Chapter 19: Next Time
1431 Words
Dario’s POV
“Sir. Davin, please.. please accept my sincerest apologies.”
The manager’s voice trembled as she spoke. Her hands were clasped in front of her like she was praying to be spared.. well technically, she was. “Such insolence will never happen again. I take full responsibility for what happened.”
I leaned back in the leather chair, silent.
The glass walls of her office reflected her nervous face from a dozen angles. Outside, her employees whispered like insects behind the frosted divider, trying to catch a glimpse of the woman.. the reason why security had three of their customers dragged out in tears.
“It already did,” I finally said, my voice was calm and even yet it made her flinch.. “Fix it.”
“Yes, sir,” she stammered. “Of course, sir.”
Emily quietly sat beside me, stiff, her hands folded over her bag. Her eyes darted between the manager and me, I could tell she was still unsettled by the chaos in the boutique moments earlier.
I could feel her anger and embarrassment fighting against the quiet satisfaction of punishing and seeing her bullies thrown out.
The manager’s gaze slid nervously toward Emily, her tone softening immediately. “Mrs. Davin, I am deeply, deeply sorry. I had no idea that something like that was going to happen, and no customer should ever have been treated that way.”
Emily blinked, startled. “It’s fine,” she murmured. “You don’t have to apologize.. it’s one of those things”
“I insist.” The woman turned and gestured to another younger lady , who hurried forward carrying a long black box tied with silver ribbon. She set it gently on the table before Emily. “A small token of apology. Please, accept it. Inside is an exclusive piece from our latest collection. And… well, matching heels.”
Emily hesitated, glancing at me as if for permission.
I said nothing because there was nothing to be said.
“Go on,” the manager encouraged, trying too hard to smile. “You wear elegance better than those who envy it.”
That made Emily’s lips twitch faintly and she slowly lifted the lid.
Inside lay a black-and-silver evening dress that shimmered like midnight water under the light. The fabric looked like it was handmade for her beautiful skin. The matching heels caught the glow.. it was sharp, elegant, and expensive enough to shut every gossiping mouth in that store.
I mean, it was a dress made for a queen and she was my queen, so why not?
Emily’s voice came out low and a bit softer than I had ever heard her speak. “Thank you.”
The manager exhaled, relieved. “You’re most welcome, Mrs. Davin.”
I caught the faint tremor in Emily’s tone and, for a moment, I felt a heat beneath my ribs that I quickly buried.
She looked small beside the glass desk, too soft for the world that loved to tear softness apart. I had no intention of letting anyone try again.
I rose. “We’re done here.”
“Okay, Mr. Davin.” The manager practically bowed as she walked us out, still muttering apologies the whole way.
The corridor outside went silent as we passed. Every head dipped and turned away, every whisper died mid-sentence.
Emily’s heels clicked beside me, hesitant and a bit uncertain. I opened the door for her, and she paused, her voice quiet as she slipped into the car.
“You didn’t have to do that for me,” she said.
I turned, fastening my cufflinks. “I don’t let people touch what’s mine.”
Her head snapped up. “Yours? Again with the possessive words I am not your possession, Dario.”
The challenge in her voice was weak but there was a soft rebellion buried under her breath.
I met her gaze, unflinching. “You are.”
Then I shut the door, cutting off whatever she wanted to say next.
The drive stretched in silence.
Leon drove, his usual stoic mask in place. The city moved by in blurs of light, glass, rain, traffic, and people who obviously didn’t matter.
Emily sat beside me, her hands curled tightly around the gift bag on her lap. I could feel the weight of her thoughts in the air.. it smelled of confusion, defiance, and something darker beneath.
Every now and then, she’d glance my way, then quickly look out the window.
“You’ve been quiet since we left,” I said at last, eyes still forward. “What’s on your mind?”
She hesitated for a moment then just as her lips parted as if she’d speak.. she froze.
Her gaze lowered to my shirt.
“Is that…” She frowned. “Is that blood?”
The word hung between us.. thick and heavy.
I noticed how Leon’s grip tightened slightly on the wheel.
I looked down and saw that a faint reddish stain lingered near the edge of my white shirt, beneath my jacket. Fuck.. I’d missed that. How careless of me.
“Did you hurt yourself?” She asked again.
“No.. it’s nothing, It’s just paint,” I said calmly.
Her brow furrowed. “Paint?”
I turned my head toward the windshield. “Isn’t that right, Leon? Emily, Leon. Leon, Emily.”
Leon didn’t even blink as he quickly answered me. “Yes, sir. The painters messed up a wall at the office earlier and we were next to them. It was quite a bit of a mess.” He gave a polite glance in the rearview mirror. “Also nice to meet you, Mrs. Davin.”
Emily blinked at him. “Oh. Um… nice to meet you too.”
I watched her out of the corner of my eye.
It was obvious.. She didn’t believe me.
Her fingers toyed with the hem of the gift box. She turned her face back to the window, pretending to look at the lights, but her reflection in the glass betrayed her thoughts. I could almost hear them each time she stared at me through the glass.
She was wondering who I really was.
And why my calm frightened her more than my temper.
When we reached the mansion, Leon stepped out first and opened my door. I got out and slowly rounded to hers.
“Thank you,” Emily said softly as she took my hand to steady herself.
I didn’t release it right away. My thumb brushed against her skin before I let go. “You handled yourself well today.”
She looked up, uncertain whether it was some sort of praise or something else. “I didn’t really do anything.”
“You stayed calm,” I said. “Most people crumble when they’re humiliated.”
Her eyes dropped. “I was too shocked to react, otherwise I might have broken her nose before you arrived.”
“Shock eventually fades,” I murmured, brushing past her toward the entrance. “Next time someone tries to hurt you, don’t hesitate..react first before you get shocked.”
She turned toward me and raised her brows. “Next time?”
“There’s always a next time,” I answered.
The chandelier lights spilled across the marble floor as we stepped inside. The house felt too large around her.. she moved through it like someone afraid to touch what wasn’t theirs.
I paused by the staircase, watching her climb the first few steps. Her shoulders were tense; her steps small but quick.
“Emily,” I said.
She turned halfway up, her hand gripping the rail. “Yes?”
“Are you comfortable?,” I said quietly.
Her lips parted. “I don’t remember saying I wasn’t comfortable”
“Yes.” I smiled faintly.
She said nothing, just turned away and continued up the stairs.
Leon appeared from the hallway, adjusting his sleeve. “Sir?”
“Yes,” I said. My gaze stayed on the staircase where Emily had disappeared. “Have the security feed checked. I want the footage from the boutique deleted and I don’t want to see those videos that were taken, anywhere on the internet.”
“Already done.”
“Good.”
I loosened my tie and walked to the window.
After a pause, he added, “Should I reply to Mr Jones' invitation?”
I looked at him. “Yes.”
He nodded. “Understood.”
When he left, my mouth curved slightly.. not in amusement, not in anger but something in between.
- Writer
