Daniel’s POV,
I sat in the quiet stillness of my office, staring at the untouched coffee on my desk. It was unusual for me to feel so restless, but staying away from Christiana had been necessary. I needed to slow things down, to think clearly. I had rushed into everything too fast, eager to be close to her. eager to help. She deserved better, and I couldn’t afford to make a mistake, not when my feelings for her were so… real
It didn’t matter that she was a mother of two. In fact, that made her even more extraordinary in my eyes. Christiana was strong, self–assured, and undeniably captivating. Every time I saw her with her kids, I found myself admiring her even more. But something inside me had warned against pushing too hard. She had a life, baggage that I respected, and if I was going to be a part of that, I needed to be sure of my own intentions.
I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. The weight of responsibility, both business and personal, was something I had never shied away from. But this… this was different. She was different.
The sound of my grandmother’s cane hitting the hardwood floors echoed down the hallway. I straightened up, just as the door swung open and the formidable woman entered. At seventy–eight, Grandmother Eleanor Brooks was still a force to be reckoned with, eyes as sharp as ever.
“Daniel, you’re brooding again,” she said, her voice tinged with amusement. “I can practically hear your thoughts from the
next room
I chuckled, gesturing for her to sit. Just thinking about Christiania,” I admitted.
Her eyebrows rose. “Ah, the woman who’s managed to catch my grandson’s heart
“Maybe,” I said, though we both knew it was more than that. Tve been staying away, trying to get a grip on myself. I don’t want to rush things and overwhelm her.”
Grandmother leaned forward in her chair, her gaze penetrating. Is that really why you’ve been avoiding her? Or are you
scared?”
“Scared?” I laughed, but it came out hollow. “I’m not scared.”
“You’re afraid that you’ll fall too deep, and she’ll slip away like all the others,” she said, her tone softening. “But, Daniel, love isn’t a business deal. It’s messy, unpredictable. You can’t control i
I sighed. “It’s more than that, Grandmother. She has two kids. Her life is… complicated.”
Eleanor smiled knowingly. “And you’re an adult man with responsibilities of your own. If you truly care for her, none of that will matter. Your brothers seem to think it’s a good match. They’re more than happy for you”
The mention of my younger brothers, Julian and Marcus, brought a smile to my face. Both in their late twenties, they were as supportive as ever, despite our sibling differences. Julian, the wild one, had teased me mercilessly about Christiana, while Marcus, the more reserved, practical one, had offered his usual quiet encouragement.
Julian thinks I’m crazy for waiting so long.” I said, smiling. But be doesn’t get it. This isn’t some fling
“No. Eleanor agreed, her voice gentle but firm. “It’s not. So why besitate?”
I glanced out the window, seeing the city skyline stretch endlessly. “Because I don’t know if I’m ready for what comes next. I’ve never felt like this before, not about anyone. But she’s been through enough. I don’t want to add to her complications.” My grandmother gave a soft sigh, standing up and placing a hand on my shoulder. “You’re overthinking this, Daniel. She’s a strong woman. If she’s meant for you, she’ll find her way to you, complications or not. Give her space, but don’t give up.”
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Fri, Oct 18
Chapter 78
As I watched her leave, I considered her words. My mind wandered back to Christiana, to her smile, her determination. The way her eyes lit up when she talked about her children. She had her own walls, just like I did. But maybe, just maybe, it was time to stop thinking so much.
I stared at my phone, Christiana’s name hovered in the contact list, waiting for me to press “call.” My thumb hovered over it, heart racing in a way that felt absurd for a man like me. I wasn’t some cold businessman or untouchable billionaire. I was just an architect, a man who designed buildings and spent his days sketching blueprints. And yet, here I was, hesitating over something as simple as a phone call.
With a deep breath, I tapped her name, listening to the dial tonering once… twice… three times. Then, nothing. The call went to voicemail.
My jaw tightened, frustration gnawing at me. She could have been busy, or maybe she needed time. But why did it feel like. something more?
I leaned back in my chair, the soft leather creaking beneath me as I stared at the phone again. Should I call her back? Would that seem desperate?
Hell, this wasn’t some project with deadlines to meet, but my head was treating it like one. I had to know where we stood. Had to know if the connection between us was still there, or if I had pushed too hard by staying away for a few days.
With a resigned breath, I dialed her number again. This time, the rings felt heavier, longer–stretching out like a reminder of every moment I hadn’t spent with her.
“Pick up. Christiana,” I muttered under my breath..
But again, the call dropped to voicemail, and I was left holding a silent phone. My chest tightened, the bitter taste of rejection creeping in, despite my efforts to ignore it.
I clenched my fists, trying to control the growing frustration. The kind of frustration I hadn’t felt in a long time. Not since… well, not since before I met Christiana, What the hell was going on? We’d shared moments that felt undeniably real. And yet, now, she was shutting me out.
I tossed the phone onto the desk, running my hands through my hair. Every part of me wanted to drive over to her place, knock on her door, and demand to know why she wouldn’t take my calls. But I knew better. I couldn’t force her to talk.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel this gnawing pull, something deep inside me that refused to let her go. Maybe I had given her too much space. Maybe, in trying to protect her, I had pushed her further away.
“Christiana,” I muttered softly to the empty room, my voice laced with the weight of everything unsaid. “What are you doing
to me?
The night before, everything had felt like a dream, like some perfect story written for us. But now, it felt like the nightmare had begun, and I was falling into it alone.
I could see her now, her eyes full of fire, the way she always stood her ground. The way she made me feel alive. Damn it–She was all I could think about.
But the cold truth was beginning to settle in. Maybe she didn’t want to talk to me. Maybe she had moved on, or maybe the complications I had tried so hard to avoid were catching up to us
For the first time in a long time, doubt crept into my mind.
I sighed heavily, standing up and walking over to the floor–to–ceiling window. The city lights twinkled below, showing a glow over the streets. Somewhere out there, Christiana was living her life, making her own choices, and I couldn’t control any of
My phone buzzed on the desk, and I turned quickly, hope rising–only to find it wasn’t her.
TEIT EN, UCL TO
Chapter 78
A sigh escaped me as I crossed the room, grabbing my jacket off the back of the chair. My heart still raced, every reminder that I had let her slip through my fingers, even for a moment.
beat a
“Il give her space. I whispered to myself, though the words felt hollow. How much space was enough before she was too far gone?
As I stepped out of the office and into the night, I knew one thing for sure–no matter what was happening now, I wasn’t going to give up on Christiana. I just couldn’t. Not after what we had shared, not after the way she made me feel like no one
ever had.
But maybe, just maybe, I had
to let her decide when she was ready to come back.
Even if it killed me to wait.
