Damon burst out of the office, like he had springs under his feet.
He spotted Svetlana waiting for him, her eyes scanning the surrounding area. "Lana!" he called out, his voice filled with excitement.
Svetlana turned around, a hint of a smile on her face.
The nickname "Lana" was one that she was called with in their circle, it was short Svetlana, if that wasn't clear.
"Sorry I took long," Damon said, his smile faltering for a moment as he scratched his head nervously.
Svetlana's cheeks flushed with a soft pink hue, but Damon didn't notice, still reeling from the news he had just received. "No, I don't mind," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Damon's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he looked at Svetlana. "We should leave," he said, glancing around the area. "They probably arrived."
Referring to the twins and Ty.
As they strolled to the restaurant, Damon's grin was impossible to contain.
His excitement was infectious, and Svetlana found herself smiling along with him.
The atmosphere was relaxed, and their conversation flowed effortlessly.
They discussed everything from their shared love of martial arts to their favorite music and humor.
Damon was struck by how much they had in common, despite their different backgrounds.
Their connection went beyond surface-level similarities, though.
Damon sensed that they shared a deeper understanding, one that didn't require words.
It was as if they both knew what it was like to carry scars, to have experienced traumas that they wished to keep hidden from the world.
When their eyes met, Damon felt like Svetlana saw right through to his soul, and he hers.
Their shared experiences, though unspoken, created a sense of comfort and familiarity between them.
Damon felt at ease in Svetlana's presence, like he could be himself without fear of judgment.
He enjoyed spending time with her, not just because of their shared interests, but because he felt like he could be his authentic self around her.
As they entered the restaurant, the aroma of savory dishes was carried through the air, making their stomachs growl with hunger.
She had a feeling that this announcement was connected to the news he had received earlier, the news that had left him beaming with excitement.
Ty leaned forward, his large frame subconsciously inclining towards Damon, like a tree bending in the wind.
"And?" Ash prompted, seemingly couldn't handle the anticipation.
Damon paused, savoring the moment, like a performer about to reveal a grand finale. "Okay, so the reason that me and Lana were late, it's because I was meeting Victor," he began.
"So, you guys know about the UFA's upcoming show," Damon said, his voice filled with excitement, explaining the show and its details.
Ashley nodded, interjecting, " Oh yeah, I heard about that, I didn't think they were going to go along with it," she shrugged.
Damon smiled and looked at everyone faces wanting to see their reaction, "I just found out that I have a chance to fight for a spot in the show."
"..."
Everyone's eyes widened in surprise, and they paused for a moment.
Then, their faces broke into smiles. "Congratulations, man! That's amazing news!" Ash exclaimed.
"Wow, that's huge!" Ashley added, her voice filled with excitement.
Ty nodded his head in approval. "That's great, Damon. You deserve it."
Svetlana smiled warmly. "I'm so happy for you, Damon. You've worked so hard for this."
The group continued to offer their congratulations, their voices filled with enthusiasm and support.
Ash leaned back in his chair, letting out a dramatic sigh as he looked at Ty. "Big guy, it looks like it's just you and me left. Soon, we'll have another star among our midst," he said, his tone exaggerated for comedic effect.
Svetlana interjected, a hint of playfulness in her voice. "Hey, what about me?"
Ash turned to her, a teasing look in his eye. "Haa, don't act like you won't be signed anytime soon," he said, his words with unhidden confidence.
The group didn't disagree with Ash's assessment.
Svetlana had an outstanding record, and her skills had already attracted attention from other promotional companies.
It was only a matter of time before she received a lucrative offer.
The lunch continued, now more upbeat than before, with Damon's good news still affecting the mood.