Chapter twenty: The Struggle within
Damien spent the following days caught in whirlwind of emotions. He couldn't stop thinking about Nina, and each time they crossed paths at the office, the same feeling he thought he had buried resurfaced with vengeance. It was as time had passed; the connection between them was still there, undeniable and strong.
But Nina wasn't making it easy. She remained distant, professional, and every time Damien tried to approach her outside of work matters, she skillfully deflected his attempts. Her coldness made it clear-she wasn't interested in their past. And yet, Damien couldn't help but wonder if there was still a part of her that felt the same pull that he did. He knew that his approach had to change. The relentless pursuit wasn't working. He needed to prove that he wasn't just the man who wanted to pick up where they left off-he needed to show Nina that he had grown, that he understood why they ended things, and that he was willing to fight for something real this time.
It wasn't easy. His mind raced as he replied every word, every gesture, every moment that they shared. He knew the heartbreak he had caused, the mistake he had made, and the wounds that still festered. He had let his family's expectation dictate so much of his life, and Nina had suffered for it. Now, he had to face the consequences of his choices.
Nina, on other hand, had been going through her own internal struggle. Every time Damien reached out, she felt the familiar stirrings of something deep within her heart. She hated how easily he could make her doubt her resolve, how his presence seemed to shatter the walls she had worked so had to build around herself.
She had been determined to leave the past behind. She had grown so much since their break up. She had built a life that was hers alone-independent, strong, and successful. But the ache of lost love never truly went away. It was there in quiet moments, in the late hour of the night when she couldn't sleep, in the stillness of her office when the world around her felt silent.
She had promised herself that she wouldn't make the same mistake again. She couldn't let herself fell in the same patterns. Damien had been a part of her life, yes, but that part of her had been left behind when they parted ways. She couldn't go back to time when her heart had been so vulnerable, so open, only to be hurt again.
But the truth was every encounter with him, every their eyes met across the room, every subtle shift in the air between them made her question if she had truly moved on. And that scared her.
One morning, Damien made a decision. He couldn't wait for Nina to come to him. If she was going to have any chance at all, he needed to take a risk-something bold. He had spent so many years living by his family's rules, by the expectations of others. But now, he realized that he needed to live for himself.
That afternoon, he invited her to lunch. He knew it was risky but he had to try something different.
When Nina walked in the restaurant, she immediately spotted at the table by the window. He looked up and gave her a small, genuine smile-a far cry from the cool, calculated CEO she was used to seeing. It was a side of him she hadn't seen in a long time. She hesitated at the door, but the host showed her to the table before she could back out.
As she sat down across from him, she felt a flutter in her chest. There he was-the man she had loved, the man who had left her, the man who was still in her thoughts despite her best efforts to move on.
"You wanted to talk?" she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.
Damien leaned forward slightly, his eyes focused on hers. "I wanted to apologize. Not just for the way things ended, but for not being the man you deserved when we were together. I was so focused on trying to met everyone's expectations that I forgot what really mattered."
Nina raised an eyebrow. "Tis isn't like you," she remarked. "I never thought you'd be the one to come and apologize. You always seemed so sure about yourself before."
Damien smiled, but there was a softness to it now, a vulnerability he hadn't shown before. "I wasn't always as sure as I seemed. I had a lot of pressure to live up to, Nina. And I let the pressure dictate the decisions I made. I let you go because I wasn't strong enough to fight for what I really wanted. And I'm sorry for that."
Nina stared at him, unsure of how to respond. The words he was saying were raw, honest, and it was something she had never expected from him. This wasn't the man she had known back then. This was someone different. But was it too late?
"You can't undo the past, Damien," Nina said, her voice quiet but firm. "You can't change what happened between us. We're are not the same people we were when we were together. And I'm not the same person who let you go without a fight."
"I know," Damien replied softly. "But I'm asking for another chance, Nina. Not to go back to what we had, but to see if we can build something new. Something real."
Nina took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She had sworn she wouldn't let herself fall back into this, but now, sitting here across from him, she felt the walls she had so carefully built begin to crumble.
She looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity in them. But she couldn't ignore the fear in her chest, the fear that giving in would only lead to more heartbreak.
"I don't know if I can trust you again," Nina said, her voice barely her whisper.
Damien reached out across the table, his hands resting lightly on hers. "I'll prove to you that I'm not the same man I was before. I'll do whatever it takes to show you that you can trust me. That you can trust us."
Nina looked at their hands, the touch of his skin sending a shock through her body. She felt the pull, the familiarity of being with him, but it scared her all the more.
"I need time," she said, quietly, pulling her hand away gently. "I can't make any promises, Damien. I need time to figure out what I want. And right now, I'm not sure what that is."
Damien nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Take all time you need. But I'm here, Nina. Whenever you're ready."
Nina stood up, taking a step back, her heart heavy with uncertainty. "I'll see you at the office."
As she walked away, Damien watched her go, knowing he had taken the first step toward mending what was broken. But it was only the beginning. The path ahead would be uncertain, and Nina's heart wasn't something he could win back easily. But he was determined to try.