To be her

Chapter 4

(his pov)
Echoes of Her Absence

As she turned to walk away, I stood frozen, my mind scrambling to process the weight of the moment. Sixty seconds—exactly one minute—was all it took for me to realize that she wasn't just someone I wanted. No, she was everything I needed.
I walked toward my house, the thoughts of her consuming me, when my phone buzzed, snapping me back to reality. "Hello?" I answered, trying to shake off the fog in my head.
"Boss," came a voice on the other end, sharp and urgent. "Sorry to disturb you so late, but I wanted to confirm that tomorrow's meeting with Mr. Smith is locked in. It starts at 2:30. Be on time."
"Got it," I said, ending the call with a quiet sigh.
When I got home, I didn't bother with anything other than the bed. My mind replayed her image, lingering there, impossible to shake off. But sleep didn't come easily, not with her etched into every thought. Morning arrived too quickly, and I moved through my routine like a robot. Coffee. Files. Meetings. I checked my phone once more, just to see if Malva's car was still parked outside. It was. And I couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't left yet.
I drove to the office, the weight of her presence still heavy on my chest.
"Good morning, boss," Steve said, his tone neutral as he opened the door.
"Morning," I muttered, already thinking about the meeting.
"The meeting room is ready," Steve continued. "You can double-check it if you want."
I waved it off. "If you've already checked it, there's no need."
"Okay, sir," Steve replied.
As I walked through the hallway, everyone greeted me, their voices blending together in a hum of professionalism. But my mind? It was miles away, still with her.
I entered my office, settled in, and started reviewing the files. After a while, Steve knocked and came in with news: Mr. Smith had arrived.
"Let's go," I said, standing up and adjusting my tie.
As we greeted Mr. Smith in the lobby, his smile was wide and welcoming. "Glanville, you've grown. You look more serious than the last time I saw you."
"Thanks, Mr. Smith," I said, keeping the smile in place.
He chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "No need for all the formalities, Glanville."
I grinned, always respectful. "I know, Uncle. But this is business, and you're a serious partner. I've got to keep it professional. But after the meeting, we'll catch up."
Mr. Smith's smile softened. "I like the sound of that. Shall we?"
We made our way to the meeting room, and I dove straight into the presentation. The room was filled with executives, all eyes on me as I outlined my financial strategy. As I finished, the air was thick with approval. Mr. Smith leaned back, clearly impressed.
"Brilliant work, Glanville. This is the direction we need to take," he said, his voice rich with approval.
I nodded, trying not to let the praise go to my head. "Thank you, Mr. Smith, but this was a team effort. Everyone had a hand in it."
"That's the spirit," he said, clapping me on the shoulder. "I'm excited to see what you and your team will do with this."
The meeting ended, and as we walked outside, I suggested a nearby café.
We sat down at a small table, and Mr. Smith asked, "So, how was life in the UK for the past four years?"
I shrugged, my thoughts drifting again. "Nothing much. It was boring. But I like it here. The place I moved to is calming, and the neighborhood is great. They even threw me a welcome party not long ago."
"Sounds nice," Mr. Smith said, smiling. "I'm glad you're back, Glanville."
"Yeah, me too," I replied, just as a waitress appeared at our table.
"Can I take your order?" she asked, her voice full of surprise as she took in the sight of me.
But all I could think of was her.