The CEO's Regret: Darling, Don’t Leave Me novel Chapter 217

apter 150 Things Got Complicated

Claum

Chapter 150: Things Got Complicated.

Clara

The name on the screen stays there, illuminating for an instant everything that I am trying to keep under control.

I want to answer, God… I want to do it. But I can’t, not now, not here. Not in the face of this and even less so after what happened last night.

squeeze my lips slightly and with an almost automatic movement… I turn the phone. Screen down, silence. As if with that I could pause everything that is happening outside this room.

I look up and continue. As if nothing happened… But it’s not like nothing, because now there’s something else.

Something beating underneath all this, something that shouldn’t be here.

I will finish my speech, I will answer one last question. And when silence falls on the table…

Mr. Bustamante leans back slightly in his chair.

Their expression is different, more open, more… receptive.

“I must admit,” he says, “that this conversation has been much more productive than I expected.”

I feel something inside me loosen, just a little bit.

“The project is solid,” he continues. “And the projection… interesting.”

Interesting, it’s not a yes. But it’s not a no either.

It is a door ajar.

“I think it is worth further exploring.”

I nod.

“I agree.”

Alexander intervenes this time, contributes, reinforces. And for the first time since the

meeting began… We are aligned.

“Taking advantage of the fact that you are in the city,” adds Mr. Bustamante, “we could schedule a second meeting.”

Chapter 150 Things Got Complicated

More technical, more detailed.

“With my financial team.”

I feel the weight of that opportunity. And I don’t hesitate.

“Of course,” I reply. “We are available.”

Alexander nods beside me.

“We’ll stay as long as it takes.”

Mr. Bustamante closes the document in front of him.

“Good. So we coordinate.”

He stands up, so do we. We exchanged a handshake. This time… different.

Firmer, closer. More… real.

The meeting ends. And when we leave that office… I exhale, at last.

Claims

The hallway feels wider, lighter. But the tension does not disappear completely. Because I know…

That this is not yet closed.

“We must stay a few more days,” Alexander says as we walk. “Whatever it takes to fix this

with Bustamante.”

I barely look at him and nod.

“Yes.”

There is no room to refuse, not now. Not after this, not when I’ve just made up ground.

We left the building. The outside air hits my face.

And at that moment… My phone rings. I take it out of my bag almost immediately.

Ethan, his name on the screen again.

My chest tightens again, but I respond.

“Hello?”

“My love…” his voice comes instantly, loaded, “I haven’t heard from you since yesterday. How are you?”

Clam

apter 150 Things Got Complicated

I close my eyes for a second. That tone… That concern…

“I’m fine,” I reply. “Really.”

“I called you before, you didn’t answer.”

“I’m leaving a meeting right now.”

I try to sound calm, normal. As if nothing was out of place.

“Clara, get in the car.”

Alexander’s voice bursts in from up close, direct, without filter.

My heart takes a small leap. Because I know… I know Ethan heard him.

The silence on the other side of the line lasts barely a second. But I feel it.

“Is he who I think he is?” he asks.

His tone changes, hardens.

I swallow hard.

“Yes…”

The word comes out lower than I would like.

“Ethan, I…”

“You didn’t tell me Alexander was going to go with you,” he interrupts me. “You told me you

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