The CEO's Regret: Darling, Don’t Leave Me novel Chapter 41

Chapter 27: It’s Just “Work”-1

Ethan

And just when I thought there would be no way she and I would meet again, the call came.

The call came in at 7:12 a.m. I was already in the office, I’m always before everyone else.

I had finished reviewing the quarterly reports when Nicanor’s name appeared on the screen.

Nicanor? It was strange, after that day, after that meeting in which I felt like an idiot rejected for not receiving his contract, it seemed strange to me that he called me.

I hesitated for a moment to answer, I thought he was going to give me words of “encouragement” that I didn’t need. However, something inside me pushed me to answer.

“Ethan,” he greeted, direct. “I need to ask you something.”

I listened in silence.

I did not interrupt when he explained the investor. I didn’t ask unnecessary questions when he mentioned the Sinclair & Co. contract. I showed no reaction when he said her name.

Clara… I only listened to him as I hear any relevant data in a negotiation. Carefully. With calculus.

“The proposal is simple,” he concluded. “A strategic alliance. Blackwood Enterprises supports operational execution. It has recognition in the market, which inspires confidence for our investor.”

There was no awkward silence on my part… I didn’t hesitate.

“I accept the meeting,” I replied.

It’s that easy.

Nicanor seemed surprised by the speed.

“No preliminary conditions?”

“We’ll discuss them at the table.”

I hung up.

I stood for a few seconds looking at the switched off phone in my hand.

It was no surprise that Clara was growing up. I saw it coming from the moment she decided to leave. She always had vision. What I didn’t expect was that the market would put it in front of me so soon… and

under these conditions.

“An alliance,” I whispered.

Shared land.

Chapter 2149

My ego did not ignore the detail, the contract was hers. The investor doubted her. And the solution was to bring me.

There was a part of me that understood it for what it was; business logic. And another… quieter… that felt it as a second chance disguised as a strategy.

I got up and walked to the office window, seeing the city gives me a touch of tranquility when I feel my mind attacked.

Working with Clara didn’t bother me professionally, that was the most curious thing. What made me uncomfortable was knowing that I would have her around… Close to truth.

Meetings, decisions, technical disagreements, inevitable glances.

I remembered the event, Alexander half a step ahead. His hand on her lower back, the naturalness of her accepting him. I felt that little inner adjustment again.

Not jealousy, something more subtle, wounded pride, perhaps. That does hit differently.

I poured myself a black coffee without sugar. I thought

rejecting the proposal for a few seconds.

Not because of disability. But for control. It would have been easy to argue operational burden, strategic priorities, lack of interest in shared contracts.

But that would have been a lie, the truth was more uncomfortable; I wanted to be at that table.

I wanted to see how she led, I wanted to measure the woman she had become. I wanted to confirm-or deny-what I saw that night.

And accepting too quickly also said something.

I didn’t do it for her, I repeated that to myself. I did so because Blackwood Enterprises does not miss opportunities to position itself in high-impact projects.

That is the official version… The other… I kept it to myself.

When I arrived at the meeting the next day, I was the first to enter. I always am. I like to set the pace from

the beginning. As if that allowed me to keep control of things.

She entered safely, without hesitation. She sat down without asking for space, held my gaze without challenge… but without softening it. And I understood something immediate.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify