All Chapters of WHEN TWO WORLDS COLLIDE.: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Monday mornings were never easy.Not for Richard.Not for Nadia.And certainly not for the employees at Lawson Global.Richard stepped out of the elevator exactly at eight-thirty, coffee in one hand and a folder tucked beneath his arm."Good morning, sir," Michael greeted."Morning.""You have three meetings before noon."Richard sighed dramatically."Only three?"Michael grinned."I was trying to sound optimistic."Richard laughed."Well, you've failed."The two men disappeared into the conference room as another busy week officially began....Meanwhile...At St. Anne's Elementary School, Nadia couldn't stop smiling.She had brought the leather journal Victoria gave her.During recess, her best friend, Lily Brooks, sat beside her beneath the old maple tree."What's that?"Nadia proudly showed her the journal."It was a gift.""It's pretty.""It has golden stars."Lily carefully flipped through the empty pages."What are you going to write?""Everything.""My dreams.""My ideas.""My

The first rays of sunlight spilled across Willow Creek, painting the fields in shades of gold.Unlike New York, mornings here weren't interrupted by blaring horns or the endless hum of traffic.Instead, the town woke to birdsong, rustling leaves, and the distant crow of a rooster.Nadia loved it.She stood barefoot on the farmhouse porch, a steaming mug of hot chocolate warming her small hands as she watched the sun climb over the hills."This is my favorite place," she whispered.Behind her, Grandma Eleanor smiled."I had a feeling you'd say that."Nadia turned."Can we stay forever?"Eleanor laughed softly."I don't think your father would agree."As if on cue, Richard stepped onto the porch, stretching after one of the best nights of sleep he'd had in months."I heard that."Nadia grinned."You could move here too."Richard chuckled."And who's going to run Lawson Global?""You can work from here.""If only it were that easy."Grandma Eleanor watched father and daughter with quiet

The restaurant was quieter than Richard had expected.Soft music played in the background while waiters moved between tables, carrying plates of food and glasses of sparkling water.Richard checked his watch.7:02 p.m.He looked toward the entrance.Then he checked his watch again.7:03.He almost laughed at himself.He had negotiated multimillion-dollar contracts without blinking.He had walked into boardrooms filled with men twice his age and never once felt intimidated.Yet tonight, waiting for Victoria, he felt strangely nervous.The doors opened.Richard looked up.Victoria walked in wearing a simple black dress and a long coat over her shoulders. She wasn't dressed like she was attending a business event.She looked relaxed.Natural.When she spotted him, her smile widened."Sorry."Richard stood."You're two minutes late."Victoria glanced at her watch."You're counting?""I might have been."She laughed."Then I apologize."Richard pulled out her chair."Please.""Thank you."

The following week passed quietly.For Nadia, quiet was good.She liked knowing what each day would bring.School in the morning.Homework in the afternoon.Dinner with her father.And, whenever possible, a phone call with Grandma Eleanor before bed.But lately, there had been one small change.Victoria.She was becoming a regular part of their lives.Not in a way that felt forced.She simply appeared.Sometimes she would come over for dinner.Sometimes Richard would pick her up after work.Sometimes Nadia would spend an entire afternoon talking to her about school while Richard sat in his office pretending not to listen.And Nadia didn't mind.Actually...She liked it.Very much.On Friday afternoon, Nadia sat at the kitchen table working on a science assignment when Victoria walked through the front door."Nadia?""I'm here!"Victoria followed the sound of her voice.She found Nadia surrounded by books, papers and colored pencils."What are you working on?""A project."Victoria loo

Victoria had never been good at keeping surprises.Richard had discovered that about her very quickly.She would try to act normal, but her face always gave her away. Whenever she had something planned, she smiled too much. Whenever she was hiding something, she became unusually quiet.So when she called him on Tuesday afternoon and said, "Don't make plans for Friday," Richard immediately knew something was happening."Why?""Because I said so.""That's not an explanation.""It's the only one you're getting.""Victoria.""Richard."He laughed."You're impossible.""I've been told.""And what exactly am I supposed to do on Friday?""Nothing.""Nothing?""Nothing.""Should I dress up?""No.""Casual?""Maybe.""Victoria.""Goodbye, Richard."The call ended.Richard stared at his phone.He smiled despite himself.Whatever she was planning, he was looking forward to it.Three days later, Friday finally arrived.Richard spent most of the afternoon at work, but his mind kept drifting.He ha