: Shadows of the Past
887 Words
Valentina hadn’t expected to wake up happy.
But as the sunlight streamed through her window, she found herself smiling for no reason at all. Well, no reason except Damien. The memory of the previous night—his thoughtful surprise, his words, the way he kissed her—played on a loop in her mind.
She felt ridiculous, grinning at the ceiling like some kind of lovesick teenager.
“Pull it together, Val,” she muttered to herself, throwing back the covers.
By the time she got to her studio, the smile was still lingering. She set up her paints and turned on her music, humming along as she started a new canvas. The strokes were bold and full of energy, a reflection of the strange, unfamiliar lightness she felt.
For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel like she was fighting the world.
A knock on the door pulled her out of her creative haze.
She frowned, wiping her hands on her jeans as she went to answer it.
She wasn’t expecting Damien—it was too early for him to drop by unannounced. But when she opened the door, the man standing there wasn’t a stranger.
It was someone she hadn’t seen in years.
“Adrian?” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her ex stood in the doorway, his brown eyes steady and familiar. He was older, his hair shorter and his face sharper, but there was no mistaking him.
“Hey, Val,” he said, his tone cautious.
Valentina blinked, her mind racing. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard about you and Damien,” Adrian said, his hands shoved into his pockets. “I thought I should warn you.”
Her stomach dropped. “Warn me about what?”
They sat at the small table in the corner of her studio, the air between them thick with tension.
“You don’t know him like I do,” Adrian said. “Damien and I used to work together. Back before he became... this.”
“This?” Valentina echoed, crossing her arms.
“You know what I mean,” Adrian said. “The money, the power, the control. Damien doesn’t let people into his life unless he has a reason. And when he’s done with them...”
He didn’t finish the sentence, but Valentina understood what he meant.
She frowned, her fingers tightening around her mug. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I don’t want to see you get hurt,” Adrian said, his voice softer now. “I know we didn’t end on the best terms, but you don’t deserve that.”
Valentina’s chest tightened. She didn’t know whether to believe him or throw him out.
“I can take care of myself,” she said finally, her voice steady.
“I know you can,” Adrian said. “But Damien... he’s dangerous, Val. Be careful.”
With that, he stood and left, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
When Damien showed up at her studio later that afternoon, Valentina was still shaken.
“Hey,” he said, stepping inside. “You okay?”
She hesitated, unsure how to answer.
“I had a... visitor,” she said finally.
Damien frowned. “Who?”
“Adrian,” she said, watching his expression closely.
His jaw tightened. “What did he want?”
“To warn me about you,” she said bluntly.
Damien’s gray eyes darkened. “Of course he did.”
“Is it true?” she asked, crossing her arms. “Did you and Adrian work together?”
“Yes,” Damien said, his tone clipped. “A long time ago. And it didn’t end well.”
“Why not?”
“Because Adrian couldn’t handle the business,” Damien said, his voice sharp. “He made mistakes, and I had to clean them up. He blames me for his failures, but that’s not my problem.”
Valentina stared at him, trying to piece together the truth.
“Is there more to the story?” she asked.
“No,” Damien said firmly. “Adrian’s just trying to stir up trouble. He always does.”
She wanted to believe him, but doubt lingered in the back of her mind.
“Valentina,” Damien said, stepping closer. “Whatever he told you, it’s not true. You know me.”
“Do I?” she asked, her voice quieter now.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You know who I am with you. That’s all that matters.”
For a moment, she didn’t respond. Then she nodded, pushing her doubts aside.
“Okay,” she said.
Damien reached for her hand, his grip warm and steady. “Trust me.”
“I’ll try,” she said softly.
That night, Valentina couldn’t sleep.
Adrian’s words replayed in her mind, clashing with Damien’s. She wanted to believe Damien, but there was a part of her—a small, stubborn part—that couldn’t let go of her doubts.
What if Adrian was right? What if Damien wasn’t the man she thought he was?
She sighed, rolling onto her side and staring at the ceiling.
“Get out of your own head, Val,” she muttered.
But it wasn’t that simple.
- Writer
