Chapter 36

THREE MONTHS LATER

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows of my tidy office, casting rays onto my cluttered desk. The purr of the air conditioner provided a steady background noise. Noah was out sick, and the office was all too quiet.

I was focused on an email when a sharp knock echoed through the room, startling me out of my concentration. Just my luck, the one day Noah was absent from the office, an unexpected visitor showed up. We rarely had unplanned guests or clients show up at the office, and if we did, they usually barged right in without bothering to knock.

I shouted, "Come in!"

For all I knew, I could have been inviting in a serial killer.

A woman confidently swept into my office, her long, wavy brunette hair cascading down her back. Her posture emphasized her striking features: tall and elegant.

I instantly recognized her face.

"Angelica!" I greeted her with a warm smile. "It's so good to see you! Wow, your hair looks beautiful."

Her hand floated up to touch her tresses. "Thank you, it's closer to my natural color," she smiled at me.

"What brings you into my office today?" I rose from my chair, feeling the smooth surface of my desk against my palms as I walked around it.

"I didn't know who else to go to," she said as thick tears began to fall from her eyes.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, handing her a tissue.

She wiped her face, her makeup smearing with the tears.

"Yes and no," she said, closing her eyes and shaking her head. "I left him."

Without thinking, I grabbed her and pulled her into me.

"Does it get easier?" she mumbled. "It's only been a week, and I miss him. Why do I miss him? He was horrible to me!"

I could relate.

No matter how Brett treated me, he trapped my heart and mind in his toxic hold for longer than I cared to admit. Letting go felt like an impossible task. But with time and immense strength, I finally broke free from the chains of attachment and found peace.

"Sometimes you miss the situation or the relationship but not the person," I told her. "You have to learn how to separate the two. I promise you, it gets easier."

She nodded slowly.

"Keep yourself busy," I told her. "Try a new hobby! I promise anything is better than spending time with Brett."

Our laughter echoed through the air, a shared release of tension and understanding. The bond between us was strange but intense, forged through the suffering we had both faced.

"I hope it isn't weird that I showed up here," she said. "I mean, it's pretty weird. Isn't it?"

"Not at all," I smiled. "Honestly, I hoped I would see you again."

"Thank you," she said. "For being so gracious towards me."

Discouraged and weary, Angelica's shoulders sagged under the weight of her troubles. Yet, a sparkle of determination shone in her gaze. I'd seen that sparkle before in my own eyes. I knew she would be okay one day.

"Have you ever considered a career in real estate?" I asked her.

"No," she hung her head. "I've only ever been a waitress."

When we were touring homes, I saw the way her eyes lit up as we went from room to room. However, she hadn't been allowed to express herself with Brett around.

My fingers drummed on the desk. "I actually just made my former assistant, Noah, my partner. He's in the process of getting his license. We've been looking for an assistant for the two of us. Do you think you would be a good fit?"

Her eyes widened with excitement before she lowered her head once more. "I don't know the first thing about real estate."

"I can teach you," I told her. "I take that back. Noah can. He's the best of the best."

"You don't have to do this," she whispered.

"Angelica, I know I don't have to do anything," I said. "I need a new assistant, and I think you would be the perfect fit. Will you start a week from Monday?"

The excitement rose inside her, and I could see her fight between releasing and suppressing it.

"Let it out, girl," I told her.

Angelica squealed and did a little happy dance. It was refreshing to see her for who she really was, not the robot Brett was trying to control.

As I watched her, I couldn't ignore the feeling that there was much more we had in common, just waiting to be unearthed.

"It would be an honor to work for you," Angelica said as she clapped her hands.

The promise of a beautiful new friendship sparkled in the air.