything about the venue where they were meeting.
As she stepped into the pub and was about to find a seat, Angel spotted someone across the room who looked familiar.
"Tryson?" Angel whispered, which caught Sophia's attention, prompting her to turn and look at her.
"Did you say something?" Sophia asked, observing Angel as she shook her head.
When Angel glanced back to confirm if it was indeed Tryson, she realized it wasn't him. She shook her head in disbelief, surprised at herself for momentarily imagining he would return to her.
He was with Riley now, and there was nothing she could do; she had lost him for good.
The two girls proceeded to their spot, settling into the VIP area. Before long, Sophia proposed they hit the dance floor.
Angel was inclined to decline the invitation, but Sophia whisked her onto the dance floor, and before long, she was captivated by the night's rhythm alongside Sophia.
The dance floor teemed with young people, hands in the air and heads swaying in every direction. They reveled in the atmosphere, and just as Angel was absorbed in the vibe.
She sensed a grasp on her hand, and immediately after, she spun around, finding her waist enveloped by someone's arms. Her hands rested on his shoulder, her face reflecting pure surprise.
His eyes held hers with an intense and captivating look. For some reason, the gaze from his hazel eyes sent a flutter through her stomach, as if he could command all her senses.
It was Tryson!
"Tryson?" Angel exclaimed, surprised.
She watched him lift his hand, gently smoothing her soft hair, his palm resting on her smooth caramel skin, his eyes filled with longing.
"You still have that look—I miss you," Tryson said, his hand reaching to caress her cheek as she attempted to pull away from his arms.
She was aware that she was in a pub, but then the scent of alcohol became noticeable.
Was he intoxicated?
"Tryson, no. You know I'm not the one for you. Go find Riley," Angel declared.
She gazed at him sorrowfully, deeply affected by the emotions he radiated. Her eyes blinked rapidly, brimming with hurt.
However, in the following instant, Tryson leaned in to murmur softly into her ear despite the surrounding noise.
"You're the one I desire. You're the one I still long for," Tryson spoke.
Angel appeared taken aback and at a loss for words, but the only response she could muster was to push him aside.
"No, Tryson. I'm not the one," she insisted, turning her back as she made her exit.
For some inexplicable reasons, her heart couldn't help but flutter.
She lifted her hand, sensing the rhythm of her pounding heart, yet she had to remind herself that Tryson was intoxicated, and everything he said—
Wasn't intended for her.
As she was walking away, a stranger suddenly grabbed her, pulling her into his arms and saying, "Hey, pretty lady." He leaned in, attempting to kiss her.
Angel tried to break free from his hold, but he was too strong. Not wanting to cause a scene, she closed her eyes, fearful of what he might do next.
In an instant, the man was gone from Angel's side, Tryson was carrying a fierce glare aimed at the one who dared to touch her, his hand balled into a fist.
"Don't you ever think about laying a hand on my woman!"