Not one to wait, he opted to give her a call.
Ariana picked up immediately, but an uneasy silence followed as neither knew how to break it.
Eventually, Holden broke the ice.
His voice was tinged with concern.
âWorking late again? Donât push yourself too hard.
â
Feigning ignorance, Ariana saw her chance to express herself.
âI really donât want to work overtime, but this client seems impossible to please! Iâm stuck having to keep refining this proposal.
â
Holden let out an awkward cough.
âI happened to take a look at your proposal, and I know a bit about the energy industry.
Let me help you make it better.
â
Ariana responded with feigned enthusiasm, âThat would be fantastic!â
Holden pointed out several issues that needed fixing, and Ariana listened attentively.
She found his real-time feedback much more valuable than endless back-and-forth document exchanges.
During the call, Holden walked Ariana through the entire proposal revision.
As Ariana reviewed the greatly improved document, she let out a sigh of relief.
Experienced professionals like Holden had a different perspective, and with just a few pointers, her understanding had grown significantly.
She showered him with compliments.
âItâs obvious that youâre an expert, not just âsomeone who knows a bit!â You must work in this industry, right?â She subtly probed, hoping he would reveal his identity so she could end their contact if she eventually met him and felt let down.
But Holden chose to keep things ambiguous.
âI manage a small business and dabble in various areas, learning along the way.
â
Ariana, though unimpressed with his lack of detail, continued to flatter him, âYou must be incredibly bright.
It canât be just a small business.
With your sharp mind, you must have expanded the company significantly by now!â
Holden was amused by her compliments.
âSuccess in business requires more than just intelligence.
â
Their conversation flowed casually, and neither of them wanted to end iS Ariana gradually succumbed to exhaustion.
The day took a toll on her.
Listening to Holdenâs voice brought her comfort, reminiscent of being close to Theodore.
Her eyelids grew heavy, and she unconsciously drifted into sleep.
Holden, listening to her gentle breathing, felt an unusual sense of warmth and a feeling of contentment washed over him.
He brought out the engraved pendant she had left on the cruise and stared at the two sets of initials.
One set belonged to her.
Who could the other belong to?
A sudden realization hit him.
It was likely for her late husband, Theodore.