THE 365-DAYS WIFE

Chapter 10: 2am

Day 8. 2:04am.

Zara was awake.

After the gala, after the kiss, she couldn’t sleep.

Every creak of the house made her jump.

The cameras were still red in the corners. Watching.

_Knock. Knock. Knock._

Soft. At her door.

Zara sat up. `“Who is it?”`

No answer.

She got up, heart pounding, and opened it a crack.

Damian.

In grey sweatpants and a black t-shirt. Hair messy. Eyes tired.

`“Can I come in?”` he asked. Voice low.

`“It’s 2am, Damian.”`

`“I know,”` he ran a hand through his hair. `“I can’t sleep.”`

Zara hesitated. Then stepped aside. `“2 minutes.”`

Damian came in and sat on the floor again. Same spot as last time.

Like he didn’t want to get too close.

`“The guy from the gala,”` he said. `“He’s in police custody. He won’t talk.”`

Zara hugged her knees. `“Who sent him?”`

`“I don’t know yet,”` Damian sighed. `“But whoever it is, they know about the contract. About you.”`

Silence.

`“Why are you really here, Damian?”` Zara asked.

Damian looked up at her. `“Because I kept seeing the video in my head. You drinking that champagne. And I couldn’t breathe.”`

He stood up and walked to the window. `“Amina used to get nightmares too. After her parents died. I’d sit on her floor until she fell asleep.”`

Zara’s chest tightened. `“You loved her.”`

`“Yes,”` Damian said simply. `“And I failed her.”`

He turned. `“I’m not going to fail you, Zara.”`

Zara stood up too. `“You don’t even know me.”`

`“I know you’re brave,”` Damian said. `“I know you signed that contract to save your mom. I know you hate me but you’re still here.”`

He took a step closer. `“I know when you’re lying. Your left eyebrow twitches.”`

Zara touched her eyebrow. `“That’s not—”`

`“It is,”` Damian smiled. Small. Real. `“And I know you tasted the champagne tonight even though I told you not to.”`

Zara went pale. `“I didn’t swallow it.”`

`“I know,”` Damian said. `“Because I would’ve lost my mind.”`

The room was quiet. Just the hum of the AC.

`“Damian,”` Zara whispered. `“Are you scared?”`

`“Of what?”`

`“Of this. Of me.”`

Damian stared at her for a long time. Then he reached out and brushed his knuckles down her cheek.

`“Yes,”` he admitted. `“I’m terrified of how much I don’t want to let you go in 357 days.”`

Zara’s breath caught.

`“But I’m more terrified of something happening to you,”` he continued. `“So I’m staying. Right here. On the floor. Until you sleep.”`

`“You don’t have to—”`

`“I want to,”` Damian cut her off. He sat back down on the floor, back against the wall. `“Now sleep, wife.”`

Zara stared at him. This dangerous, powerful man. Sitting on her floor at 2am to guard her.

Her heart was doing stupid things.

She got into bed. Pulled the covers up.

`“Damian?”`

`“Hmm?”`

`“Thank you.”`

`“Sleep.”`

She closed her eyes.

She didn’t know when she fell asleep.

But when she woke up at 7am, he was still there.

Asleep on her floor. One arm over his face.

Zara got out of bed quietly. Grabbed a blanket and put it over him.

Damian’s eyes opened instantly. Sharp. Alert.

Then they softened when he saw her.

`“Morning,”` he mumbled.

`“Morning,”` Zara smiled. Without thinking.

Damian stood up, stretched. `“Breakfast?”`

`“Yeah,”` Zara said. `“Breakfast.”`

He left.

Zara touched her cheek where he’d touched her.

Day 8.

She was starting to trust him.

And that was the most dangerous part.

END OF CHAPTER 10