Chapter 11 - THE FIRST DATE THAT TERRIFIED HIM
Darius Hamilton had negotiated billion-dollar contracts without blinking.
He'd faced armed rivals across polished tables.
He'd purchased companies while their executives pleaded for better terms.
But standing outside a small Italian restaurant waiting for Caitlyn Elmore made him feel like an awkward teenager.
He checked his watch.
Then checked it again.
She was three minutes late.
He reminded himself that three minutes wasn't late.
Not really.
Then she appeared.
She wore a dark green dress and a black coat.
Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders.
No tablet.
No headset.
No documents.
Just Caitlyn.
Darius forgot what he intended to say.
She smiled.
"Hello."
"Hello."
He cleared his throat.
"You look beautiful."
Her cheeks turned pink.
"Thank you."
For a moment, they stood awkwardly.
Then Caitlyn laughed.
"Are you nervous?"
Darius considered lying.
Instead, he nodded.
"Very."
She stared.
Then burst into laughter.
The sound made something in his chest loosen.
Dinner was ordinary.
Wonderfully ordinary.
They talked about childhood.
Favorite books.
Terrible movies.
Music.
Caitlyn told him about Tommy's obsession with old rock bands.
Darius admitted he secretly loved baking bread.
She stared.
"You bake?"
"Sometimes."
"The most feared man in Chicago makes sourdough?"
He sighed.
"I knew telling you was a mistake."
She laughed until tears filled her eyes.
For the first time, Darius understood why people enjoyed being known for something other than power.
After dinner, they walked through a quiet neighborhood.
Snowflakes drifted beneath the streetlights.
Caitlyn tucked her hands into her coat pockets.
"Darius, can I ask something?"
"Anything."
"Why did you let me sleep on your shoulder?"
He looked surprised.
"Because you were exhausted."
"You could have moved."
"Yes."
"You could have woken me."
"Yes."
"But you didn't."
He looked toward the snowy sidewalk.
"For years, I believed being a good leader meant demanding more than everyone else thought possible."
Caitlyn listened.
"That night, I looked at you and realized I'd stopped seeing the cost."
Her throat tightened.
Darius continued.
"You were doing the work of several people. You hadn't slept. You were frightened that taking one day off would threaten your brother's care."
He shook his head.
"And I hadn't noticed."
Caitlyn looked down.
"You were busy."
"That isn't an excuse."
She smiled faintly.
"No. It isn't."
They walked in silence.
Then she said, "I used to think you hated weakness."
Darius looked at her.
"I did."
"And now?"
He considered the question.
"I think I confused vulnerability with weakness because I was afraid of showing any myself."
Caitlyn studied him.
He smiled sadly.
"I spent years being feared. It's surprisingly lonely."
She stopped walking.
"Darius."
He turned.
"You don't have to be feared by everyone."
His expression softened.
"I know."
She took a breath.
"And you don't have to be perfect with me."
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then he held out his hand.
"May I?"
Caitlyn looked at it.
A hand that had signed contracts worth billions.
A hand that had once issued orders without question.
Now it waited for permission.
She smiled.
"Yes."
Her fingers slipped into his.
May you like
And Darius Hamilton discovered that being chosen freely felt more powerful than being obeyed.
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