Chapter 56
1471 Words
CHAPTER 56
ANGELA
I looked at Damian for a long moment.
“You're not dealing with this alone anymore.”
Something inside me softened.
I hadn't realized how badly I needed to hear those words.
For days, I had been carrying the fear by myself.
Every strange phone call.
Every unfamiliar face.
Every time I looked outside and wondered if someone was watching me.
I had tried to convince myself that I could handle it.
But maybe I couldn't.
And maybe I didn't have to anymore.
A small smile appeared on my face.
Damian noticed.
“What?”
I shook my head.
“Nothing.”
“You're smiling.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because you said you'll help me.”
His expression softened.
“I meant it.”
“I know.”
I looked down at my hands.
Then I remembered the photograph.
There was something else he needed to know.
“Damian.”
“Hmm?”
“I need to show you something.”
His expression immediately became serious.
“What?”
“Wait here.”
I left the kitchen and walked toward my bedroom.
I opened the drawer beside my bed and pulled out the photograph.
My hands felt cold as I stared at it.
The photograph of Damian.
The one they had given me.
The one that had made me understand that this wasn't random.
They knew him.
They knew about me.
And they knew exactly what would scare me.
I walked back into the kitchen.
Damian was waiting.
His eyes immediately went to the photograph in my hand.
“What is that?”
I held it out to him.
He took it.
The moment he saw the picture, his face changed.
His eyes narrowed.
“Where did you get this?”
“A man gave it to me.”
“When?”
“Before the letter.”
He looked at the photograph again.
“Who was he?”
“I don't know.”
“What did he say?”
I swallowed.
“They told me to stay away from you.”
His eyes lifted to mine.
“What?”
“They told me to stay away from you.”
His jaw tightened.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“What else did they say?”
“That I shouldn't get close to you.”
He stared at me.
“And you were going to keep this from me?”
“I was scared.”
“Angela…”
“I didn't know what they would do.”
He looked down at the photograph again.
For a moment, I thought he was going to become angry.
Instead, he took a slow breath and looked back at me.
“You should have told me.”
“I know.”
“But I'm glad you told me now.”
I nodded.
“I didn't want you involved.”
He stepped closer.
“I'm already involved.”
I looked at him.
“You're my girlfriend.”
My heart skipped.
“And if someone thinks they can threaten you into staying away from me, they're going to have to answer for that.”
I couldn't help the small smile that appeared.
“You sound very confident.”
“I am.”
I laughed softly.
He smiled.
Then he placed the photograph on the counter.
“Now, we're done talking about them.”
I blinked.
“Done?”
“For tonight.”
“But—”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“I don't want to spend the entire night talking about people who don't deserve our attention.”
I stared at him.
“Then what do you want to talk about?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
He pulled out one of the kitchen chairs and sat down.
“I want some time with my girlfriend that doesn't involve work, threats, or worrying about what happens tomorrow.”
I smiled.
“You've really gotten used to saying that.”
“I'm not planning to stop.”
I sat opposite him.
“Okay.”
He leaned forward.
“Tell me something about yourself.”
“You already know things about me.”
“Not enough.”
I thought for a moment.
“What do you want to know?”
“What's something you loved as a child?”
I smiled.
“Books.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“What kind?”
“Romance.”
He smiled.
“That explains a lot.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“What does that mean?”
“You believe in romance.”
“I didn't say that.”
“You read romance novels.”
“That doesn't mean I believe in it.”
“So you don't?”
I shrugged.
“I don't know.”
He watched me.
“Interesting.”
“What about you?”
“I didn't read romance novels.”
“I figured.”
He laughed.
“I was more into adventure stories.”
“Why?”
“I liked stories where the person had to fight for what they wanted.”
I smiled.
“That sounds like you.”
“Maybe.”
I leaned back.
“What did you want to be when you were younger?”
“A pilot.”
I stared at him.
“A pilot?”
“Yes.”
“I can't imagine you flying a plane.”
“Why?”
“You're too controlling.”
He laughed.
“You've known me for how long?”
“Long enough.”
“Apparently.”
“What happened?”
“To the pilot dream?”
I nodded.
“My father wanted me involved in the family business.”
“And you agreed?”
“Eventually.”
“Do you regret it?”
He thought about the question.
“Sometimes.”
I studied him.
“Why?”
“Because I wonder what my life would look like if I'd made every decision for myself.”
The answer surprised me.
“You don't seem like someone who lets other people decide for him.”
“I'm not.”
He smiled slightly.
“But family is complicated.”
I nodded.
“I understand that.”
He looked at me.
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Did you ever have a dream?”
I looked down.
“I wanted a peaceful life.”
His expression softened.
“That's a simple dream.”
“Not for me.”
He nodded slowly.
“I know.”
For a moment, we were quiet.
Then I smiled.
“What else?”
“What else what?”
“What do you want to know?”
He thought.
“What's something that always makes you laugh?”
“Benedicta.”
He laughed.
“That doesn't surprise me.”
“She can be ridiculous.”
“I've noticed.”
“And annoying.”
“Definitely.”
I smiled.
“But she's my person.”
Damian nodded.
“I can see that.”
I looked at him.
“What about you?”
“My brother.”
“You have a brother?”
“Yes.”
“You've never told me much about him.”
“Because there's not much to tell.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“That's a lie.”
He laughed.
“Fine. He's annoying.”
“Everyone's brother is annoying.”
“Exactly.”
“What does he do?”
“He thinks he's funny.”
“Is he?”
“No.”
I laughed.
“You sound like Benedicta.”
“That's because I'm right.”
We both laughed.
And just like that, the heaviness in the room disappeared.
We talked about stupid things.
Favorite foods.
Movies.
Places we wanted to visit.
Things that annoyed us.
Things we secretly enjoyed.
Damian admitted he hated being late.
I admitted I sometimes turned off my phone just to avoid people.
He looked offended.
“You'd turn off your phone while I'm trying to reach you?”
“If you're annoying me.”
“I don't annoy you.”
I laughed.
“You do.”
“Give me one example.”
“You keep calling me girlfriend.”
“That's not annoying.”
“It is when you say it every five minutes.”
“I'll say it every four minutes then.”
I burst out laughing.
He smiled at me.
And for the first time in days, I wasn't thinking about the people threatening me.
I wasn't thinking about my job.
I wasn't thinking about what might happen tomorrow.
I was just sitting there with Damian.
Talking.
Laughing.
Enjoying his company.
And I realized that this was the first time we'd spent time together without some problem hanging over us.
It felt strangely normal.
And I liked it.
More than I wanted to admit.
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