Chapter 127

Angela POV

After leaving the hospital, I hurried back to the Wilson Advisory Partners office.

As I pushed through the glass doors, I spotted Christopher waiting in the lobby. He straightened immediately when he saw me.

"Back already?" He stepped forward, taking my briefcase. "How was your meeting with Sean?"

He reached out to fix a strand of hair that the wind had blown out of place, his fingers lingering a moment too long. I pulled back slightly, feeling uneasy after the morning's events.

"It was fine," I replied. "Shouldn't you be at Blake Capital handling affairs?"

Christopher's eyes never left mine. "Didn't I say I'd wait for you? Who would take you home otherwise?"

We walked toward my office, our footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. Most of the staff had already left for the day.

"The fifteen million from Shaw Group has been confirmed," I said, deliberately steering the conversation toward business. "Marcus is finalizing the paperwork as we speak."

Without warning, Christopher grasped my wrist, pulling me toward him. I found myself pressed against his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat through his suit.

"Shaw's investment," Christopher's eyes suddenly sharpened, his voice taking on an edge I rarely heard. "You accepted it?"

I blinked, startled by his abrupt change in demeanor. "Yes, I did."

"You're really letting Sean Shaw invest in your company? Are you certain that's wise?"

I tried to step back, but his grip on my wrist remained firm. "Marcus already reached a preliminary agreement. I-"

"And what does that matter?" Christopher's voice dropped lower, a barely perceptible anger threading through his words. "Wilson Advisory Partners is your company. He's just the executive director."

"That may be true," I replied carefully, "but he's acting in the company's best interest. As senior management, I should respect his judgment."

Christopher's fingers tightened around mine, almost to the point of discomfort. "If you want to refuse, I'll cover the penalties for breaking the letter of intent. All of it."

"Christopher, that's unnecessary."

He released my hand abruptly, hurt flashing across his features. "Why? You can't bear to sever ties with Shaw?"

"It's not that," I insisted, fighting to keep my voice steady. "I'm making a professional decision. Marcus believes this partnership is best for the company. I shouldn't let personal matters cloud my business judgment."

Christopher stared at me intently, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Are you sure? Are you certain you won't be affected by personal matters?"

"I'm sure," I said, struggling to maintain my composure.

He suddenly stood, moving in front of me with a determination I'd never seen before. "Fine. Then promise me one thing."

"What?"

Christopher leaned down, close enough that I could feel his breath. "Agree to date me. Officially."

My heart pounded as he continued, his voice raw with emotion. "Five years, Angela. Five years! All I want is a chance to stay by your side. Every day I've watched you slip further away, unable to reach you."

He took my hands in his, his eyes burning with an intensity that made it difficult to look away. "Even if you don't love me yet, give me some hope. Let me see just a possibility. Please?"

"He hurt you before," Christopher continued, his voice dropping to a fervent whisper. "I witnessed every tear you shed for him. He doesn't deserve you. Don't look back."

His hands tightened around mine, almost pleading. "Promise me. Just this once."

I felt my resolve wavering under his earnest gaze. "I... I need to think about it."

Christopher's expression hardened. "For how long? I'm tired of waiting, Angela. It's been five years. My patience is exhausted."

"A week?" I suggested.

He shook his head firmly. "No."

"Six days, then?"

"Three days," he stated, his voice leaving no room for negotiation. "I'm giving you three days, Angela. After that, I need a definitive answer."

I swallowed hard, finding it impossible to refuse in the face of such determination. "Alright. Three days."

A sharp knock interrupted us. Marcus stood in the doorway, his expression tense.

After Christopher left, Marcus closed the door and turned to me, concern evident in his eyes.

"Are you alright, Ms. Wilson?"

I straightened papers on my desk, not meeting his gaze. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing, just making sure you're okay."

"I'm fine," I replied curtly. "Please maintain professional boundaries."

Marcus hesitated. "Are you planning to accept his pursuit?"

My head snapped up. "You were eavesdropping on our conversation?"

"Please don't misunderstand," he said quickly. "I was waiting outside. Your voices carried quite clearly. I overheard unintentionally."

He studied me for a moment before continuing. "Are you really planning to start a relationship with Mr. Blake instead of considering reconciliation with Mr. Shaw?"

"Reconciliation?" My voice turned cold. "Please don't make unfounded assumptions."

"But judging from Mr. Shaw's attitude, he seems interested in rebuilding your relationship."

"That's absurd speculation."

Marcus leaned against the wall, his posture casual but his eyes sharp. "Is it? Look at Mr. Blake's behavior-eager for your answer. Doesn't that suggest he feels threatened? But there's something else..."

"What?" I demanded when he trailed off.

"I find Mr. Blake's behavior... unusual."

"What's that supposed to mean?" My voice gained an edge.

"I apologize," Marcus said, straightening. "I merely observed from your conversation that his behavior pattern is concerning."

He took a step forward. "He claims to give you time to decide, appearing patient, yet he's pushing you, trying to leverage your guilt to force a decision. Think about it-isn't that what's happening?"

"Stop these conjectures," I said sharply.

I took a deep breath, trying to regain my composure. "Marcus, I hired you as the executive director to help manage the business, not to interfere with my personal affairs or judge my friends arbitrarily."

"Understood," he nodded. "I happened to overhear and wanted to caution you. If you don't want to hear it, I won't mention it again." He paused at the door. "But I still advise you to be wary of him."

After Marcus left, I sank into my chair, exhausted. The day's events had drained me, and Christopher's ultimatum now hung over me. Three days to decide whether to give him a chance-after five years of friendship and support.

My phone rang, Thomas's name flashing on the screen. I considered ignoring it, but professional courtesy won out.

"Thomas," I answered coldly, "please stop interrupting my work. Whether your Mr. Shaw accepts dinner invitations is-"

"Ms. Wilson," Thomas cut in, his voice urgent. "Mr. Shaw has collapsed. He's coughing up blood."

The world seemed to stop. I felt frozen as Thomas's words registered, and before I could think, I was already reaching for my coat.