167 — Reaching a closure...

The week has barely begun, and I already feel trapped in this frenetic rhythm. Exhaustion is starting to take hold of me, and I can’t wait to get it done. But Julian’s words keep echoing in my mind, making my thoughts wander. He wishes for me to meet his family after the end of the project, and that will take care of the details, but there are still two weeks until the deadline.
I let out a long sigh, my shoulders tense and tired. Around me, the sound of my coworkers breathing, the click of the mouse, and their nimble fingers on their keyboards bring me back to reality, especially when a cup is suddenly placed on my table. I look up to find Ethan giving me a warm smile before turning away and walking back to his desk, also holding a coffee.
Memories of the first project we worked on as a team flooded my mind. Back then, we were nine people working together to make a success of the biggest project this company. But now, there are only four of us left. Naomi, Deborah, Grace, and Laura are no longer here, and Sarah is competing with me. It seems like all this happened so long ago, but only a few months have passed. Somehow, I feel like I’m reaching a closure.
I thank Ethan, who looks over his shoulder with a gentle gaze, and a twinge of guilt hits me hard. I involved him in my petty revenge for just my pleasure, but now I really believe it was for the best. He’s still as kind as ever but more aware of how flirty his personality can be without him noticing. Besides, Deborah was almost on the verge of obsession. And if anyone can talk about the consequences of something like that, it’s me.
I take a generous sip of the sweet latte. The taste explodes on my tongue and immediately relaxes my stress, loosening my shoulders. I close my eyes, savoring the drink as if it were the eighth wonder of the world.
It’s really very good...
I notice a few eyes on me, probably looking at the ring on my finger. An uneasiness settles in my stomach, and suddenly, my happiness is clouded by silly thoughts that I’ve been too used to all this time. The idea that I’m not worth... that everything I have is because of my father — and especially the fear that people will think that my project was chosen because I’m Michael O’Neil’s daughter and Julian Adams’ fiancée.
But that’s a quick thought that only lasts a second. I know how hard I’m working and how much my team believes in me. It would be unfair to my coworkers if I let myself get discouraged. We’re working on it together, and I trust myself as they trust me… after all, they *chose* to work on this project with me.
I finish my coffee and look at the clock, seeing that there are still thirty minutes to go. I raise my arms, stretch my body, and then focus on the endless pages of reports that I need to check, one by one, to ensure that no mistake goes unnoticed.
And thanks to this, I don’t even see the time go by.
When the end of the workday finally arrives, everyone is tired. The deadlines are short, but it’s part of the challenge. At least when we leave the room, there’s a satisfied smile on everyone’s lips.
As soon as I step through the door, my heart skips a beat. My eyes meet Julian standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall, looking down at his cell phone. Everyone says goodbye, attracting his attention. He gives a discreet smile… so subtle that I wonder if it was really there. But thankfully, it’s not long before he sets his green eyes all on me, and his smile widens.
He approaches elegantly and places his open hand on my lower back, kissing the top of my hair. My cheeks burn with a mix of shyness and happiness at having him so close. We walk slowly, so different from the quick pace of the dispersing employees.
“You’ve been waiting for me.” It’s not a question, but Julian looks at me as if he’s been caught in the act. “Did you wait long?”
“Not long.” He says with a mischievous smile, his fingers sliding around my waist.
“How long?” I tilt my head, observing his beard and the discreet wrinkles at the corner of his eyes that always appear when he’s enjoying himself.
“About twenty minutes.” He confesses, and just as I’m about to say something, he leans over and places a quick kiss on my lips, silencing all the words that threaten to come out. “Can you blame me? I’ve been looking forward to it all day long.”
He strokes my cheek and guides me to the elevator. We wait for the metal doors to open, and the floor is surprisingly quiet at the moment.
“I am too,” I say quietly, almost in a whisper, and peek at his face again, finding his soft smile.
The elevator arrives, bringing a few people with it. Julian allows me to remain silent all the way down as if he also has a lot on his mind. Still, it’s comfortable. The people around us talk quietly to each other, but all I can think about is how I’m about to find out how my child is doing. It’s the first time I’m going to see a doctor, and I’m really nervous now.
The metal doors open on the first floor, and Julian leads me out. Faced with my confused expression, he smiles and says, “The car is already outside.”
I give a low chuckle. How excited is Julian to have already gotten his car out of the parking lot?
His firm hand on my waist guides me out of the building, and I shiver in the cold breeze. Winter is almost here, bringing back old memories of when I first saw him on this very sidewalk when our worlds were so distant and apart.
He stops in front of a long, low, sleek black car. Its paintwork shines as if it had just been bought. The headlights flash as Julian approaches and opens the passenger door for me to sit down.
“What’s that?” I ask, confused, seeing Julian lean his arm on the open door, unconcerned. “You have a new car now?”
“Do you like it? I just bought this new one.” Julian says casually, tilting his head to revel in my surprise.
“But what about your baby sporty car? You love that car...”
It’s no secret that Julian loves that black car. He loves it so much that he refuses to let another driver get their hands on the wheel. This possessiveness is endearing to me, perhaps because it shows how much he likes to keep his things close. And that’s a selfishness I used to envy. How silly I used to be, so jealous *of a car.*
“Yes, that’s true… but this one is more comfortable for you.” Julian pauses, thinking carefully about something. “Besides, we’ll need a back seat, won’t we?”
My heart melts. No, I melt all over. My legs literally go soft because Julian has such an effect on me. His words, his genuine intentions, and the way he looks at me with those green eyes... I feel like a fool in love every time.
I lean in and place a light kiss on his lips, caressing his face and running my finger down his beard before saying quietly, “Thank you for doing this, love.”
“Anything for you.”
He smiles, but I’m quick to add, “I just hope you didn’t get rid of that car... I know how precious it is to you, and I’d hate for you to sacrifice what you love for me.”
Julian shakes his head and holds the door, “I would gladly if you asked me, but I didn’t... My baby is still with me. “
“Good.” I smile, getting into the car, and Julian leans over to put the seatbelt around my body. His masculine scent makes me shudder, and we lock gazes, just like the night when everything changed between us... the night that brought us to this moment.
This time, Julian’s lips brush against mine. He kisses me softly, just the touch of our mouths before I part my lips and make room for his soft tongue. He leans back, resting his strong hands on the seat, and intensifies our kiss, gradually taking my breath away. The intertwining of our tongues is slow, intimate, deep, and passionate, enough to make us forget that we’re in the middle of the street.
A horn sounds in the distance, breaking our kiss. Julian looks at me with regret, almost like it’s a sacrifice to pull away, but he does so, whispering... “We have to go… we can’t keep the doctor waiting.”
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[...] The drive didn’t take long, despite the New York traffic. Yet, I took my time to admire the people walking along the sidewalk, the stores, and the cars that pass us by. Julian’s steady drumming on the steering wheel makes me drowsy, and I find myself almost nodding off. But when the car stopped in front of the clinic, my eyes widened, and I woke up completely.
We enter the place, and the receptionist looks at Julian with bright, lustful eyes. Well, I can’t judge her... the sight of this man in this navy blue suit, so tight in the muscles after a long day at work, is truly mesmerizing. But at the same time, I feel a petty need to show that he’s been caught.
I slide my hand down his arm slowly, having his complete attention, and rub our fingers lightly so that he realizes what I want. Julian intertwines his fingers with mine, holding my small hand. He kisses me on the forehead, his way of saying that everything is fine, and we approach the receptionist.
If she was disappointed, it was so quickly that it passed in a blink. The woman soon adopts a professional attitude and leads us down a long corridor, even though there are other people — very pregnant women — sitting in the reception chairs. She opens the door with her best smile and leaves us outside.
Julian enters first, and I follow him closely behind. He seems tense, but under the middle-aged doctor’s eyes and beaming smile, he immediately relaxes.
“Hello, Julian, long time no see!” The doctor says, getting up from his chair and meeting us in the middle of the room. I watch in confusion as they greet each other. “This must be your fiancée, right?”
I greet him in the same way, with a brief handshake.
“Yes, my name is Angelee O’Neil...” I say, obviously confused, and Julian notices that he left out a small *important* detail.
“Dr. Kraig has been my family doctor for decades,” Julian explains, his hands on my lower back. “I’ve trusted him with my life several times; there’s no other person I could count more.”
“Don’t worry… I’ll make sure you and your child receive the best possible care.” He smiles, and there’s something about him that really reassures me. I just nod, and that encourages him. “This is your first appointment, right? Let’s start with a scan to see how the baby is doing. Do you have any idea how many weeks it is?”
“No.” I shake my head, suddenly anxious.
“No problem, dear. With the scan, we’ll know. However, I need to ask before starting.” He pauses, looking directly at Julian and me. “Would you like to know the baby’s gender?”