96 A Stirred Past and Present

Emma, feeling as though Alex was an inescapable presence in her life, found herself sharing lunch with Desmond at a new restaurant. Despite her efforts to focus on Desmond's company, she couldn't help but feel distracted, her gaze wandering around the restaurant. Desmond, frustrated with Emma's lack of attention, voiced his displeasure. "I thought today was about us, yet here you are, lost in your thoughts. Is my company that uninteresting to you?" His tone carried a mix of hurt and irritation. Emma, realizing she had been unintentionally neglecting him, offered a hurried apology. "No, it's not that. I've just been a bit preoccupied lately. Tell me, how's the restaurant business coming along?" Their conversation took a turn towards Desmond's new venture, but Emma's mind was elsewhere, lingering on her past with Alex and the complicated emotions that came with it. As they discussed, Desmond suddenly leaned in, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "Do you still have fee