Bonds

Chapter 46 -Alex's POV- The air in my office hung heavy with a silence so thick it felt tangible. The three of us- myself, Amaya, and the woman who had introduced herself as Ms. Edwards-sat across from each other, an awkward tableau of simmering emotions and unspoken tension. My gaze was locked on Amaya, who studiously avoided my eyes, flitting her attention around the room as if desperately seeking an escape route.

I knew her well enough to recognize the telltale signs. She hadn't wanted to be here. In fact, if she had her way, she wouldn't have stepped foot inside this building, let alone my office.

Ms Edwards broke silence. "So..." she began, "did you have a chance to go over the designs I sent you already?" My eyes flickered away from Anaya's face. Truth be told, the redesign project hadn't even registered on my radar. It was something the board had deemed necessary, a bureaucratic hurdle I hadn't bothered to invest any emotional energy in. I hadn't been interested in anything. Not since she left. But the project had to be done, a formality to be addressed.

"No," I admitted bluntly. There was no point in pretending. I wasn't interested in wasting twith polite lies, she didn't look like she would appreciate it either.

Ms. Edwards seemed surprised by my honesty. A hint of a smile played on her lips. "Well, Mr. Thorne,” she said, her voice betraying a hint of amusement, “at least you're being honest. No need for pretense, I appreciate that.” I had guessed.correctly then. Pretenses were not part of her agenda. She preferred frankness, a quality I found oddly refreshing in this tense situation.

I leaned back in my chair, the leather creaking beneath me. "There's no point in wasting either of our time." My gaze drifted back to Amaya, lost in thought, a frown etching lines on her forehead. For a moment, the anger simmering within power shealmost subsided. The sight of her, even her annoyance, had an inexplicable calming effect on my wolf. That was the had over me, a power that both terrified and intrigued me.

As if sensing my shift in focus, Ms. Edwards cleared her throat, bringing my attention back to her. "Oh, forgive me," she said, a touch of apology in her voice. "I was so eager to get down to business that I neglected proper introductions. Mr. Thorne, allowto introduce Ms. Stone here." There was a flicker of something in my chest - a strange mix of satisfaction and irritation, perhaps - satisfaction at the fact that she hadn't taken Ivan's nand irritation at the realization that she still carried her father's nno matter how much hate I had for the man.

Ms. Edwards continued, her voice smooth and professional. "Ms. Stone is a raw new talent, and I felt it would be beneficial to have her involved in this project from the very beginning. Once we have finalized this initial stage, Amaya will be leading the charge on the redesign." "Amaya would be what?" We both turned to stare at her, my lips twitching with a near-smile at her unguarded reaction. I knew what had happened. It was something she always did, talked to herself in her head and it had slipped out before she could hold it.

Chapter 46 Ms. Edwards, however, seemed oblivious to the momentary lapse. Ignoring the interruption, she simply turned the conversation back towards the project at hand. “So, shall we proceed with reviewing the designs, Mr. Thorne?" A slight tip of my head was all I gave, and that was all she needed.

"You mentioned the board pushing for this redesign, but ultimately, this is your company, your vision. What do you envision for this space? How do you want it to reflect your brand and your company culture?" I ran a hand through my hair, the weight of the decision settling on my shoulders. It was true, I hadn't given much thought to the redesign before. But as she phrased it, the idea of creating a space that embodied the essence of my company, a space that resonated with my vision, sparked a flicker of interest within me. "Well," I started slowly, choosing my words carefully, "I built this company from the ground up. We're a tech company, at the forefront of innovation, but we're also a team. Collaboration is key. So, I guess I want the space to reflect that. Open floor plan, something that encourages interaction and communication. But also, there needs to be a focus on functionality. Clean lines, sleek design, nothing too flashy or distracting." Ms. Edwards nodded, jotting down notes on her tablet. “Functionality and collaboration,” she echoed, her voice thoughtful. "Those are excellent starting points. Is there a specific color palette you have in mind? Perhaps smaterials you prefer to work with?" I pondered for a moment. Color had never been a strong suit of mine, but certain things cto mind. "I like the idea of a modern feel," I said finally. "Something clean and professional. Maybe a mix of grays and blacks, accented with pops of color here and there. And for materials, definitely a focus on high-quality finishes, Metal, glass, maybe swood accents for warmth." Ms. Edwards' eyes lit up with a spark of enthusiasm. “I see,” she said, her voice taking on a more animated tone. "A modern aesthetic with pops of color to add personality. And a blend of materials for both functionality and warmth. This is all very interesting, Mr. Thorne. I can definitely work with this." We continued in this vein for a while, bouncing ideas back and forth. Ms. Edwards was an excellent listener, promptingwith insightful questions that helpedarticulate my vision more clearly. There was a sense of creative energy in the room, a collaborative effort that surprised me.

I hadn't expected to enjoy this process so much, Suddenly, a voice broke through our conversation. "Excuse me," Amaya said hesitantly, "but wouldn't a completely open floor plan be a bit distracting for focused work?" I glanced at her, surprised to see her involve herself. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, a hint of her passion for design evident in her voice. Despite myself, a small spark of satisfaction flickered within me.

"That's a valid point," Ms. Edwards acknowledged, turning towards Amaya. "Perhaps you could elaborate on your suggestion? Mr. Thorne mentioned the importance of collaboration, but also the need for focused work areas."

Amaya shifted in her seat, a hesitant smile playing on her lips. "Well," she began, "what if we incorporated designated quiet zones into the open floorplan? floor plan? Maybe soundproofed pods or private meeting rooms for when employees need to concentrate. That way, we can still maintain a sense of openness while also providing spaces for focused work." I listened intently as Amaya elaborated on her idea, outlining specific design elements and layouts. Her voice was confident, her knowledge of design principles undeniable. While there was a part ofthat still bristled at her presence, I couldn't deny the merit of her suggestions.

11:37 Fri, 21 Jun Chapter 46 June "That's actually a great idea," I admitted, surprising myself with the words. Amaya's eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of something akin to gratitude crossing her face before she quickly schooled her expression.

Ms. Edwards beamed, clearly pleased with the direction the conversation had taken. From that point on, Amaya beca more active participant in the discussion. We debated material choices, lighting options, and even the incorporation Enatur even of natural elements into the design. I couldn't stop staring at her. When we were married, whenever she was excited, her eyes sparkled, just like it was sparkling now. She had never wanted to be involved in my company because she believed in us having our own space but this was a side of her I hadn't seen in a long time, a reminder of the woman who had once stolen my heart. I think in this moment, she had forgotten about who we were. Right now, I was just a client and she was excited about bringing a vision to life. Suddenly, the pleasant hum of conversation was disrupted by a sharp ringtone. Ms. Edwards reached into her purse, her brow furrowing slightly as she glanced at the caller ID. "Excuse me, gentlemen,” she said, her voice laced with a hint of apology, "that appears to be an urgent call."

We both fell silent as she answered the phone, her voice dropping to a low murmur. She listened intently for a moment, her expression growing increasingly grave. "Alright,” she finally said, her voice firm but laced with a hint of concern. "I'll be there as soon as possible. Thank you for lettingknow." With that, she ended the call, a deep sigh escaping her lips. "I truly apologize for this," she began, turning back to us with a strained smile. "Something unexpected has cup, and I need to handle it immediately. Amaya, you take over from here." Amaya opened her mouth to speak, perhaps to protest, but Ms. Edwards was out of the door with a final apologetic glance in my direction leavingand Amaya in the sspace with the door shut behind us.