16. NICK
It’s been a week since Izzy and I enjoyed the day in the park. I spent it moving around the state, meeting with business partners and clients as well as with different teams from my companies.
Now I was back, staring at the gorgeous woman who had never once left my thoughts.
Izzy moved with an effortless grace, navigating the bustling warehouse like a conductor orchestrating a symphony. Her energy was contagious, and even in the midst of the organized chaos, she exuded a sense of calm determination. My heart raced as I observed her. Each glance, each gesture, a reminder of the magnetic pull she had on me.
What could she be thinking? Did she even miss me?
I was afraid she would be pissed off because I’d suddenly gone cold, simply chatting with her or calling her about business matters. Most of the time, I immersed myself in my work while I was away, so I would not think about her. So, I could pretend that I didn’t care.
But it did not work.
Who was I kidding? I could not stop thinking about her wherever I went!
The hectic schedule did nothing to keep my mind off her. In fact, it seemed to have made it worse.
“Yes, you can place those there,” I heard Izzy say to one of the staff, pointing toward a room. Then she turned to another person. “Oh, hi! How did the shoot go? I do hope you took some time to rest, Riana.”
Of course, she was able to still be caring toward these people. Leaning against a stack of recycled materials, I couldn’t help but smile as I admired her. The way she interacted with the staff, her genuine concern for the environment, and the passion that fueled every decision she made—it was intoxicating. I’d missed this. More than I cared to admit.
Her laughter cut through the ambient noise, and I found myself drawn closer, unable to resist the gravitational force that seemed to bind us. She looked up, and for a moment, our eyes locked. The world seemed to pause, and I felt the unmistakable flutter in my chest.
God, how I’d missed those eyes.
Her eyes registered surprise. I gave a little nod. A stern one, most likely. She nodded back silently, acknowledging me but not giving any indication that there was still something more between us. I felt disappointed.
“Miss Turner…” Two women and two men approached her. Despite our awkward and silent exchange, she still discussed plans enthusiastically with them. She was a force to be reckoned with, and I was utterly captivated.
The ache to hold her, to feel the warmth of her embrace, surged within me.
I shook my head, scoffing. It was hard to believe that I was so enamored. It had never happened to me before, and it was just difficult to accept and handle.
Finally, she’s all alone. Here’s my chance to speak to her.
She started walking back in the direction of her office, not even bothering to turn toward me. Maybe she’d really gotten angry and just wanted to ignore me.
I sighed. It’s all my fault.
She moved fast, disappearing into her office and then coming back out again just as I was about to knock. We almost crashed into each other.
She gasped in surprise. “Hey,” was all she managed.
I finally had the chance to gaze into her uniquely beautiful blue-gray eyes again. I did not speak at once because I wanted to relish those few seconds of just admiring her looks and imprinting her face in my memory.
She was simply quiet but not moving, perhaps waiting for me to say something.
I smiled faintly. “Hi, Izzy. How are you?”
“Good, thanks.” Now that was quite formal. “And you?” she asked.
I nodded in my usual serious manner. “Yes, it was a fruitful tour of the state. My meetings were quite successful.”
“Great to know…” Then she looked at the watch on her wrist, which made me panic a little bit. Was she in a hurry, Or did she not want to spend time with me anymore. “Listen, Nick. I’d really like to give you an update of our business now, but I’m in a rush. I have an appointment to catch.”
She began to walk away, but I fell into step beside her. “Maybe you can give me a report along the way?” Fuck. That sounded desperate.
She gave me a puzzled look. “Well, if that’s what you want,” she said uncertainly, her steps becoming faster. But there was a part of me that did not want to let her go just like that. And I was curious about where she was headed.
Maybe it’s a date, a voice whispered in my head, making my heart thump harder. Maybe she’d found someone else while you were gone because you couldn’t give her time or show her that you actually cared.
“I’m sorry, where are you going again?” I asked, trying to sound casual. “Perhaps you can ride with me. I’ll take you there.”
“What?” She paused in her tracks and looked at me hard. She appeared bewildered and annoyed.
“Izzy, I’d like to accompany you if I may.” There, I said it.
She was quiet for a while, and then she simply shrugged. “Okay. You’re the boss.”
I didn’t know how to react to that. But I was so happy she agreed that I wanted to jump up and down.
Later, I found out that she did not have a ride and seemed to be running late. Perhaps that’s also why she agreed for me to take her. This must be something very important.
In the car, she gave directions to my chauffeur but did not specifically mention where we were going. I narrowed my eyes as I tried to figure it out based on the directions.
But then, she launched into the statistics and updates of her company. I already knew the figures, actually, but I liked listening to her and how she spoke passionately about EcoChic”s growth.
“We’re here, Sir, madam…” the chauffeur announced.
As we pulled up to the dog shelter, my eyebrow raised in surprise. The sleek city landscape had given way to a humble haven for our four-legged friends. The distant barks and wagging tails welcomed us as we stepped out of the car.
“Izzy, this is where your appointment is?” I asked in bewilderment, scanning the surroundings.
“I come here once a week,” she explained, leading me toward the shelter. “It’s my way of giving back, and I find it therapeutic. You’ll love it, trust me.”
Observing from a distance, I felt a bit hesitant about immersing myself in a world of wagging tails and canine enthusiasm. Izzy, however, seemed right in her element, effortlessly connecting with the dogs, who responded with boundless joy.
“Why dogs?” I asked, trying to understand her choice of volunteering. I’ve never been a fan of animals.
“Dogs are pure souls,” she replied, scratching the ears of a particularly excited pup. Her eyes glistened as she spoke. “They teach us unconditional love, and spending time here keeps me grounded.”
I continued to watch, contemplating whether I should join in. Eventually, the enthusiastic atmosphere drew me in, and I tentatively approached a group of dogs.
“Feeding time!” Izzy announced, handing me a bowl of kibble. “It’s easy. Just pour it into their bowls.”
As we worked together, our hands occasionally brushed, and a shared smile passed between us. The simple act of feeding the dogs became a bonding experience, and our other worries seemed to fade away.
“Ready for a game of fetch?” Izzy suggested, holding up a tennis ball.
I hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. “Sure, why not?”
The next hour was a whirlwind of laughter, playful banter, and the joyous chaos of dogs chasing after balls around the spacious backyard of the shelter. As we took a break, I found myself appreciating the unexpected detour.
“So…are you okay?” Izzy asked me as we went back to the car.
I nodded, grinning. “Well, except that I wasn’t dressed up for this…” I motioned to the paw prints on my expensive dress pants. “But no worries. I’ve got an extra pair in the car.”
Izzy giggled. “Sorry, but you insisted on coming.”
“And you didn’t bother to explain where you were headed.”
“Okay, sorry for not telling you. Are we good now?” she quipped jokingly with a melodic laugh that warmed my heart.
I felt great. It was a different kind of high. And I was glad that we were in good terms again.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Glancing at the screen, I noticed it was Catherine.
“Catherine, what’s going on?” I inquired.
“We’ve encountered an issue with one of the properties, sir,” she explained, providing a detailed account of the situation in which the land allotted for our residential project was used for unauthorized waste disposal.
I listened attentively, the information sinking in. In the past, my immediate response might have been to prioritize profit and efficiency, but something had changed. Perhaps it was the influence of the morning spent at the dog shelter with Izzy, or maybe it was a newfound awareness sparked by her dedication to environmental causes.
“Make sure the necessary precautions are taken to minimize environmental impact,” I instructed, surprising even myself. “The dumped materials should be properly disposed. And please coordinate with local authorities to restore the land. Also, ensure we’re complying with all environmental regulations. We need to prioritize sustainability and community well-being.”
After hanging up, I returned to Izzy, who was watching me with a curious smile.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Things will be okay,” I said.
Izzy beamed, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.
“I’m proud of you,” she added as we were heading back to the car.
I nodded casually, but inside I felt proud of myself too. Doing something for the planet gave me a different sense of satisfaction, joy, and pride.
I sneaked a glance at the woman who was inspiring me to change. She’s definitely changing me. And I think I’m liking it.