Chapter 10

The days following their encounter in the office were filled with an uncomfortable tension, both professional and personal. Damian’s concern for Sophia lingered in her mind, but there was a part of her that wanted to push it aside—wanted to keep things strictly business. She had always kept a strict line between her personal and professional life, and Damian was no exception. But the line between them was blurring, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could ignore it.

Sophia kept herself busy with work, trying to focus on the upcoming project with a level of intensity that left little room for anything else. But no matter how hard she worked, her thoughts kept returning to him. Damian’s words, his touch, the way he had looked at her—those things haunted her.

She couldn’t help but wonder if he was feeling the same way. Did he regret the moments of tenderness he had shown her, or had he simply been caught up in the emotions of the moment? It was hard to say, especially when he was so elusive. When he was around, he was still the same guarded, cold man who wore his emotions like armor. But when they were alone, when their eyes met for that brief second, there was something different.

It was a Tuesday afternoon when it happened again. The office was quieter than usual, and Sophia had just finished reviewing a set of reports when Damian walked into her office, looking as composed as ever.

“Miss Allen,” he began, his tone professional, but there was an edge to it she couldn’t ignore. “We need to go over some final details for the presentation. The client expects perfection.”

Sophia nodded, pushing her personal thoughts aside. “Of course. I’ll have everything ready.”

She stood to leave, but Damian didn’t move. Instead, he stood there, watching her with a gaze that felt almost… searching.

“You’ve been staying late a lot recently,” he remarked casually, but the undercurrent of concern was clear in his voice.

Sophia hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I’m fine. Just making sure everything’s perfect.”

Damian’s expression remained unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something that made her pulse quicken. For a moment, they just stood there, caught in an unspoken moment of connection. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. Damian turned and headed toward the conference room, as if nothing had happened.

The rest of the afternoon passed in relative silence. Damian and Sophia worked side by side, their focus entirely on the presentation, but their interactions had become oddly tense. Every time their hands brushed against each other, every time their gazes met, it felt like something was shifting between them. Sophia couldn’t tell if it was because of the work or if it was something deeper. All she knew was that the walls she had built around herself were beginning to crumble.

As evening approached, the office began to empty out. Sophia was alone in the conference room, making final edits to the presentation slides. The soft hum of the fluorescent lights was the only sound filling the otherwise silent room. Her mind kept drifting back to the previous days—the moments with Damian, the way he had spoken to her. She had never been one to read too much into things, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that something was changing between them.

She had just finished the last slide when the door to the conference room opened, and Damian stepped inside.

“Miss Allen,” he began, his voice more subdued than usual. “The presentation looks good. You’ve done well.”

Sophia looked up, surprised by the praise. Damian was known for his high standards, and to receive his approval felt like a rare thing. She smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

He stepped closer to her, his gaze softening. “You’re more than capable, Sophia. Don’t ever doubt that.”

Sophia felt her chest tighten at his words. “I don’t,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I can’t help wondering… why do you care so much?”

Damian’s expression faltered for a moment, as if he wasn’t sure how to respond. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, the words clearly caught in his throat. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he said, “Because you’re more than just another employee. You’ve been here for long enough to know that I don’t just give praise for the sake of it. You’ve earned it.”

Sophia took a step closer, her heart racing. “That’s not what I meant,” she said softly. “I meant… why do you always push me so hard? Why do you care what happens to me?”

Damian’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, he said nothing. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he replied, “Because… you remind me of myself. You’re driven, determined, and you care too much. And I don’t want to see you make the same mistakes I did.”

Sophia’s breath caught in her throat. She had never expected him to admit something so personal. She had always seen him as someone who was impenetrable, someone who didn’t let anyone close. But in that moment, she saw the vulnerability in his eyes, and it left her feeling more exposed than ever.

For the first time, she realized that Damian wasn’t just some distant, aloof boss. He was a man with scars, with a past that he kept hidden from everyone, including her. And though she didn’t fully understand it, she felt a pull toward him, an undeniable connection that was impossible to ignore.

The silence between them stretched on, both of them standing there, caught in the weight of the unspoken words. It was as if neither of them knew how to bridge the gap that had grown between them.

Finally, Sophia spoke, her voice softer than usual. “I don’t want to be like you,” she said quietly, though the words were more vulnerable than she intended.

Damian’s eyes flickered with something that resembled regret. “You don’t have to be,” he said, his voice low. “But you need to understand that I’m not perfect. And neither are you.”

Sophia nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of his words. She didn’t know where this was going or if they could ever truly understand each other. But in that moment, she knew one thing for sure: nothing would ever be the same again.

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