The quiet clinking of cutlery filled the dining room as Amara and Damian ate together. The soft glow from the chandelier above them cast a warm light over the table, making the atmosphere feel cozy and intimate. Amara had prepared the meal herself, and Damian couldn't stop smiling as he tasted each bite.
"You never stop surprising me," Damian said with a grin, setting his fork down. "You've been running around all day at the office, and yet you still had the strength to cook this. You spoil me, Amara."
Amara lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushing slightly. "It's nothing... I just wanted you to have something homemade. You work so hard, Damian."
He studied her carefully, his heart softening at the sincerity in her voice. For a moment, he stayed quiet, as if gathering his thoughts. Then, leaning back slightly in his chair, he asked, "Amara... can I ask you something?"
She looked up, curious. "Of course."
"What is your dream?" His voice was gentle, but his eyes were searching, as though he wanted to know every hidden part of her soul. "Not about work, not about the office... I mean your dream. What do you want in life? What do you wish for when you think about your future?"
The question caught her off guard. She blinked at him, the fork in her hand pausing midair. "My dream?" she repeated softly, almost as if she were asking herself. She thought for a moment, her mind wandering back to the little girl who once had hopes beyond the struggles of daily life.
"Well," she began, her voice quiet, "I've always wanted to create something of my own... maybe open a small design company someday. Not something huge like your empire, Damian," she said with a small smile, "but a place where I can express myself freely, where people believe in my creativity."
Her eyes softened as she continued. "And... I dream of having a family. A home filled with love. Nothing grand, just simple happiness."
Damian's chest tightened as he listened. He reached across the table and took her hand into his, his touch firm yet tender. "Then that's exactly what I want to give you, Amara," he said with conviction. "Not just as your boss or someone who admires you-but as a man who loves you."
Her breath caught. She looked at him, startled by the raw honesty in his words.
Damian didn't hesitate. "I don't want you to just be my secretary forever. I want more for you. More for us. I want you to be by my side-not behind me, not working under me. By my side, as my partner, my wife."
Amara's lips parted slightly, her heart pounding so loudly in her chest she was sure he could hear it. "Damian..." she whispered, her eyes glistening.
"I'm serious, Amara," Damian continued, his voice low but steady. "I've never been this certain of anything before. I want us to get married. I want to build that family and that future you dream about-together."
She stared at him, torn between disbelief and overwhelming emotion. A swirl of joy, fear, and hope mixed inside her. "Married?" she finally managed, her voice trembling.
"Yes." He squeezed her hand reassuringly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "And don't think you need to answer me right this second. Just... think about it. But know this-I'm not going anywhere, Amara. You're my everything."
For a long moment, silence filled the room, broken only by the ticking of the clock on the wall. Amara swallowed hard, her heart feeling as though it might burst.
"I... I don't even know what to say," she whispered honestly.
Damian smiled softly. "Then don't say anything. Just let me take care of tomorrow. After work, I want us to have a date. A proper one. No office, no interruptions. Just you and me."
Her lips curved into a shy smile despite the tears threatening to escape her eyes. "A date?"
"Yes," he said firmly, his gaze never leaving hers. "Tomorrow after work, I'll pick you up. And I promise, Amara, it will be a night you'll never forget."
Something in his tone made her chest tighten again, but this time, it wasn't fear-it was anticipation. She nodded slowly, still in awe of everything he had just said.
"Okay," she whispered, her voice steadying. "Tomorrow."
Damian leaned closer across the table and pressed a soft kiss to the back of her hand. "Tomorrow," he echoed with a smile, though inside, he was already planning something far greater.
Morning light slipped through the curtains, spilling across the room. Amara stirred softly, blinking her eyes open to find Damian already watching her. He was propped against the headboard, half-dressed in a crisp shirt, his tie still undone.
"You were staring at me?" she asked, her voice still husky with sleep.
His lips curved. "I couldn't help it. You look too peaceful in the morning. Makes me wonder if I should cancel all my meetings just to stay here."
Amara chuckled as she sat up, pulling the blanket closer. "If you cancel meetings, the whole company will fall into chaos. And then Eric will blame me for it."
"Let him," Damian said smoothly, leaning in to brush a kiss against her forehead. "Besides, tonight, the company won't matter. It's just us."
Her heart fluttered at the reminder of their planned evening. She tried to play it off with a smile, but the excitement bubbling inside her was impossible to hide.
They left the penthouse together, Damian's hand lightly resting on her lower back as they stepped into the car waiting downstairs. The ride to the office felt different-warmer, filled with quiet glances and unspoken anticipation.
At work, they slipped into their usual rhythm, though Amara noticed the subtle shift in the way he looked at her that day. Every so often, his gaze lingered just a little too long, making her cheeks warm.
Meanwhile, Clara noticed too. From her desk, she studied every interaction-how Amara's lips curved into shy smiles, how Damian leaned closer when speaking to her, how they seemed tethered to each other even in silence. It made her grip her pen so tightly that it almost snapped.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Serena:
> If Damian is serious about her, it'll ruin everything. We have to act soon.
Clara's reply was quick and sharp:
> Don't worry. I'll make sure this little romance doesn't last the night.
By evening, the air in the office shifted. Amara finished her work, trying not to show how anxious she was about the hours ahead. Damian, on the other hand, was calm-too calm, almost as if he had everything perfectly planned.
When they returned home together, he loosened his tie and turned to her with that rare, teasing smile. "Go upstairs and get dressed. Tonight, I want you to look like the queen you are."
Amara raised a brow. "And where exactly are you taking me, Mr. Mysterious?"
"That," he said, brushing his thumb lightly across her cheek, "is for me to know. You'll find out soon enough."
Her chest tightened with a mix of nerves and excitement. She hurried upstairs to change, unaware that Clara had already set her plans in motion.
The night ahead promised romance-but shadows lurked closer than either of them realized.
The city lights glittered beneath them as Damian guided Amara into the rooftop restaurant he had reserved for the evening. It was elegant yet intimate-candlelit tables, soft violin music drifting in the background, and the night sky stretching endlessly above them. Amara's lips parted in awe.
"Damian... this is beautiful," she whispered, her eyes reflecting the glow of the candles.
His gaze never left her face. "Not as beautiful as you."
Her cheeks warmed as he pulled out her chair, his gentlemanly gestures making her heart swell. They shared dinner, laughter weaving through their conversation. Damian was uncharacteristically nervous at times, fidgeting with his glass, his usually steady hands betraying a hint of tension. Amara noticed, but she said nothing, letting him carry the evening.
When dessert arrived, Damian rose from his seat. Amara tilted her head, confused, until he walked to her side and slowly lowered himself onto one knee.
Her breath caught. "Damian..."
He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her entire body tremble.
"Amara Rivera," he began, his deep voice softer than she'd ever heard. "From the moment you walked into my life, you've turned my world upside down. You've challenged me, calmed me, and made me believe in something I never thought I deserved-love. Tonight, I don't just want to tell you how much you mean to me. I want to make you mine forever."
He opened the box, revealing a diamond ring that sparkled beneath the night sky. "Will you marry me?"
Tears blurred Amara's vision. Her hand flew to her mouth as emotions flooded her chest. She had dreamed of this moment but never expected it to come so soon-or to feel so perfect.
"Yes," she breathed out, her voice trembling with joy. "Yes, Damian. I'll marry you."
Relief and happiness spread across his face as he slid the ring onto her finger. The moment her hand rested in his, Damian rose, pulling her into his arms and kissing her deeply. The restaurant erupted in soft applause from the few guests and staff who had quietly witnessed the proposal.
"I love you," he whispered against her lips.
"I love you too," she replied, her tears now falling freely.
The night felt magical, like nothing could taint their happiness. But fate had other plans.
On their way back home, Damian insisted on driving. Amara leaned against him, her fingers still brushing the new ring on her hand as she smiled dreamily. The city's traffic had thinned, and the road stretched quiet and dark before them.
Then it happened-too fast, too sudden.
Headlights swerved violently from the opposite lane, a car speeding straight toward them. Damian's instincts kicked in. "Hold on!" he shouted, gripping the wheel tightly.
Amara gasped, her heart leaping into her throat as Damian swerved sharply. Tires screeched against the asphalt, the car spinning dangerously close to the guardrail. She clutched his arm, praying silently, the world blurring around her.
For a terrifying moment, she thought it was over. That their story would end here.
But Damian fought the wheel with every ounce of his strength, his jaw clenched, his focus unshakable. With one final twist, he managed to regain control. The car jolted to a stop inches from the edge of the road, the smell of burnt rubber filling the air.
Silence fell. The only sound was their ragged breathing.
"Amara..." Damian's voice was low, urgent, as he turned to her. His hand immediately checked her arms, her face, making sure she wasn't hurt. "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"
Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. She nodded weakly, her eyes brimming with tears. "I-I'm fine. But Damian, we almost..." She couldn't finish the sentence.
He pulled her into his arms, holding her as tightly as if he feared she might slip away. "I'll never let anything happen to you. Not tonight. Not ever."
Amara buried her face against his chest, her tears soaking into his shirt. The ring on her finger pressed between them, a reminder of what they had just promised each other.
It was clear to both of them that this was no ordinary accident. Someone had tried to take their happiness away.
Damian's eyes hardened as he held her trembling body. Whoever was behind it had crossed a line. And he would make sure they regretted ever coming after the woman he loved.
But for now, all that mattered was that they had survived-together.