Damian’s POV
I hear myself say it, and the second the words leave my mouth, I want to grab them back out of the air before Clara can fully understand what I’ve just handed her.
“Not the company.” My voice comes out rougher than I intend, quieter, more certain than anything I’ve said in months. “Me. I don’t want you to leave me.”
Clara stares at me, her lips parted slightly, and I watch a dozen different reactions cross her face before she settles on none of them at all, just silence, heavy and impossible between us.
“I should go.” Her voice comes out unsteady, and she’s already stepping back toward the door before I can stop her. “The Hale documents need finalizing.”
“Clara—”
“I have to go, Damian.” She doesn’t look back. The door clicks shut behind her, and I stand alone in my offic
