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I freeze for a moment, worried I just said that last thought out loud, but then I realise she means my comment about the gym and pool. I relax a little.
“Yes. But I think it’s rude to interrupt someone when they’re in the zone. I can’t stand people who go to the gym just to socialise.”
Her face lights up once more. “Right? I couldn’t agree more. What do you do outside of work then?”
“I teach some evenings, and I have a couple of kids’ classes I run on the weekend.”
“What sort of classes?”
“Mixed martial arts mostly. Some self defence lessons.”
“Oh wow. That’s cool. I had no idea.”
“Yeah, it keeps me busy. I still don’t know that many people in London,” I reply with a shrug. I’m proud of what I do to give back, but I don’t like talking about it. “But enough about me. Tell me more about your career. You work hard, clearly you’re ambitious, so what’s the dream?”
Angelica’s smile falters just slightly before she quickly recovers. “Oh, it’s nothing special, just wanting to climb the ladder,” she says dismissively.
I raise an eyebrow, sensing there’s more to her answer than meets the eye. “Come on, don’t be modest. There must be something driving you.”
She hesitates for a moment, as if deliberating whether or not to share. Finally, she takes a deep breath and begins, “Well, I’d really like to make partner one day. One day soon. I’ve been with the ad agency for a while now and I feel like I’m reaching the limit of what I can do in this role.”
Her words hang in the air, and I can see the flicker of determination in her eyes. There’s a fire within her, fuelling her desire for success. I admire her ambition and drive. It’s refreshing to meet someone who knows exactly what they want.
“That’s impressive,” I say, genuinely. “You must be incredibly talented to have such aspirations.”
A hint of a blush colours her cheeks as she looks down at her hands, fidgeting with the edge of her napkin. “Thank you,” she murmurs softly. “It’s been a long journey, and I’ve worked hard to get where I am. Everything was on track until…well, until changes were made.”
She meansme. My arrival at the company. She thinks I’ve somehow derailed her chances at securing the big promotion. It makes sense now. Why she’s always been so off, and at times, openly hostile towards me. She thinks I’m poaching her dream away from her.
I lean in closer, lowering my voice to match the intimate setting around us. “Tell me, Angelica,” I begin, my voice laced with curiosity. “What drives you? What is it about this career that keeps you going day after day?”
She hesitates once again, as if wrestling with the decision to reveal her deepest motivations. Then, with a newfound resolve, she meets my gaze.
“When I was growing up, my family really struggled financially,” she confides in a hushed tone as if it’s something to be ashamed of. It isn’t. It absolutely isn’t. I’ve been there, know only too well the damage those feelings of shame can do to a person. “We could barely make ends meet, and I saw how much it affected my parents. I made a promise to myself back then that I would never let money be a source of worry or stress for me or my loved ones.”
Her vulnerability tugs at my heartstrings, and suddenly everything about Angelica becomes clearer. Her relentless work ethic, her dedication to success—it all stems from a place deep within her soul.
But I don’t hear her passion for marketing. I hear her passion to succeed, to be successful, to excel. But is it herdreamshe’s working this hard for, or is it fear driving her to chase security?
I reach across the table and gently place my hand on top of Angelica’s, offering her a comforting squeeze. “Thank you for sharing that with me,” I say sincerely. “It takes a lot of strength to rise above your circumstances and make a better life for yourself. I admire your determination.”
I should know; I packed up my entire life in Italy chasing a father I never met once I discovered I was a bastard born out of wedlock – the real reason for my brothers treating me like absolute shit – and eventually inheriting an empire I never knew existed. Now here I am, trying to make a better life for myself, but at the detriment to my dreams.
A small smile tugs at the corners of her lips, and she gives my hand a grateful squeeze in return. “It hasn’t been easy, but I refuse to let anything hold me back,” she says, her voice filled with unwavering resolve.
“I can see that,” I reply, feeling a sense of admiration and respect growing within me. “And I have no doubt that you’ll achieve everything you set your mind to.”
Her eyes sparkle with a mixture of gratitude and determination as she looks at me. “Thank you for believing in me,” she says softly. “It means more than you know.”
As we continue talking, our conversation flows effortlessly between dreams, aspirations, and shared experiences. The dimly lit restaurant begins to fade into the background, leaving only the two of us, engrossed in each other’s stories.
When dessert arrives, Angelica reaches across the table and gently brushes her fingers against mine. The simple touch sends shivers down my spine, igniting a fire within me, but before I can capture her hand in mine, she pulls away.
Hours pass like minutes, and when we finally leave the restaurant, the night air feels charged with possibility. We stroll down the sidewalk together, our steps perfectly in sync.
“I had a wonderful time tonight,” Angelica says, breaking the comfortable silence between us. “It was nice to talk to someone and not dine alone.”
“Me too,” I reply, unable to hide my smile.
