Chapter 56

• Damien leaned back in his chair, glancing up from his computer screen as he took a moment to rub at his tired eyes. Another day at the office had drawn to a close, but his mind remained preoccupied—not with projects or meetings, but with thoughts of Charlotte. Even now, during the hectic work week, the memories of their past intertwined with his present, making it impossible to shake off the lingering feelings that seemed to accompany her name.
• The familiar ding of his email notification pulled him from his reverie. He leaned in, eager to see who had messaged him, and felt his heart quicken when he saw it was from Charlotte. The excitement faded slightly as he clicked it open. She had sent yet another update about the necklace for Esther, but the absence of a phone call stung. Why couldn’t she ever reach out directly? Why was it always just emails?
• With a mix of caution and eagerness, he began reading through her words. Charlotte’s meticulous nature was evident even in her email; she had taken the time to outline her progress and described some changes made based on Esther’s feedback. As he imagined her at her workbench, surrounded by beads and tools, he could picture her focus, the way her brow furrowed in concentration, and her eyes sparkling with creativity. Those were qualities he hadn’t realized he would miss until they were no longer part of his daily life.