Chapter 20
James drove as fast as he could, weaving through the morning traffic. As he approached his office building, he parked his car and hurried inside, his footsteps echoed through the quiet hallway. Outside his office door, Luke, his reliable assistant, stood waiting outside the office, holding James's schedule for the day.
As soon as Luke saw James, he stepped forward and greeted him warmly, as he opened the door. "Good morning, Sir James."
Luke immediately noticed the restlessness and tension on James's face. "Good morning," James replied, his mind clearly preoccupied. He stepped into his spacious office, his footsteps echoed,with Luke following closely behind.
James turned to Luke, his expression showed concern. "What did she say?" he asked, his voice tense and his eyes searching Luke's face for answers.
"She ordered me to inform you to visit her today after you finish your work," he said as they both entered the office, closing the door behind them.
James's eyes narrowed with a mix of anger and worry. "Didn't you tell her I was busy?" he said, slightly raising his voice.
"I did," Luke replied, his tone calm yet respectful. "I informed her that your schedule was packed and that you couldn't meet her even after work. But she insisted, saying that your presence was especially needed, by your father. She mentioned they had something important to discuss with you, Sir James."
James ran his fingers through his hair, clearly agitated. "Fine," he muttered, walking over to his desk. "Reschedule my afternoon meetings. I need to know what this is about, or maybe I already know what this is about," he added with a bitter smirk.
"Understood, Sir," Luke replied, with a slight bow before exiting from the office.
James sighed deeply, trying to push aside the growing anxiety. "Let's get started with the day then," he said, attempting to focus on the documents piled up on his desk.
He ran his eyes through his documents, his mind hazy with endless thoughts that were eating him up.
Meanwhile, during her work hour, Nima couldn't stop smiling as she reminisced about the sweet moments she had shared with James. Each memory seemed to brighten her day, drawing a smile on her face.
The rhythm of her workday seemed more longer than usual, each minute passed slower than the last, as she eagerly waited for the time when she could finally see him again.
After she finished her shift, Nima locked up the cafe door and stood outside, her breath visible in the chilly evening air. She glanced at her watch, hoping to catch a glimpse of him any moment. Her heart raced as she wondered why he hadn't arrived yet.
"Why isn't he coming? I've been waiting here for almost an hour," she muttered to herself, her voice filled ed with frustration and worry. "He isn't even picking up my calls. Is he alright?" She stared at her phone, hoping for it to light up with a message from James.
Just then, her phone buzzed, and she fumbled to check it, a hopeful smile spreading across her face. However, as she read the text message, her smile slowly faded, replaced by a look of disappointment and concern.
She took a deep breath, the cold air stinging her lungs. "It's so cold," she murmured, rubbing her hands together in an attempt to warm them. "Maybe it's because fall is already here," she said, glancing up at the darkening sky, as she continued to stare, searching for some sign, some explanation for his absence.
"Or maybe…" she hesitated, her voice trailed off. With a sigh, she looked down at her feet, gathering her resolve. "Let's get going, shall we?" she said to herself softly, her voice barely audible over the whispering wind. With a resigned nod, she turned and walked away from the cafe, her footsteps echoed in the quite empty street.
"James message to Nima: I won't be able to pick you up. Get home safely."