Chapter 40\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes widened momentarily before his features composed themselves into a polite mask. Ms. Wright,\u201d he said, his formal tone belied by the slight upturn at the corners of his mouth. \u2018Are you here to see me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Mr Sterling,\u2018 I replied with a smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aiden invited me into the office with the practiced grace of someone three times his age. \u201cPlease, have a seat,\u2018 he said, gesturing to a chair across from his desk. \u201cCan I offer you something to drink? Water? Tea?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, thank you,\u201d I replied, still trying to reconcile the child before me with the businesslike voice I\u2019d overheard. \u201cI was actually looking for your father. I need to return this to him.\u201d I held up the paper bag.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aiden nodded, settling back into his chair. \u201cFather is in meetings all day. May I help with something else?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hesitated, then decided to address what I\u2019d overheard directly. \u201cAiden, I couldn\u2019t help overhearing\u2026 Did you approve my salary at Nest Design?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
If he was surprised by my directness, he didn\u2019t show it. Instead, a small, knowing smile appeared on his face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPartially,\u201d he admitted. \u201cMr. Coleman made a recommendation, and I supported it.\u201d He folded his hands on the desk in a gesture so reminiscent of his father that it was almost unsettling. \u201cYour design proposal for the Sunshine project\u2019s lobby space demonstrated exceptional spatial awareness and functional elegance. The lighting concept alone justified the compensation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His vocabulary and analysis were startling from someone so young, but I\u2019d already known he was far from typical.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s very flattering,\u201d I said carefully, \u201cbut I\u2019m not comfortable with special treatment, especially if it\u2019s causing tension within the team.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aiden\u2019s gaze was steady. \u201cIt\u2019s not special treatment, Ms. Wright. It\u2019s appropriate compensation for exceptional talent.\u201d He paused, then added softly, \u201cFather\u00a0<\/p>\n
would say the same.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt a flush of unexpected pleasure at the compliment, which I quickly suppressed. \u201cAbout your father\u2013I\u2019ve been trying to return his suit for weeks. Would\u00a0<\/p>\n
you be willing to give it to him for me?\u201d I placed the paper bag on his desk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aiden glanced at it, then back at me. \u201cI could,\u201d he said thoughtfully, \u201cbut wouldn\u2019t it be more efficient to contact him directly? You could message him on\u00a0<\/p>\n
social media.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have his contact information,\u2018 I admitted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018I can help with that,\u201d Aiden said, reaching for his tablet. \u201cWhat platforms do you use?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could fully consider the wisdom of this, Aiden had already pulled out his phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlbert knows Dad\u2019s Facebook and X accounts,\u201d he said with satisfaction, showing me a message on the tablet. \u201cHere, he replied. You can message Dad directly about returning the suit. His eyes held a gleam that seemed oddly calculating for a child. \u201cHe usually responds to messages within a few hours, especially about important matters.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
I maintained perfect focus as I led the video conference with our Milan and Toronto offices, discussing the expansion of Sterling Design\u2019s international\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
4:00 pm\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 40\u00a0<\/p>\n
portfolio. The Danish firm\u2019s acquisition was proceeding on schedule, and our entry into the Scandinavian market looked promising\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe integration of their minimalist aesthetic with our more textural approach creates a unique-\u00a0<\/p>\n
My phone vibrated against the conference table. I ignored it, continuing my point about market differentiation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
-positioning that distinguishes us from competitors in the Nordic regions-\u00a0<\/p>\n
It vibrated again. And again. I frowned slightly but didn\u2019t break my rhythm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe anticipate full integration by the third quarter, with minimal disruption to existing client relationships.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As a executive from the Toronto office began discussing Canadian market implications, I glanced down at my phone. A Facebook notification appeared:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedar Wright sent you a friend request.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another notification appeared: Cedar Wright (@cedarwright_design) followed you on X.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I became aware that the executive had asked me a question, and the video conference participants were waiting for my response. For perhaps the first time in my career, I had to ask someone to repeat themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy apologies. Could you restate the question?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As I returned my attention to the meeting, I felt curious glances from my team in the conference room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pushed thoughts of Cedar aside and refocused on the conference. But as the meeting progressed, I found myself glancing at my phone more often than I\u2019d care to admit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What did she want? Why was she suddenly so intent on establishing contact?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I decided to wait. Let her make the next move. In business and in life, patience often revealed motivations that hasty engagement obscured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The executives continued dutifully with their meeting agenda, though I could tell they sensed my distraction. My thoughts kept drifting to someone I had no business thinking about.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sterling, the East Side revitalization project is nearly complete, another man reported. \u201cWe\u2019ve contacted media outlets and scheduled a ribbon\u2013cutting ceremony-\u00a0<\/p>\n
My phone vibrated again against the polished mahogany table. I raised my hand, silencing him with a single gesture. The room fell immediately quiet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I checked my screen, expecting\u2013hoping\u2013it would be her. Instead, just spam. My jaw tightened involuntarily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t accept his friend request. Wasn\u2019t she supposed to follow up? Send another message? Why had she suddenly gone silent?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I found myself scrolling to her profile picture\u2013a black and white silhouette against a setting sun. Even in mere outline, her profile captured something intangible that drew the eye.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sterling, shall I continue?\u201d the man asked tentatively.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded coldly. \u201cProceed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 40\u00a0<\/p>\n
He launched into details about innovative digital elements for the ceremony, but I barely registered his words. My finger hovered over her profile. The unfamiliar sensation gnawing at me had a name I refused to acknowledge: I wanted to see her again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis meeting is over, I announced abruptly, rising to my feet. \u201cWe\u2019ll continue tomorrow.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I strode out without explanation, leaving confused murmurs in my wake. My executives exchanged glances, but no one dared question me. The elevator doors closed, and I exhaled slowly. What was I doing? I had quarterly projections to review and acquisition proposals to consider.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yet twenty minutes later, I was walking through the glass doors of Nest Design.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Tell Cedar to come to the executive office, I instructed Albert as we rode the elevator to the top floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRight away, sir.\u201d He hesitated. \u201cShould I prepare anything specific for this meeting?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d What could I say? That I had no agenda beyond wanting to see her face? \u2018But schedule a leadership meeting immediately. I want all department heads in the conference room in fifteen minutes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Albert looked confused but nodded. \u2018Yes, sir.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In my office, I paced, increasingly irritated with myself. This behavior was unprecedented. Unprofessional. I\u2019d left an important meeting, driven across downtown Chicago, and commandeered an executive floor\u2013all for what? To glimpse a designer who probably thought I was a monster after our previous\u00a0<\/p>\n
encounters?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis ends now, I muttered, straightening my tie. I would attend the leadership meeting, review quarterly numbers, and leave. No personal distractions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I strode out toward the conference room without waiting to see if Cedar had arrived.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Sky Remembered the Touch of Our Uninished Goodbyes by Lysa Orion Rehn 40 Chapter 40\u00a0 Cedar\u2019s POV\u00a0 His eyes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-zero-stars-for-daddy-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30439"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30439\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}