My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 1044

Another half hour slipped by. The rain kept pounding, but Andrew Lane waited, calm and unhurried, scrolling through company files on his tablet.

Without even glancing up, he told his driver, “You can head back. There’s an umbrella in the car.”

The driver breathed out, clearly relieved. He really hadn’t wanted to keep waiting in this downpour. After thanking Andrew, he grabbed the umbrella and hurried away.

Andrew didn’t mind being alone. Patience was his thing, both in business and in life. He was the kind of man who played the long game, always willing to invest whatever it took to get what he wanted. Patience was his sharpest weapon.

The rain outside was relentless. Andrew finally looked up from his work and stared at the glowing windows of the apartment complex across the street.

Emily Blair lived somewhere in there. Just thinking about it made something in him soften.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He went back to reading, but his mind kept drifting. He’d heard Tristan Davis was about to leave on another business trip. That meant this was his best shot with Emily.

He could wait for her. After the way he’d treated her before, he figured he deserved whatever coldness she wanted to send his way.

About an hour later, he finished the last document and rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the stiffness from sitting so long. He checked the time, then looked outside again. Most of the apartment lights had gone dark, just a few windows still glowing.

He glanced at his phone, hoping for a message from Emily. Nothing. No texts, no calls.

He let out a quiet laugh. That was so like her… tough as nails.

It was late, and she clearly wasn’t coming down. Andrew packed up the back seat, reclined his chair, and pulled a blanket over himself. He took off his glasses, closed his eyes, and tried to rest.

A sudden flash of light crossed the car. Andrew opened his eyes and sat up, peering through the rain-splattered window.

Resigned, she grabbed a jacket, her umbrella, and a flashlight, then headed out into the rain.

Now, standing in front of him, she frowned and said, “Mr. Lane, what exactly are you trying to do?”

Andrew stopped in front of her, his eyes steady and deep. Even in the rain, his gaze was intense, almost impossible to look away from.

He held out the gift bag. “It’s for you.”

Emily took a breath, trying to stay calm. “Mr. Lane, I already told you, I’m not taking it. I didn’t come down here for your gift. I just wanted to set things straight. Go home. There’s no point in waiting.”

Andrew just kept holding out the bag, his voice low and gentle. “It’s okay. If you don’t want it, you can just head back up. I’ll leave in the morning when you go to work. No need to worry about me.”