The moment I stepped out of the office, tears poured freely down my cheeks. I found a quiet corner away from everyone, clutching my chest as the pain inside spilled out.
"What have I done to deserve this?" I whispered, my voice breaking. "Maybe Clara is right... maybe I brought this on myself."
Unbeknownst to me, Damian had followed a short distance, intending to come to me. But when he heard my trembling voice and saw the tears streaming down my face, he stopped in his tracks. His eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as if every word I spoke cut through him. He wanted to reach for me, but instead, he turned away and headed back to his office.
"I think I know what to do," he muttered under his breath, his mind already racing with plans.
After a while, I wiped my face, forcing myself to breathe steadily before returning to the office. I couldn't let everyone see me broken. With shaky steps, I walked back to my desk, remembering Damian's words earlier in the car-his reassurance that I should leave things to him. It gave me just enough strength to sit down.
Not long after, Damian appeared by my side. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes softened when they met mine.
"Let's go have lunch," he said quietly.
I glanced down at my desk, shaking my head. "Damian, please... just go. I have something to finish here." My voice was low, still carrying the weight of my breakdown.
But then he looked at me-steady, unyielding, almost daring me to refuse him. The intensity in his eyes melted my resistance.
I let out a small sigh. "...Okay. Let's go," I whispered, reaching for my bag.
Without another word, he waited patiently, then walked beside me out of the office. His presence was enough to make me feel, even for a moment, that I wasn't completely alone.
Clara sat in her office, her jaw tight with annoyance. She had been watching Damian all afternoon, and every small gesture of his toward Amara-his protective glances, the way he lingered around her desk, even his decision to take her to lunch-burned like fire in her chest. Why is he all over her? she thought bitterly, gripping her pen so tightly it almost snapped.
Just then, her phone vibrated. Serena's name flashed across the screen. Clara quickly composed herself and answered.
"Hello?" she said, trying to sound calm.
"Clara, we need to meet," Serena's voice came firm on the other end. "I'll text you the address."
"Alright. I'll be there." Clara hung up, and a moment later a message appeared. She didn't hesitate-snatching her purse, she left the office to meet her friend.
---
Meanwhile, Amara was back from lunch, trying to distract herself with work. Her phone buzzed, and when she saw Mia's name, she smiled faintly before answering.
"Mia! How are you?"
"I'm good, Amara. I got some good news," Mia's cheerful voice lifted her spirits. "I finally got a job! It's not huge, but it's something I've been waiting for."
"That's amazing!" Amara exclaimed, genuinely happy. The two women talked for a while, catching up and laughing until Amara felt her mood ease. When the call ended, she sighed softly, grateful for the small moments of happiness in her day. She returned to her tasks, burying herself in work until the evening.
When the clock ticked past closing time, Amara packed her bag quietly. Normally, she would wait for Damian or at least let him know before leaving, but today her heart felt heavy. She didn't want to face any more gossip or questioning looks. Without a word to anyone, she slipped out of the building and went home on her own.
---
Damian finished late in his office. He stretched, rubbing the tension from his neck, and then glanced at the time. A small smile tugged at his lips as he thought of Amara-he had planned to walk her out, maybe steal a few minutes together before heading home.
But when he stepped into the empty hallway and didn't find her waiting, his smile faded. He called her phone, but it rang without an answer. A flicker of worry crossed his face. He tried again, still nothing. Finally, he exhaled sharply, slipping his phone back into his pocket. She must have left early, he reasoned, though disappointment sat heavy in his chest. With a sigh, he made his way home.
---
Across the city, Clara sat opposite Serena in a dim café, stirring her drink absentmindedly. Serena leaned forward, her eyes sharp and calculating.
"You saw it yourself," Serena said coolly. "Damian's getting too close to her. If we don't act now, you'll lose him completely."
Clara's lips curled into a smile, dark and determined. "Then what do you suggest?"
Serena's voice dropped, cold as ice. "The best way is simple. We take her out of the way. Once she's gone, you'll have a clear path to Damian. You'll be his fiancée like you've always wanted."
Clara leaned back, imagining it. Damian's fiancée. The thought alone made her chest swell with satisfaction. She didn't even care how Serena planned to do it-so long as it worked. Her fingers brushed over her glass, and she allowed herself a small, victorious smile.
---
When Damian finally got home, fatigue weighed on him heavily. He pushed the door open, expecting silence, but instead found Amara sitting in the living room, her head resting against the sofa as though she had been lost in thought.
"Amara," he called softly, setting his briefcase aside. "Are you okay?"
She stood the moment she saw him, walking over and wrapping her arms around his waist. Her sudden embrace startled him, but he quickly held her close.
"Yes, I'm fine," she murmured against his chest. "I just didn't feel myself today, so I left early."
He brushed his hand gently down her hair. "That's alright. You don't need to explain. I'm just glad you're here." Pulling back slightly, he searched her eyes. "Have you eaten?"
"Not yet," she said with a small shake of her head.
"Then go and change," she urged him softly. "I'll arrange something for us."
A rare warmth touched his lips as he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Okay, baby," he whispered before heading toward their room.
---
Inside the bedroom, Damian loosened his tie and sat on the edge of the bed, his mind far from food. His thoughts circled only one thing-Amara. He couldn't stand the idea of her being weighed down by Clara's venom or the office gossip. He wanted to give her more than stolen moments and whispers in the hallways.
No... he thought firmly, his lips curving into a determined smile. She deserves more than this. She deserves the world.
His heart pounded as an idea took root. He would propose to her soon-ask her to marry him, to build a life with him where no one's opinion mattered. And once she was his wife, she would never have to hide in the shadows again.
Damian's chest warmed at the thought. He wanted to know her dreams, every single one, and make them real. Instead of keeping her as his secretary, he would give her everything she had ever longed for.
As he lay back against the bed, his mind played the image of Amara wearing his ring, smiling at him with the same light that had captivated him from the very beginning. It was only a matter of time now.