Love in Shadows

The air between them shifted after that night.

Tense.

Heavy.

Unspoken.

In meetings, Ariana kept her gaze strictly professional. Around the office, she smiled politely, laughed when appropriate—but the moment Damien entered a room, everything inside her stilled.

It was becoming impossible to pretend.

To act like that kiss hadn't ignited something far more dangerous than desire.

It was longing.

And it was mutual.

Later that week, Damien threw a small private event to celebrate a new client deal. The rooftop of the firm's Manhattan building sparkled with fairy lights, soft jazz drifting through the air. Ariana wore a sleek navy dress, trying to blend in, trying to keep her distance.

But Damien found her anyway.

"You look… beautiful," he said, voice low.

"Don't do that," she replied, not meeting his eyes. "Not here."

"I'm tired of pretending I don't want to be near you."

She finally looked at him. "You think I don't feel the same?"

Damien stepped closer. "Then why are we torturing ourselves?"

"Because it's wrong, Damien."

"But it feels right."

That was the problem. It did.

Suddenly, there was a voice behind them.

"Damien."

Both turned. It was Genevieve Sinclair, heiress and socialite—and Damien's date for the evening.

She looped her arm through his possessively, smiling sweetly at Ariana.

"Oh," Genevieve said, noticing Ariana's flushed face. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

"No," Ariana answered quickly. "I was just leaving."

As she walked away, her heart cracked.

She didn't cry until she was back home. And when she finally did, it was the kind of cry that left her empty.

The next morning, Ariana submitted a request to transfer departments.

She couldn't stay near him.

Not like this.

Not when he was with someone else.

But deep down, as she stared at the email before hitting send, her hands trembled.

Because a part of her—an irrational, stubborn part—still hoped he would stop her.

Still hoped he'd choose her.