In San Francisco, an important lawyer Madison (27 years old), contemplates ending it all one day, exhausted about everything. This was maybe a sign, as she suddenly meets an incredible man, or so she thought. Madison's fights against her feeling as...
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｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:
[JAVIER PEÑA'S POV]
I was sprawled on the couch, laptop perched on my lap as I worked through a mountain of emails. Madison's cozy apartment enveloped me in a warmth I was starting to associate with her presence.
The phone buzzed, and I answered, "Thomas, did you see my email?"
"Mr. Peña, I did. We need to discuss the steps for setting up the in-house law department. It’s a big move, but it’s definitely doable," Thomas's voice was steady over the phone.
"Good," I replied, getting up and heading to the kitchen. "I've been thinking about this for a while. We need our own team to ensure confidentiality and efficiency."
As Thomas outlined the necessary steps—hiring a legal team, ensuring smooth transitions, handling ongoing contracts—I rummaged through the fridge, finding some leftovers that Madison had probably prepared.
"How long do you think this will take?" I asked, pulling out the food and placing it on the counter.
"A few months, maybe less if we expedite the hiring process and find the right people quickly," Thomas replied.
"I need it faster. I can't wait that long," I said. "I already have one perfect candidate to lead the team and may have two other candidates to join as well."
"In that case, we could get this done in less than a month," he said. "I'll start looking into the process and also talk to the human resources department."
I glanced at the time on my phone. It was already 10:00 p.m. I was about to send a message to Madison when I heard the front door open. Relief washed over me; she was finally back.
"Thomas, I have to go. Let’s pick this up tomorrow. See if you can speed things up in my absence," I said, already moving towards the living room.
"Of course, Mr. Peña. I'll get on it right away."
I hung up and walked towards the living room. Madison stood by the window, her back to me, twisting her hair into a bun. She looked lost in thought, and when she heard my footsteps, she turned around, her eyes meeting mine, a slight pout on her lips.
"Hey there," I said softly, approaching her.
She managed a small smile, and as I wrapped an arm around her waist, she leaned into me, resting her head on my shoulder. I brought a hand to the back of her neck and kissed her hair gently.
"How did it go with your brothers?" I asked, my voice low.
She sighed, hugging me tighter. "It was great, but also kind of sad. They've grown so much, and I missed all of it. I wasn't there for them."
