As Vanya waited for Nolan to finish his meeting, she couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity about his office. She had never been in here before, and she was eager to explore and learn more about her husband's work space.
She stood up and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows that lined one wall of the office. The view of the city skyline was breathtaking, and Vanya felt a sense of awe wash over her as she gazed out at the towering skyscrapers and bustling streets below.
As she turned away from the window, Vanya's eyes landed on a collection of framed photographs on a nearby shelf. She walked over to take a closer look, and her heart skipped a beat as she saw a picture of Nolan with another woman.
The woman was stunningly beautiful, with jet black hair and lovely hazel eyes. She was smiling up at Nolan, who had his arm around her shoulders, and Vanya could sense the strong connection between them.
"Who is this?" Vanya wondered, feeling a pang of jealousy.
She turned the frame over, hoping to find some answers, but there was no inscription or caption to give her any clues.
Vanya felt a sense of unease wash over her as she continued to stare at the picture. Who was this woman, and what was her relationship with Nolan?
Just then, Alex, Nolan's assistant, walked into the office. "Mrs. Carter, I see you're exploring the office," he said, smiling.
Vanya turned to him, still feeling a sense of unease. "Yes, I was just looking at this picture," she said, holding up the frame.
Alex's expression turned neutral, and he walked over to take the frame from her. "That's an old picture," he said, his voice nonchalant. "Mr. Carter and...and his friend were at a charity event together."
Vanya raised an eyebrow, sensing that Alex was hiding something. "His friend?" she repeated, her voice skeptical.
Alex nodded, still looking neutral. "Yes, just a friend," he said.
Vanya wasn't convinced, but she decided to drop the subject for now. She was more interested in finding out what Nolan was working on, and what was going on in his life.
As she continued to explore the office, Vanya stumbled upon a small, hidden door on the opposite side of the room. She walked over to investigate, and was surprised to find a small, private library tucked away behind the door.
The room was lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and the air was thick with the scent of old books and leather. Vanya felt like she had stumbled into a treasure trove, and she couldn't wait to explore the shelves and see what kind of books Nolan kept in his private library.
As she browsed the shelves, Vanya noticed that Nolan's tastes ran the gamut from classic literature to modern business texts. She saw books by authors like Hemingway and Fitzgerald, alongside titles like "The 4-Hour Work Week" and "The Lean Startup".
Vanya felt a sense of wonder and curiosity as she explored the library. She had never seen this side of Nolan before, and she was eager to learn more about his interests and passions.
As she delved deeper into the library, Vanya stumbled upon a book that caught her eye. It was an old, leather-bound volume with a strange symbol embossed on the cover.
She opened the book, and was surprised to find that it was filled with handwritten notes and diagrams. The writing was cryptic, but it seemed to be some kind of code or cipher.
Vanya felt a sense of intrigue and curiosity as she flipped through the pages of the book. What was Nolan working on? And what did this mysterious book have to do with it?
As she continued to explore the library, Vanya couldn't shake the feeling that she was on the verge of uncovering a secret. She didn't know what it was, but she was determined to find out.
Nolan watched Vanya from across the room, his eyes narrowing as she scooped through the books on his shelf. He had been in a meeting, but as soon as he saw Vanya, he excused himself and came to investigate, his wheelchair gliding smoothly across the floor.
"What are you doing here, Vanya?" he asked, his voice firm but slightly curious.
Vanya turned to face him, a pout on her lips. "I brought you lunch," she said, her voice petulant. "I felt terrible about not making you sleep very well last night, so I cooked all my favorite dishes."
Nolan's expression didn't change, but Vanya could see a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "You didn't have to do that," he said, his voice a little softer.
Vanya scoffed, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "You're always so distant and cold, Nolan," she said, her voice rising. "I'm trying to make an effort here, but you're not even giving me a chance."
Nolan's expression turned wary, and he backed his wheelchair away from her, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. "Vanya, I..."
But Vanya wasn't having it. She stormed over to the table, where she had set out all the dishes, and began to dish out a plate for Nolan. "Just eat, okay?" she said, her voice firm. "I want to see you enjoy something for once."
Nolan looked hesitant, but he slowly reached out and took the plate from her. He began to eat, his eyes fixed on the food as Vanya watched him, her eyes fixed on his face.
At first, his expression didn't change, but as he chewed, a small smile began to form on his lips. Vanya's heart skipped a beat as she saw it, and she felt a surge of hope.
Maybe, just maybe, she was getting through to him.
As Nolan continued to eat, Vanya sat down across from him, watching him with a sense of wonder. She had never seen him enjoy food before, and it was a small but significant breakthrough.
As they ate in silence, Vanya felt a sense of peace settle over her. Maybe this was the start of something new, something better.
But as they finished their meal and Nolan pushed his plate away, Vanya saw the shutters come down again. His expression turned cold and distant, and he backed his wheelchair away from the table, his eyes avoiding hers.
"Thank you for lunch, Vanya," he said, his voice formal. "I appreciate it."
Vanya felt a pang of disappointment, but she refused to give up. She stood up, her eyes locked on his, and smiled.
"You're welcome, Nolan," she said, her voice soft. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Nolan's expression didn't change, but Vanya saw a flicker of something in his eyes. It was small, but it was there.
And for now, that was enough.
As Nolan turned to leave, Vanya called out to him. "Nolan, wait," she said, her voice hesitant.
He turned back to her, his eyes questioning. "What is it, Vanya?"
Vanya took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I just wanted to say that I'm trying, okay?" she said, her voice sincere. "I'm trying to make this work, to make us work. And I hope you'll meet me halfway."
Nolan's expression didn't change, but Vanya saw a flicker of something in his eyes. It was small, but it was there.
And for now, that was enough.