Chapter 14 - THE LOVE NEITHER OF THEM EXPECTED
Damian and I didn't fall in love quickly.
There was too much history.
Too much grief.
Too much truth between us.
For months, we remained friends.
Careful.
Honest.
Sometimes uncomfortable.
He never asked me to forget what he'd done.
I never pretended his past didn't matter.
But gradually, something changed.
He began calling to ask about my classes.
I called when I needed advice.
We argued about books.
Movies.
Coffee.
He was terrible at cooking.
I discovered this when he invited me to dinner and burned the pasta.
I laughed so hard I cried.
Damian stared at the blackened pan.
“I've negotiated with governors.”
I grinned.
“And lost to spaghetti.”
He laughed.
A real laugh.
Not the controlled smile he used in boardrooms.
That evening, we ordered pizza.
Sat on the balcony.
Talked until midnight.
Then he looked at me.
“Chloe?”
“Yes?”
He hesitated.
“Can I ask you something?”
I smiled.
“Sure.”
“Would you ever consider going on a date with me?”
I stared.
For a moment, I didn't know what to say.
Then I laughed softly.
“Damian Cross, are you nervous?”
He smiled faintly.
“Terrified.”
I looked at him.
The man who'd once ruled through fear.
The man who'd hidden the truth about my father.
The man who'd finally chosen to change.
I took a breath.
“Yes.”
His eyes widened.
“Yes?”
I smiled.
“One date.”
He laughed.
“I'll take it.”
Our first date was simple.
A small restaurant.
No security entourage.
No private vault.
No million-dollar bets.
Just two people trying to understand who they were becoming.
At the end of the evening, Damian walked me to my car.
He smiled.
“Can I see you again?”
I looked at him.
Then nodded.
“Yes.”
He kissed my cheek.
And stepped back.
For the first time, love didn't feel like a dangerous game.
May you like
It felt like a choice.
One we were both free to make.
