DON'T EXPECT ME TO WAIT....
2972 Words
Amara had never seen Damian Blackwood look helpless.
Angry?
Yes.
Cold?
Every day.
Arrogant?
Almost professionally.
But helpless was new.
And unfortunately, it stayed in her mind.
For the rest of the afternoon, Amara worked as if nothing had happened.
She answered calls.
Organized schedules.
Sent emails.
Prepared documents for Damian's meeting.
And every time he called her name, she answered with the same calm professionalism.
“Miss Cole.”
“Yes, Mr. Blackwood?”
The first time she said it, Damian frowned.
The second time, his expression darkened.
By the fifth, he stopped pretending it didn't bother him.
At four thirty, he stepped out of his office.
“Amara.”
She looked up.
“Yes, Mr. Blackwood?”
His jaw tightened.
“Stop calling me that.”
She blinked.
“Calling you what?”
“Mr. Blackwood.”
She looked genuinely confused.
“But that's your name.”
“You never call me that.”
“You wanted professionalism.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I never said that.”
“You called me your assistant.”
“That doesn't mean—”
He stopped.
Amara waited.
He looked away.
“Forget it.”
She smiled politely.
“Of course, Mr. Blackwood.”
Damian closed his eyes briefly.
Amara almost laughed.
Almost.
But she remembered the hurt in her chest earlier that morning.
So she returned to work.
---
At five fifteen, Amara received a message.
ELIAS: How was your day?
Her fingers hovered over the screen.
She typed:
AMARA: Complicated.
His reply came quickly.
ELIAS: Damian?
She stared at the name.
Then sighed.
AMARA: Unfortunately.
A moment later:
ELIAS: Dinner tonight? No pressure. You can complain about him for two hours.
A smile slipped onto her face.
Damian saw it.
Of course he did.
“What?”
Amara looked up.
“Nothing.”
“Who is it?”
She stared.
“Seriously?”
“What?”
“You're asking me again?”
He looked away.
“No.”
“Yes, you are.”
“I asked what was funny.”
“It was Elias.”
Silence.
Amara leaned back in her chair.
“Would you like to inspect my phone too?”
Damian looked at her.
“No.”
“Good.”
She returned to typing.
“Are you going?”
Amara slowly looked up.
“To dinner?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Damian's voice dropped.
“Just answer.”
She studied him.
“Maybe.”
His jaw tightened.
“Maybe?”
“Yes.”
“With Elias.”
She sighed.
“Damian, you know his name.”
“I know.”
“Then stop asking like you don't.”
He said nothing.
Amara stood and picked up her bag.
“I've finished for the day.”
“You're leaving?”
“Yes.”
“It's five twenty.”
“My shift ends at five.”
“You usually stay.”
“Usually.”
Her eyes held his.
“But apparently, I should learn the difference between work and everything else.”
Damian knew that was about him.
“I didn't mean—”
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
Amara stopped.
For the first time, something in his voice made her look at him properly.
Damian stepped closer.
“You don't know what I meant.”
“Then explain it.”
His eyes held hers.
And once again—
He had no words.
Amara's face hardened.
“That is exactly the problem.”
She walked toward the elevator.
Damian followed.
“Amara.”
She pressed the button.
“What?”
“Don't go to dinner.”
She laughed without humor.
“You're doing it again.”
“I know.”
“Then stop.”
“I can't.”
The words made her freeze.
Slowly, she turned.
Damian stood a few steps away.
His expression was tense.
Like every word was being pulled from somewhere deep inside him.
“I can't.”
Amara's heart began to beat faster.
“What does that mean?”
He ran a hand through his hair.
“I don't know.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Amara—”
“You cannot keep saying that.”
“I know.”
“You don't know what you want. You don't know why you're jealous. You don't know why you care.”
Damian stared at her.
“You're right.”
The admission stopped her.
He almost never admitted she was right.
“And that is why I'm asking you for time.”
Her eyebrows drew together.
“Time for what?”
“To figure it out.”
Amara looked at him for a long moment.
Then she smiled sadly.
“Damian, I spent years figuring out my life.”
He said nothing.
“I don't have parents to fall back on.”
His expression softened.
“I have Noah.”
She swallowed.
“I have bills. Responsibilities. Dreams.”
Her voice became quieter.
“And I don't want to become the woman who puts her life on hold because a man can't decide if he wants her.”
Damian felt every word.
“You won't.”
“You can't promise that.”
“I can.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You don't even know what you feel.”
He stepped closer.
“But I know I don't want to lose you.”
The elevator doors opened.
Neither moved.
Amara looked at him.
Her breath caught.
For the first time, Damian had said something close to the truth.
But close wasn't enough.
“That's not the same thing as choosing me.”
His expression changed.
She continued.
“You don't want Elias to have me.”
Damian's eyes narrowed.
“No.”
“You don't want me to leave.”
“No.”
“You don't want me to say yes to him.”
“No.”
She nodded slowly.
“Then what do you want?”
Damian stared at her.
The elevator began to close.
Amara placed a hand between the doors.
He didn't answer.
So she stepped inside.
“Goodnight, Damian.”
The doors closed between them.
And Damian stood alone in the hallway.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then—
“Damn it.”
---
Amara did not go to dinner with Elias.
Instead, she went home.
Noah was sitting on the couch with a textbook open in front of him.
“You look angry.”
Amara dropped her bag.
“I am.”
“With Damian?”
She stopped.
Noah stared at her.
“What?”
“How did you know?”
He shrugged.
“You only make that face when you're talking about three things.”
“What three things?”
“Money. Electricity bills. And Damian.”
Amara threw a cushion at him.
“Shut up.”
He laughed.
“I'm right.”
“You're annoying.”
“You like him.”
Amara froze.
Noah stopped laughing.
“Oh.”
“Don't.”
“Amara.”
“Don't.”
His expression softened.
“You really like him.”
She sat down heavily.
“I don't know.”
Noah stared at her.
“That means yes.”
She sighed.
“He's impossible.”
“You always say that.”
“Because he is.”
“But you smile when you say it.”
She frowned.
“Whose side are you on?”
“Mine.”
She glared.
Noah smiled.
Then he became serious.
“Does he like you?”
Amara looked away.
“I don't know.”
“That sounds exhausting.”
“It is.”
Noah nodded.
Then placed a hand over hers.
“Then don't let him make you sad.”
Amara looked at her younger brother.
He was still young.
But sometimes, Noah understood more than she expected.
“I'm trying not to.”
---
That same evening, Damian did something completely out of character.
He went to Elias.
Not his office.
Not his home.
His factory.
Damian's driver stopped outside the modest industrial building.
The sign outside read:
HALE INDUSTRIES
Damian stared at it.
He had no idea why he was there.
That was another lie.
He knew exactly why.
Elias Hale was still inside, reviewing production records when his assistant entered.
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
“Damian Blackwood is here.”
Elias slowly looked up.
“Who?”
“Damian Blackwood.”
Elias stared.
Then laughed.
“That's unexpected.”
“Should I send him away?”
Elias considered it.
“No.”
He stood.
“Send him in.”
A minute later, Damian walked into the office.
Elias looked at him calmly.
“Mr. Blackwood.”
“Hale.”
The tension was immediate.
Elias leaned against his desk.
“I didn't realize my factory was important enough for a visit from you.”
“It isn't.”
Elias smiled faintly.
“Then why are you here?”
Damian's jaw tightened.
He hated this.
He hated every second of it.
But he had come too far to turn around.
“Amara.”
Elias's expression changed.
“Of course.”
Silence.
Then Elias crossed his arms.
“What about her?”
Damian looked directly at him.
“You asked her out.”
“Yes.”
“You want her.”
Elias didn't hesitate.
“Yes.”
The simple answer irritated Damian.
“You're confident.”
“No.”
Elias shook his head.
“I'm honest.”
Damian's expression darkened.
Elias continued.
“I care about Amara. I've cared about her for years.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you here?”
Damian had no answer.
Elias watched him carefully.
Then he smiled slightly.
“You like her.”
Damian said nothing.
“You really like her.”
Damian's eyes narrowed.
“Don't.”
“What?”
“Don't act pleased.”
Elias laughed.
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
“Maybe a little.”
Damian's jaw tightened.
Elias's smile disappeared.
“Then tell her.”
The words landed heavily.
Damian looked away.
“It isn't that simple.”
“Why?”
“You wouldn't understand.”
Elias gave a short laugh.
“Try me.”
Damian stared at him.
Elias's expression was calm.
“Amara deserves clarity.”
Damian's eyes hardened.
“I know.”
“No, I don't think you do.”
The words changed the room.
Elias stepped forward.
“You can't keep pulling her toward you and then acting like she means nothing.”
Damian's face became cold.
“Careful.”
“No.”
Elias's voice remained calm.
“I've been careful for years.”
Damian stared at him.
“I've watched Amara struggle.”
His voice softened.
“I watched her become responsible for Noah before she was ready.”
Damian said nothing.
“I watched her work until she was exhausted.”
Elias looked directly at him.
“And I watched her survive things that would have broken other people.”
Damian's expression remained unreadable.
Elias continued.
“She deserves someone who is sure.”
Damian's hand tightened.
“I am sure.”
Elias raised an eyebrow.
“About what?”
The question stopped him.
Damian hated that it was so simple.
What was he sure about?
That he didn't want Elias near her.
That he wanted to protect her.
That he wanted to hear her laugh.
That he hated when she cried.
That he knew when she was pretending to be fine.
That his home had felt warmer because she had visited.
That every day, he waited for her to walk into his office.
And suddenly—
Damian understood.
He wasn't sure when it had happened.
He wasn't sure how.
But he knew.
“I want her.”
Elias became silent.
Damian looked directly at him.
“I want Amara.”
Elias studied him.
“Then tell her.”
Damian's voice was low.
“I will.”
Elias nodded.
“Good.”
Damian frowned.
“That doesn't bother you?”
“Of course it does.”
Elias smiled sadly.
“But I want her to be happy.”
The words made Damian uncomfortable.
Because he knew he would have to learn that kind of love.
The kind that wasn't about possession.
The kind that cared about what she wanted.
Damian turned to leave.
“Blackwood.”
He stopped.
Elias's voice followed him.
“If you hurt her—”
Damian looked over his shoulder.
Elias smiled slightly.
“I'll be waiting.”
For once, Damian didn't threaten him.
He simply nodded.
“Fair enough.”
---
The next morning, Amara arrived at work expecting silence.
She was prepared for Damian's coldness.
Prepared for his mood.
Prepared to spend the day pretending nothing had changed.
But when the elevator doors opened—
She stopped.
Damian was waiting.
Not in his office.
Not behind his desk.
Waiting.
“Good morning.”
Amara blinked.
“Good morning.”
He looked nervous.
Damian Blackwood.
Nervous.
She immediately knew something was wrong.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
She stared.
“You look like you're about to fire someone.”
“I usually look like that.”
“True.”
He almost smiled.
Amara noticed.
He took a breath.
“Can we talk?”
She looked around.
“About work?”
“No.”
Her heart skipped.
Damian's eyes remained on hers.
“About us.”
The smile disappeared from her face.
There was no teasing now.
No joking.
Only silence.
Amara slowly nodded.
“Okay.”
Damian looked toward his office.
“Come in.”
She followed him.
The door closed.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Damian faced her.
“I was wrong.”
Amara stared.
“What?”
“I was wrong.”
Her eyes widened.
“Are you sick?”
His jaw tightened.
“Don't ruin this.”
She almost laughed.
Almost.
“About what?”
He looked at her.
“Calling you my assistant like that.”
Her expression softened slightly.
“I know I am your assistant.”
“I know.”
“Then why was it wrong?”
“Because you were asking me what you meant to me.”
Amara became completely still.
Damian swallowed.
“And I gave you the safest answer.”
Her heart pounded.
“Why?”
His voice dropped.
“Because the real answer scares me.”
She searched his face.
“Damian.”
He stepped closer.
“I don't know how to do this.”
“Do what?”
“Feel something and not try to control it.”
The honesty in his voice frightened her more than his anger ever had.
Damian looked at her.
“I can't tell you exactly what this is yet.”
Amara's expression changed.
“But—”
She began to step back.
Damian quickly continued.
“But I know you are not just my assistant.”
She stopped.
His eyes stayed on hers.
“And I know I don't want you with someone else.”
Amara's breath caught.
He stepped closer.
“I know I look for you every morning.”
Her eyes softened.
“I know when you're lying about being fine.”
Damian's voice became quieter.
“I know I hate when you skip lunch.”
Amara blinked.
He continued.
“I know my grandmother likes you more than me.”
A small smile touched her lips.
“And I know my house feels empty after you leave.”
The room went silent.
Damian's expression remained serious.
“That has to mean something.”
Amara looked at him for a long moment.
Then she whispered—
“Yes.”
His eyes searched hers.
“Is that enough?”
Amara's smile was soft.
“No.”
Damian's face fell slightly.
She continued.
“But it's a start.”
For the first time, Damian didn't look angry.
He looked relieved.
Amara crossed her arms.
“However.”
His expression changed.
“There's always a however with you.”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“And this time, you deserve it.”
He sighed.
“Go ahead.”
“You don't get to tell me what to do outside of work.”
“Fine.”
“You don't get to follow me.”
“Fine.”
“You don't get to interfere with Elias.”
Damian's jaw tightened.
“Amara.”
“Say it.”
He stared.
“Fine.”
“And you don't get to expect me to wait forever.”
His expression became serious.
“I won't.”
“You promise?”
“Yes.”
She studied him.
Then nodded.
“Okay.”
Damian exhaled.
The tension between them changed.
Not gone.
Never gone.
But softer.
He stepped closer.
Amara didn't move away.
“Are we okay?” he asked.
She smiled.
“No.”
His eyebrows drew together.
“What?”
“We're getting there.”
And to Damian's surprise—
He smiled.
A real smile.
Amara stared.
Then pointed at him.
“Oh my God.”
Damian immediately stopped.
“Don't.”
“You smiled.”
“I didn't.”
“You did!”
“No.”
“Damian Blackwood smiled!”
He frowned.
“You're making too much noise.”
Amara laughed.
And Damian watched her.
This time, he didn't deny the warmth in his chest.
This time—
He let himself feel it.
But neither of them noticed the woman standing near the glass doors outside his office.
Her name was Celeste Vane.
She had known Damian for years.
She was beautiful.
Powerful.
And she had always believed Damian would eventually choose her.
Now she watched Amara laugh.
Watched Damian look at her.
And for the first time, Celeste understood something dangerous.
Amara Cole was not just Damian Blackwood's assistant.
She was a problem.
And Celeste had never been known for ignoring problems.
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