Chapter 14

The days that followed were quiet, yet something had undeniably shifted between Damian and Sophia. They were no longer just two colleagues navigating the delicate balance of professionalism; there was a new understanding between them. It wasn’t perfect—there were moments of tension, moments of uncertainty—but there was also something else: hope.

Sophia had allowed herself to soften, to embrace the idea that maybe, just maybe, this connection with Damian wasn’t a fleeting mistake but something real. She wasn’t ready to dive into it completely, but she could no longer deny the pull she felt every time he was near.

Damian, for his part, seemed to be taking things in stride. His usual aloofness was tempered by moments of tenderness that surprised her—small gestures like holding the door open for her or a soft smile that lingered just a little too long. It was like watching a man who had been hardened by life slowly start to let go of his defenses, piece by piece. But while the connection between them was growing, neither of them had ventured to fully explore what it meant.

It was another late night at the office when the unexpected happened. The company was preparing for a major presentation the next day, and Sophia found herself once again staying late to finalize the details. The hum of the fluorescent lights and the steady clicking of her keyboard were the only sounds that filled the room. She had been so focused on her work that she didn’t even notice Damian until he was standing at the door of her office.

“Sophia,” he said, his voice breaking the silence. She looked up, startled, but quickly masked it with a neutral expression.

“Damian. What’s going on?”

He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click. He looked different tonight—his usual sharp attire slightly disheveled, his usually controlled expression more tense than usual. There was an edge to his voice that she hadn’t heard before.

“I need to talk to you about something,” he said, his tone serious.

Sophia frowned, setting her pen down. “What is it?”

Damian took a deep breath, his eyes searching hers. “There’s something I haven’t told you—something that’s been weighing on me for a while now.”

Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. Her first instinct was to pull away, to shut down before she got too invested. But something in the way he was looking at her stopped her. There was no arrogance in his gaze, no walls. There was only vulnerability.

“What is it?” she asked again, her voice softer this time, almost coaxing.

Damian hesitated, running a hand through his hair. He looked more conflicted than she had ever seen him, as if he were battling with himself over whether or not to speak. Finally, he met her gaze, and the words came out in a rush.

“I lied to you, Sophia,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “When I first hired you… I knew more about your past than I let on.”

Sophia’s eyes narrowed, a mixture of confusion and suspicion flooding her. “What do you mean?”

He moved closer to her desk, his posture tense. “I knew about the accident. About your father’s company. I knew about your… well, your history.”

Sophia felt the blood drain from her face. She stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. “You knew?” Her voice cracked with disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to think I was using it against you,” Damian replied, his voice tinged with guilt. “I didn’t want to bring up something that would make you resent me, make you think I was trying to manipulate you.”

Sophia took a step back, trying to process what he had just said. Her mind was a whirlwind. She had always known there was something strange about Damian’s interest in her, but this? This was a whole new level of deception.

“I don’t understand,” she murmured, shaking her head. “Why would you hire me if you knew everything? Why go through all of this?”

Damian’s expression softened, regret flashing in his eyes. “Because I saw something in you, Sophia. Something that made me believe you were the right person for this job. Something I couldn’t get out of my head. I thought I could keep it professional, keep it about the work, but… it wasn’t just about that. I’m not a good person, Sophia. I’ve done things—things I’m not proud of—and when I met you, I saw a chance to… make things right. I thought maybe if I could help you, if I could get close to you, I could redeem myself in some way.”

Sophia felt a cold shiver run down her spine. Her initial instinct was to walk away, to shut him out like she had done so many times before. But something in his words, the raw honesty in his voice, made her stop. She couldn’t just dismiss it—not when it was clear how much he was struggling with the truth.

“I don’t know if I can trust you after this, Damian,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, the hurt clear in her eyes.

Damian stepped forward, his gaze intense. “I never meant to hurt you, Sophia. I never meant to use your past against you. I just… I just couldn’t help myself. And now, I’m asking you—no, begging you—to give me a chance to prove that I’m not the man you think I am. I’m not just the guy who’s been keeping secrets from you.”

Sophia stood there, torn between the anger she felt and the part of her that wanted to believe him. She had always told herself that she would never let anyone manipulate her, that she would never let her emotions cloud her judgment. But Damian’s confession was raw—too raw to ignore.

For the first time, Sophia realized just how much of herself she had been holding back, how much of her own past she had kept buried. And maybe, just maybe, they were both running from the same thing: the fear of trusting someone enough to let them in.

“I need time,” she said, her voice steady but firm. “I need time to think about all of this.”

Damian nodded, his face a mask of regret and understanding. “Take all the time you need. I’ll be here, whenever you’re ready.”

Sophia watched him leave, the weight of his words lingering in the room long after he was gone. The truth had been laid bare, and she didn’t know what to do with it. But one thing was clear—everything had changed.

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