The office was unusually quiet that morning.
Whispers still lingered, but they were hushed now-cautious, like people were afraid their words might crawl out of the walls and report them to HR.
Amara's seat remained empty.
Her desk, usually the first to light up with activity, sat untouched. No coffee cup. No headphones. No quiet humming while she worked.
Just... silence.
But silence never stopped curiosity.
"Oh my God, she's not coming in today?"
"She probably quit."
"No, she just took a day off. I heard she texted Mr. Knight directly."
"Wait... she messaged him?" one of the interns whispered from the corner. "That's bold. After everything that happened?"
"Bold?" someone scoffed. "Did you not see that picture? He was holding her like she meant something. Like... really meant something."
"He even posted a whole official statement in the group chat! Who does that for a random staff?"
"Exactly! That's not just work drama. That's personal. And serious."
"But did you hear what he said in the meeting?"
"What?"
"That the picture was real. And that anyone caught sharing anything further would be punished or fired."
A hush followed.
People exchanged glances, guilt flickering in the eyes of those who had passed the image around the night before.
"I deleted it."
"Same."
"Me too. I don't want to get in trouble."
"I think it's kinda romantic though," someone finally said in a low voice. "I mean... he defended her in front of everyone. He didn't even deny it."
"Yeah, but it's also scary. If she's the CEO's girl now... you mess with her, you're messing with him."
From across the room, Serena walked by, her expression stiff and unreadable. Everyone quickly turned back to their screens.
No one dared ask her anything.
They all remembered the way she stormed out of Damian's office the day before.
The entire atmosphere had changed.
Knight Tech wasn't just buzzing with innovation anymore-it was buzzing with tension, awe, jealousy, and a hint of fear.
And all because Amara Rivera hadn't shown up today.
And because somewhere in the back of their minds, everyone was wondering the same thing-
When she does return... how much will change?
Amara's POV
The morning sun poured through my window, warm and blinding. I had barely slept the night before, my mind running in circles. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Damian-his expression when he stood up for me, his face when he said nothing else mattered.
But none of it erased the unease in my chest.
I hadn't planned to stay home, but I also hadn't found the strength to return to the office either. After everything-the picture, the gossip, the message he dropped in the group chat-I felt exposed. Not just because of the photo, but because now, everyone knew.
They knew something was going on between us... and I wasn't even sure what that was.
I stayed in my oversized hoodie, curled up on the couch with my legs under me, staring at the TV without actually watching it. My phone sat on the table, quiet. No pings. No messages. I hadn't heard from Damian since I texted him that I needed space.
The knock at the door startled me.
I sat up slowly, heart racing. Who could that be?
When I opened the door, my breath caught.
Two delivery men stood in front of me, one holding a massive bouquet of red roses and white lilies, the other with a gift bag and a carefully wrapped box.
"Delivery for Miss Amara Rivera," one said politely.
I blinked in shock. "From who?"
"There's a note inside," the second guy said, handing me a silver envelope. "Enjoy."
I signed quickly and closed the door, staring at the gifts now sitting in my living room like surreal ornaments in a dream.
I tore open the envelope.
> "I respect your space. But not reaching out at all felt worse.
I'm thinking of you-more than you know.
-Damian."
Just seeing his name... it made my heart ache.
Inside the gift bag was a velvet box with a delicate bracelet-silver, minimal, and elegant, with a small charm shaped like a star. And in the bigger box... my favorite chocolate-covered strawberries from a local boutique shop I once told him about in passing.
He remembered.
A shaky breath left my lips as I sat down, the roses filling the room with their soft, floral scent.
I still didn't know what this all meant.
But for the first time in days... I smiled.
DAMIAN POV
I watched the delivery notification light up my phone-Delivered.
It wasn't much, but it was all I could do without pushing her too hard.
I knew Amara needed space. That was clear from the moment she texted me she was going home. I hadn't meant to overwhelm her. The rooftop picture, the announcement, Serena barging in like some drama from the past-it all collided at once, and she was caught in the middle.
And now... all I could do was wait.
I wanted to see her. Talk to her. But I also didn't want to make things worse. The gifts, the flowers, the simple bracelet-all carefully chosen. Not flashy. Not overwhelming. Just... real. Honest.
She had this quiet strength that drove me insane. But it was the same strength that made her walk away when she needed to. And I respected that.
Still, the office without her felt strange.
Even when I was in meetings, my eyes kept darting toward her usual desk when I passed the floor. Empty. Quiet. As if the building noticed her absence too.
That evening, as I sat alone in my office, I opened the group chat briefly-people had gone silent. My warning had worked.
Nobody dared say a word anymore.
"Good," I muttered to myself. "They need to remember who's in charge."
But I wasn't angry for me.
I was angry for her.
Amara's POV
I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down my skirt for what felt like the tenth time. My hands were slightly shaky, but I forced a breath and grabbed my bag. No more hiding.
The office came into view like a wave of nerves crashing over me. As I stepped inside Knight Tech, I could feel the atmosphere shift.
Whispers. Quick glances.
But no one said anything to my face.
Damian's warning still echoed in their minds. I was sure of it.
"Amara!" Eric called from the other end of the hallway. His grin was wide, genuine. "Hey, welcome back."
"Thanks," I smiled softly.
As I reached my desk, I noticed a few curious stares-but they looked away the moment I met their eyes.
And then I felt it-that familiar pull.
I turned, and there he was.
Damian.
Standing at the end of the corridor, talking to someone, but his eyes were only on me. He didn't smile. He didn't wave. But the way he looked at me... said everything.
He was relieved.
I sat down, opened my laptop, and took a deep breath. I was here. I wasn't going to hide anymore.
And something told me... neither was he.