BILLIONAIRE’S HEART

Chapter 6

The evening came faster than Tamara had expected, and as she sat in front of her mirror, adjusting the collar of her blouse, she couldn’t help but feel a rush of conflicting emotions. Meeting Justin after all this time felt like a step backward. She’d worked hard to distance herself from that chapter of her life, but here she was—about to face him again.

What am I doing?

She glanced at her phone again, seeing the text from Justin confirming their dinner plans. He hadn’t been pushy, but there was an unmistakable tone in his messages—like he was hoping they could pick up where they left off. But that wasn’t what this was, was it? There was no going back, no matter how much Justin wanted it to be like the past.

Sighing, she grabbed her coat and walked out of the apartment, feeling an inexplicable weight settle on her chest.

The restaurant Justin had chosen was upscale, the kind of place where the ambiance was as important as the food. It wasn’t too far from the office, which made it convenient, but also a little too close for comfort. Tamara had expected Justin to pick somewhere quieter, somewhere more intimate, but this place was bustling—filled with conversations and laughter, the clink of glasses and the hum of background music.

She stepped inside and immediately spotted him at a table in the corner, waving her over with that familiar smile. Justin hadn’t changed much, his appearance as polished as always. He was tall, with neatly combed dark hair and a tailored suit that made him look every bit the successful man he always claimed to be. His eyes, though, still held that glint of nostalgia—that look that made Tamara wonder if he was really here for closure, or if he wanted something more.

“Tamara, you look stunning,” Justin greeted her, standing as she approached.

“Thanks,” she replied, offering a polite smile as she sat down across from him. She couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes lingered on her, as though he were trying to assess if she was still the same woman he’d known.

The waiter came by, taking their drink orders. As they settled into their seats, Tamara tried to ignore the tension building in her chest. This wasn’t just a friendly catch-up. There was something unspoken between them—a weight that neither of them had addressed, but that neither of them could escape.

“So, how’s work going?” Justin asked, leaning back in his chair, his gaze softening. “I heard you landed that role at Sington Corp. That’s a big deal, Tamara. I’m proud of you.”

Tamara hesitated. She hadn’t expected him to sound so… sincere. There was a part of her that wanted to believe him—wanted to believe that he was genuinely happy for her. But then there was the past. The way things had ended between them.

“It’s good,” she said cautiously. “Challenging, but I’m managing.”

“Managing?” Justin repeated, his lips curling into a knowing smile. “I bet you’re excelling. You always did. I remember the late nights, the effort you put into everything. You were always so… driven.”

Tamara shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She hadn’t expected to feel so vulnerable in front of him, but the way he spoke—like he still knew her better than anyone—was unsettling. She didn’t want to go down memory lane, not tonight.

“And you?” she asked, trying to redirect the conversation. “How’s your startup going?”

“Oh, you know,” Justin said with a shrug, though the hint of pride in his voice was undeniable. “It’s growing. Slowly, but surely. I’ve got investors lined up, and things are looking promising. But honestly, Tamara, I don’t really care about that tonight.”

Tamara raised an eyebrow, unsure if she should be relieved or concerned. “What do you mean?”

Justin leaned forward, his gaze intense. “I’ve been thinking a lot about us lately. About how things ended between us. I don’t think we ever really got closure, you know?”

Tamara’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t been expecting this, at least not so soon. She wasn’t sure what kind of closure Justin was seeking—he’d broken up with her, after all. But now he was here, talking like they could just pick up where they’d left off. Like they could go back to what they had before.

“I don’t know, Justin,” Tamara said, her voice quieter than she intended. “I don’t think there’s anything to go back to. We’ve both changed. And I’ve moved on.”

She watched his face fall slightly, though he quickly masked it with a smile. “You really think so?” he asked, his voice soft. “Because, honestly, I think about you all the time, Tamara. And I know I messed up, but I think we could work things out if you’d just give me a chance.”

The words hung in the air like a cloud of smoke, suffocating her thoughts. Did she want this? Did she want to go back to him, to that life?

Before she could respond, the waiter arrived with their food, and the moment was interrupted. Justin didn’t seem to mind, continuing to eat as if nothing had happened. Tamara, on the other hand, felt like she was suffocating. The weight of Justin’s words was more than she’d bargained for. She didn’t want to hurt him, but she also didn’t want to reopen a door she’d worked so hard to close.

She pushed her plate aside, suddenly losing her appetite. “I think I need a moment,” she said, standing up abruptly. “I’ll be right back.”

Tamara excused herself from the table, her heart racing as she walked to the restroom. She leaned against the sink, taking deep breaths, trying to clear her mind. Why does this feel so difficult?

As she stared at her reflection in the mirror, a thought crossed her mind—Lucas. It was strange, how his presence had been on her mind so much lately. She hadn’t been thinking about him when she agreed to meet Justin, but now, all she could think about was how Lucas would react if he knew she was here, facing Justin. He probably wouldn’t care, right?

But then why did the thought of him creep into her mind every time she felt unsure about anything? Why did it feel like a part of her was drawn to him, even though she barely knew him?

What am I doing?