Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN WHO REFUSED HIS PROTECTION
Dante visited Gemma's office one evening.
She was still working.
Stacks of files covered her desk.
“You should go home,” he said.
Gemma looked up.
“You sound like my old boss.”
Dante smiled.
“He was terrible.”
She laughed.
He placed a paper bag on her desk.
Dinner.
Her favorite soup.
Fresh bread.
Gemma stared.
“You remembered.”
Dante shrugged.
“I pay attention.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Since when?”
He smiled sadly.
“Too late, apparently.”
Silence settled between them.
Gemma looked down.
“Dante.”
He waited.
“You don't have to keep doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Trying to make up for everything.”
He sat opposite her.
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“Then why?”
Dante hesitated.
“Because I want to.”
Gemma's heart quickened.
She looked away.
“That's dangerous.”
Dante nodded.
“I know.”
She swallowed.
“You were going to marry Bianca.”
“I was going to sign a contract.”
Gemma looked up.
He continued.
“I told myself it was duty.”
He paused.
“But the truth is, I was afraid to choose anything for myself.”
Gemma stared.
Dante leaned forward.
“And now I know what I want.”
Her breath caught.
But before he could continue, she raised a hand.
“Don't.”
He stopped.
Gemma's eyes filled.
“Not yet.”
Dante nodded.
“Okay.”
For the first time, he understood that love could not be demanded.
May you like
It had to be offered.
And sometimes, it had to wait.
