Chapter 17

The days after that evening in the office passed by in a blur. Every interaction with Damian felt different—more open, more honest—but it also felt like they were walking on a tightrope, teetering between progress and the potential for disaster. Sophia had allowed herself to start trusting him again, but she was cautious. She couldn’t forget what had happened, nor could she pretend that everything was fine. But every time Damian proved that he was trying, that he was fighting for her, the cracks in her walls seemed to grow wider.

Still, she wasn’t sure if she was ready to take the next step. There were too many unanswered questions, too many fears weighing her down. She had always prided herself on being independent, on being able to stand on her own two feet. Letting someone in—truly letting them in—felt like an act of vulnerability she wasn’t sure she could handle.

The next week, a new challenge arose. The company’s biggest deal of the year was coming to a head, and the pressure was mounting. Sophia had always excelled under pressure, but this time it felt different. It wasn’t just the usual stress of a high-stakes project—it was the knowledge that Damian was counting on her, and the fear that she might fail him, fail them both. They were already so fragile—if this deal fell through, would it push them apart? Would it be the final straw?

Sophia found herself sitting at her desk late one evening, reviewing the numbers and contracts once more. Her mind was racing, trying to anticipate every possible outcome. But the thoughts of Damian kept creeping in, distracting her, pulling her focus away from the task at hand. She couldn’t deny it anymore—she was becoming more invested, more involved in his world, and it scared her.

Just as she was about to send the final version of the report, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, surprised to see a message from Damian.

“Can we meet? I know it’s late, but I need to talk to you.”

Sophia hesitated for a moment before replying.

“I’m working late. Is it urgent?”

“Yes. But it’s not about work. It’s about us.”

Sophia felt her heart skip a beat. She had been waiting for this conversation—for him to finally be open with her about everything. The anticipation of it made her stomach tighten, but she knew she couldn’t put it off forever.

“Okay. I’ll be at the usual place in ten minutes.”

She stood up, grabbed her jacket, and walked out of the office, trying to push the anxiety from her mind. The walk to the small café they had frequented in the past was short, but each step felt heavy. The cool night air did little to calm the storm brewing inside her.

When she arrived, Damian was already there, sitting at their usual table by the window, his back slightly hunched, his fingers tapping restlessly against the surface. He looked up when she entered, his eyes dark with uncertainty, and motioned for her to sit.

Sophia took a deep breath before sitting across from him, her eyes never leaving his. She had been dreading this conversation, but now that it was here, she couldn’t hold back the questions any longer.

“What’s going on, Damian?” she asked softly, trying to mask the unease in her voice.

Damian met her gaze, his face serious, his jaw tense. “I don’t know how to do this, Sophia. I don’t know how to fix what’s broken between us. But I need to try. I can’t keep pretending like I’ve got everything figured out, like I’m not afraid of losing you.”

Sophia’s heart raced at his words. She had heard the vulnerability in his voice before, but this felt different. This was raw, unfiltered honesty. And it made her realize how much she, too, was afraid of losing him.

“I’m not asking for a miracle,” Damian continued. “I know I’ve made mistakes. I know I’ve hurt you, and I’ll never be able to undo that. But I want to prove to you that I’m not that man anymore. I’m willing to work for this—for us. But I can’t do it if you’re not willing to trust me, even just a little bit.”

Sophia felt a lump form in her throat as she listened to him. Her heart wavered between the desire to believe him and the fear of being let down. Trust wasn’t something she could give easily—not after everything that had happened. But sitting across from him now, seeing the genuine remorse in his eyes, she realized how much he truly cared.

“I’m trying, Damian,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I really am. But it’s hard. I don’t know if I’m ready to trust you completely again. I’m scared that if I do, you’ll hurt me again.”

Damian reached across the table, his hand hovering just above hers before he gently placed it on top. The simple gesture sent a jolt of electricity through her, and for a moment, she wanted to pull away. But instead, she let his touch ground her, reminding her that this moment was real, and that she didn’t have to face it alone.

“I won’t hurt you, Sophia,” he promised softly. “I know I’ve broken your trust, but I’ll spend every day trying to rebuild it. You don’t have to forgive me right away. I understand that. But if you’ll let me, I’ll show you, little by little, that I’m worth that trust.”

Sophia’s heart was a tangled mess of conflicting emotions. Her mind screamed at her to be cautious, to protect herself, but her heart… her heart was telling her something else. It was telling her that maybe, just maybe, Damian was worth the risk.

The silence between them was thick, filled with unspoken feelings and lingering doubts. Finally, Sophia exhaled slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m scared, too. But I’m willing to try.”

Damian’s eyes softened, his thumb brushing gently against her hand. “That’s all I can ask for.”

For the first time in a long while, Sophia felt like she was standing at the edge of something new—a new beginning, maybe, or a fresh start. It was terrifying, but it was also exhilarating.

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