Chapter 4-Pride vs Guilt
1169 Words
The broom slipped from Eli’s tired fingers as Damian stepped closer. Heat burned the back of Eli’s neck, not from the sun, but from humiliation. Damian looked out of place on this dirty sidewalk, standing in his expensive suit that probably costs more than Eli’s entire rent for a year.
“Eli Navarro,” Damian said quietly.
Eli stiffened. “Do you have nothing better to do ? I’m busy.”
“Clearly.” Damian’s eyes dropped to the cleaning cart, the stained gloves, the sweat on Eli’s jaw. Something in his voice dipped, almost muted. “You are doing this for work.”
“You think I woke up today and said I want to scrub gum off the street?” Eli pulled the gloves tighter. “Move. I have a section to finish.”
Damian stepped in front of him. “I want to talk.”
“No, thank you.”
“It was not my intention for things to reach this point.”
Eli snorted. “Really? Because from where I’m standing, this looks exactly like the kind of thing you wanted. Someone pisses you off and you crush them. Simple.”
Damian’s jaw tightened. “That is not what happened.”
“You walked into a restaurant, yelled at a boy who was terrified, and when someone told you to calm down, you ruined their entire life. Sounds pretty accurate.”
Damian stayed quiet for a moment. “I did not shout. I was firm.”
“Firm?” Eli let out a humorless laugh. “Do you even listen to yourself? The kid was shaking !!!”
Damian’s stare hardened, but there was discomfort behind it. “He spilled coffee all over the table.”
“He spilled coffee. Not acid.”
Damian looked away. “You should not have interfered.”
“Someone had to,” Eli snapped. “God forbid a billionaire gets spoken to like he’s human.”
Eli tried to push past him, but Damian stopped him again. His voice lowered. “Eli. I came here to offer compensation.”
“No.”
“I can give you something to get you back on your feet.”
“I said no,” Eli repeated. “Keep your money.”
Damian frowned as if the idea was foreign. “You are struggling.”
“Wow. You noticed.” Eli gripped the handle of the broom. “I don’t want your charity.”
“It’s not charity.”
“It feels like it.”
Damian stared at him for a long moment, as if trying to read something in his expression. “You do not have to accept it as forgiveness. Think of it as payment for the trouble.”
“You firing me was not trouble. It was a disaster.” Eli pointed at the cleaning cart. “Look where I ended up.”
Damian’s shoulders pulled tight. “How could I have known you'd lose everything.”
“No. You didn’t know, and you didn’t care.” Eli’s voice wavered, but he swallowed hard. “Just leave me alone. I don’t want anything from you.”
Damian’s brows pushed together. “I am trying to fix it.”
“You can’t fix it.” Eli’s throat felt too tight. “Not with money. Not with whatever pity you suddenly grew today.”
“It is not pity.”
“It sure feels like it on my end.”
Damian stepped closer, trying to restrain himself from losing his temper. “Eli, I have not apologized to anyone in over ten years.”
Eli blinked. “Is that supposed to impress me?”
“It is supposed to tell you that I am sincere.”
“You’re doing a terrible job.”
Damian’s eyes flashed irritation. “You are incredibly difficult.”
“Good. Maybe it will make you leave.”
A few nearby people slowed down to watch, whispering. Eli felt every stare like tiny needles, poking him. His cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Damian seemed to notice because he looked at the crowd and they instantly turned away.
“Eli,” Damian said again, softer now. “Take the money.”
“No.”
“You need it.”
“I know.”
Damian exhaled. “Then why refuse?”
“Because I don’t want to owe you anything.” Eli lifted his chin. “I don’t want you thinking you can buy me like some object.”
Damian’s eyes widened a little. “That's not what I am doing.”
“It’s exactly what you’re doing. And I don’t need it.”
Damian looked almost frustrated. “You are being too proud.”
“You think this is pride?” Eli shook his head. “I’m tired. I’m hurting. I’m trying to survive. Pride is not my problem. You are.”
Damian went silent.
Eli picked up the broom again. “I have work. Please go.”
Damian didn’t move. “Eli, I came here to apologize.”
“You didn’t say sorry.”
Damian paused, shocked.. “What!!! I don't do that."
“Clearly.”
Damian’s voice lowered. “Fine. I am sorry.”
Eli stared at him, shocked by the sincerity he caught in the last word. It made his chest twist, the fight in him flickering for a second.
But then he remembered the restaurant. His manager’s fake sympathy. The fear on the junior server’s face. His aunt’s coughing last night. The eviction threat.
He couldn’t forgive the man who started all of that.
Eli turned away. “Too late.”
“Eli.”
“No.” Eli’s voice cracked. “Just let me keep the little dignity I have left……please.”
Damian watched him lift the broom and start scrubbing again. The movements were shaky, his breathing uneven.
“Eli,” Damian said quietly. “Your hands are trembling.”
“I said leave.”
Damian’s gaze lingered. Something shifted in his eyes. Something troubled. Something he didn’t seem used to feeling.
He took a step back, but he didn’t leave. “If you change your mind, I can help you.”
“I won’t.” Eli didn’t look at him. “You’ve helped enough.”
“ Suit yourself then.” Damian said, his coldness and indifference, back like they never left.
Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy, until Eli couldn’t take it anymore. He pushed the cleaning cart forward and walked away quickly. He didn’t want Damian to see how close he was to falling apart.
People stared as he passed. A few snickered. Eli ignored them all, focusing only on putting one foot in front of the other.
Behind him, Damian stood still.
His assistant approached nervously. “Sir. Should we go?”
Damian didn’t answer.
He watched the spot where Eli had disappeared, confusion tightening his usually unreadable features.
He whispered something under his breath, barely audible, almost like he didn’t understand it himself.
“Why does it bother me.”
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