Chapter 12

The days that followed felt like an emotional maze. The weight of Damian’s confession lingered in the air, pressing on Sophia’s chest every time she saw him. She couldn’t shake the feeling that everything had changed, yet nothing had really shifted. Damian had been more distant than usual, respecting her need for space, but the tension between them was undeniable. The small moments—the fleeting glances, the words left unsaid—hung like a shadow over their professional interactions.

Sophia did her best to keep her focus on work, to bury herself in reports and meetings, but it was harder than she anticipated. Every time she walked into the office, she felt the pull of his presence, the lingering energy between them. She had tried to convince herself that she could keep her emotions at bay, that she could remain detached from whatever was happening between them, but it was impossible. The more she tried to ignore it, the stronger it became.

One Thursday afternoon, Sophia found herself in the lobby of the building, waiting for a colleague who was running late for a meeting. She had been standing by the elevator, scrolling through her phone, when she felt a sudden presence behind her. Without needing to turn around, she knew who it was.

Damian’s voice, low and almost cautious, broke the silence. “You look like you’re lost in thought.”

Sophia’s heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t let it show. She gave a small, neutral smile, turning to face him. “Just trying to finish up some things before the meeting.”

Damian’s eyes studied her for a moment, as if searching for something. He was standing a little closer than usual, his usual confident demeanor replaced by a slight unease. “Sophia, I—”

Before he could finish, the elevator doors opened, and Sophia stepped inside, feeling an unexpected sense of urgency. “We should get to the meeting,” she said, cutting him off before he could say more.

The door closed with a soft chime, and for the rest of the ride, the two of them stood in silence. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken words, and despite the quiet, it felt like the room was closing In on her. She could feel Damian’s gaze on her, but she kept her eyes fixed ahead, pretending that the tension wasn’t there.

The meeting went as expected—professionally, efficiently, without much personal interaction between the two of them. But as the day wore on and the office emptied out, Sophia found herself standing in the hallway, facing the door to the conference room where Damian had just finished a call. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, her heart racing as if anticipating something she couldn’t control.

She hesitated for a moment before knocking lightly on the door. Damian’s voice called out from inside, smooth and commanding as always. “Come in.”

Sophia pushed open the door, stepping into the room. Damian was seated at the desk, his gaze lifting from the papers in front of him to meet her eyes. There was a quiet intensity in his expression, as if he had been expecting her.

“I wanted to talk,” Sophia said, her voice steady but carrying a sense of finality. “About what you said the other night.”

Damian’s eyes darkened slightly, a shadow passing over his face. He set the papers aside and stood, his posture straightening as he took a few steps toward her. “I thought we agreed on giving each other space.”

Sophia’s heart pounded in her chest. She hadn’t come here to avoid the conversation—she had come to face it, to confront the truth that had been gnawing at her for days. “I don’t want space anymore, Damian,” she replied, her voice quieter but full of resolve. “I can’t keep pretending that I don’t feel something. But I also can’t ignore the doubts, the fear…”

Damian was quiet for a moment, his eyes studying her intently. He could see the conflict in her—the same conflict that had been tearing him apart. He stepped closer, closing the space between them, but this time, Sophia didn’t pull away. Instead, she stood her ground, their proximity creating an undeniable charge in the air.

“I’ve spent my whole life building walls,” Damian said, his voice low but steady. “Walls around myself, around my heart. And it’s easier to keep people out than it is to let them in. But with you, Sophia, it’s different. You’ve made me question everything—everything I thought I knew about myself.”

Sophia’s breath caught in her throat at the honesty in his words. She had never expected him to be so open, so vulnerable. But in that moment, she saw the truth in his eyes, and it shattered the walls she had built around herself. She had been scared—scared of getting hurt, scared of opening herself up. But maybe… maybe the fear was worth it.

“Damian, I don’t want to be afraid anymore,” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. “I don’t want to hide from what’s between us.”

Damian reached out, his hand hovering just inches from her face, as if he was afraid that the moment would slip away if he touched her. But Sophia, unable to hold back any longer, closed the distance between them, her fingers brushing against his. The touch was tentative at first, but it was enough to spark something between them—something deep, something undeniable.

Damian let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “I won’t let you go, Sophia. Not again.”

Sophia felt her heart swell at his words. She had never expected this—never expected to find something real, something raw, with someone like him. But here, in this moment, with all their walls stripped away, she finally understood.

They didn’t need to have all the answers right now. They didn’t need to know what the future would hold. But they needed each other. And for the first time in a long while, that was enough.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***