The Unspoken Attraction

Chapter 5: Unseen Shadows

It had been a few months since Ian Aiden Reyes proposed to Isabella Evans, and life together felt like a dream. Their engagement was full of laughter, intimate dinners, spontaneous weekend getaways, and stolen moments where the world outside seemed to disappear. They had grown closer than ever, learning each other's habits, quirks, and the subtle ways they expressed their love. Ian, once a man entirely devoted to work, now found solace in the time he spent with Isabella, letting her warmth melt the remaining layers of his cold exterior.

On this particular day, Ian was at his office, the place where the meticulous businessman in him still thrived. The sharp lines of his suit, the pristine desk, and the constant flow of work emails made up most of his day. But today, something was different. There was a smile on his face—a boyish grin that would have surprised anyone who didn't know him well.

His fingers typed rapidly across his phone screen, exchanging messages with Isabella. She had sent him a photo of a flower she had spotted while running errands, with a playful caption that read: "Look familiar? It's just like the ones from our first date."

Ian smiled, his heart softening at the memory. He responded, "I'll get you a hundred of those if you promise me to be a good girl and wait for me. Okay?"

"Deal!" came her quick reply, followed by a string of heart emojis. Ian couldn't help but chuckle. Isabella had a way of turning even the most mundane moments into something special.

Just as Ian was finishing his text, the door to his office creaked open, and his best friend, Daniel Isaacs—known as Niel to everyone close to him—strolled in, immediately catching Ian off guard. Niel's sharp eyes caught the tender look on Ian's face, and his lips curled into a teasing grin.

"Well, well. Someone's all smiles today, is this love I smell in the air," Niel teased, throwing himself into the chair across from Ian's desk. "Who are you texting, Mr. Serious? I bet it's Isabella."

Ian locked his phone and shot Niel a mock-serious look. "What do you want, Niel?"

"Oh, nothing," Niel waved him off, leaning back casually. "Just wanted to see how my best friend is doing, you know, the guy who's always glued to his phone these days. It's like you've forgotten about the rest of us."

Ian chuckled. "You sound jealous partner."

"Jealous? No. Impressed? Absolutely. Isabella's done wonders with you, man. You've got this whole... glow now." Niel's eyes sparkled mischievously.

"Right," Ian said, rolling his eyes. "I'm just keeping her updated. We were supposed to meet for lunch today, but I got caught up in this meeting with our client. I'm telling her I'll make it up to her later."

"You better," Niel said with a grin. "Speaking of which, are you ready for the meeting? I've heard this client is a tough one."

Ian nodded, his business demeanor slipping back into place. "Yeah, let's get this done."

The meeting with the potential client went smoothly, with both Ian and Niel making an impressive pitch. Once it ended, they both breathed a sigh of relief, shaking hands with the satisfied client before walking out of the building.

"Late lunch?" Niel suggested as they exited the office. "We deserve a break. My stomach's been growling for the last hour."

"Sure," Ian agreed, pulling out his phone to send a quick message to Isabella:

"Heading to the usual mall with Niel for lunch. I'll call you after."

They arrived at the upscale mall near their office and headed to one of their favourite restaurants. As they ate, they continued chatting about business, but the conversation inevitably drifted to lighter topics—old memories, childhood antics, and, of course, Ian's engagement with Isabella.