Chapter 43
Present
“So, you think her phone’s not working?”
“Yeah, she hasn’t gotten back to me either.”
Zach sighed. “What if something’s wrong?”
“Trust me. She just does this sometimes.”
“Disappear without notice? Are you sure she’s okay?” His voice took a worried turn, and it made me smile knowing he cared about Maria this much.
“She’ll turn up soon enough. In the meantime, I promise to put in a good word for you.”
“Thanks, Nat. I appreciate it. Listen…” Zach’s voice lowered. “Keep this between us, alright? But I really like her.”
I smiled. “Yeah, I can tell.”
“I’ve never been this messed up over a girl before. I don’t even know how to act around her. It’s like every time I see her, my mind blanks.”
“I’m pretty sure she likes you too.”
“Yeah?” I practically heard his smile through the phone.
“If she didn’t, she wouldn’t even look your way. She just… Takes a little while to open up.”
“I get that. I got no problem waiting.”
“Treat my sister well, yes?”
“Of course, Nat. I swear.”
A knock came from the front door, and my nerves spiked. “Good. Okay, I gotta go.”
“Talk soon.”
Hanging up, I placed my phone in my YSL clutch, making my way to the door. I looked through the peephole regardless of knowing who I’d see on the other side.
I took a deep breath before opening.
Trevor stood tall in the hallway. Fresh, black suit. White dress-shirt unbuttoned at the top. No tie. Omega watch on his wrist. Armani cologne.
Ferocity amid elegance.
He took me in, exhaling slightly. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
I laughed softly, averting my gaze.
I hadn’t done full glam on purpose – almost as a statement that I wasn’t getting ready for him. That we weren’t there yet.
“Come closer, amai . I want to see you properly.” He rasped, extending his hand.
Stepping forward, I adjusted the off-shoulder neckline of my blush-pink dress, letting the soft fabric drape elegantly across my collarbone. The material hugged my waist and hips, while the long sleeves added a touch of softness. The subtle shimmer of the fabric sparkled whenever it caught the light.
My sparkly, blush-pink stilettos matched the dress, along with my pink-diamond heart necklace.
Despite finding out the truth about the piece of jewelry I’d worn for the past five years, I couldn’t bring myself to take it off.
“You look perfect , amai …” His heavy palms settled on my waist, pulling me into him. He gave me one of his perfect smiles. “Too perfect. Should I be worried?”
My cheekbones blushed. I’d forgotten how easy-going Trevor could be.
His hands lingered for a moment, firm but gentle, before he stepped back, keeping one palm on my lower back. “Let’s go before I change my mind and decide to keep you all to myself tonight.”
“Where are we going?” I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, trying to ground myself, but the way he looked at me made it impossible.
He smiled. “On a date, baby.”
“I thought I told you we weren’t together?” I raised brow, but stepped out and locked my door anyway. When I turned around, I was faced with Trevor’s chest as he pressed me into him.
“Which is why I’m trying to take you on a date.” He leaned down, placing a soft, lingering kiss on my neck. “Let me show you what we could be.”
When he pulled back, I looked him in the eyes. “You’re lucky I’m hungry.”
A breath of amusement left him. “Let’s go.”
The soft hum of a jazz saxophone floated through the dimly lit restaurant, flowing with the low murmur of conversation. Golden light reflected off polished wood surfaces, casting a warm glow that should’ve soothed me. But it didn’t. Not with Trevor sitting so close, his arm resting casually along my back, his Armani cologne wrapping around me like a reminder I’d never quite been able to shake off.
He leaned in slightly, his voice low and intimate. “What’s on your mind, amai ?”
I shifted in my seat, fingers fidgeting with my necklace. “Just... Taking it all in.”
“Good.” His lips quirked into that easy, self-assured smile that used to make my heart race. “I want tonight to be special.”
I gave him a small smile in return, but my gaze drifted to the band on stage. Their effortless charm and the steady rhythm of the bass felt like a lifeline, something to hold onto while my thoughts spiraled.
“Trevor…” I started, my voice quieter now.
He frowned. “Yes, baby?”
I simply looked into his cold eyes for a moment – which were burning me alive – trying to figure out if I could trust him. “Why did you leave?”
The words felt heavier out loud, as if the music paused for a beat to let them settle between us.
He inhaled slowly, his jaw tightening. “I knew this would come up.”
My gaze hardened, but he didn’t let me put any distance between us. “Of course, it would. Four years, Trevor . No goodbye. No explanation. Just… Nothing .”
His hand slid from my back to my waist, tentative but firm, stopping me from slipping away. “I can’t explain everything right now, Natalia. But I need you to believe me when I say it wasn’t my choice.”
I shook my head, a crack in my chest. “Not your choice? How can you even say that?”
“There were things going on,” – A rough palm came up to my face – “People involved,” – His thumb moving in slow, deliberate circles over my cheek – “That made it impossible for me to stay.”
The words hit me like a splash of cold water. I blinked, pulling back slightly. “What do you mean?”
He looked down at me, jaw clenched like he was holding something back. There was a sadness there that made my chest ache in ways I didn’t want to acknowledge. “I promise I’ll explain later,” He said softly. “Tonight, I just want us to enjoy being together again.”
“That’s not fair, Trevor.” My voice trembled despite my best efforts to keep it steady.
“I’m not a ‘stupid college jock’ anymore.” He smiled slightly, and I did too, remembering our bickering back then. “I won’t make the same mistakes. I’m a man that’ll keep you safe now.”
His words wrapped around my heart like a vine, pulling tight.
God, I wanted to believe him .
But the ache of his absence was still there.
My breath caught as I looked into his eyes, so full of something I couldn’t quite bring myself to name. Around us, the music swelled, the steady rhythm of the bass echoing the thud of my heart.
“Let’s see if you’ve earned it by the end of the night,” I said finally, pulling back just enough to remind myself I still had control.
A slow, amused chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Fair enough, baby. Fair enough.”
I turned back toward the stage, pretending to focus on the band. But his presence next to me – warm, steady, impossibly familiar – made it hard to think of anything else. And I hated how much I wanted to believe him.
Two hours later, conversation was light and comfortable, and our plates had been cleared. I leaned back, excited for the dessert we’d just ordered.
I glanced at Trevor with a teasing smile. “You sure you don’t want anything? This is your last chance.”
“I’m sure.” He smirked. “Don’t worry, amai . I’m not about to steal yours.”
I raised a brow, knowing better. “Good. Because I don’t share pancakes. Not even with you.”
His chuckle was low and easy, and I hated how much I loved the sound of it.
The waiter set down the plate in front of me, and I reached for my fork, eager to dive into the fluffy stack drizzled with chocolate and strawberries.
Something caught my eye on the white plate.
Words written in elegant loops of dark chocolate.
Will you be my princess?
My breath caught, and I froze, fork mid-air. Slowly, I looked up at Trevor, who was watching me.
“Trevor…What is this?”
His smile was soft and sincere. “Just my way of letting you know where I stand.”
I blinked at him, my throat tightening. The sweetness of the gesture warred with the bitterness that still lingered in my chest.
Setting the fork down, I turned my body towards him. My eyes got glossy again. “Why did you leave?”
His smile faltered, and for a moment, he looked almost… Raging. He leaned closer, resting an elbow on the table, his other arm still around me. “You deserve the truth. It’s complicated, but I’ll try to keep it short.”
I waited, my heart pounding, as he drew in a deep breath.
“Gìovanni and your father… Planted information to make it look like you were helping them with the cyberattacks against my family. Remember, me asking you in the car?”
The words hit like a punch to the gut. “What?”
“They made me believe you were actually in love with Gìovanni. That you’d used me to help him,” He continued, his voice tense but heavy with regret. “I’m sorry I believed them. I was a heartbroken idiot.”
I felt my eyebrows draw in with hurt and confusion.
“At the same time, my uncle in Tokyo was killed. I had no choice but to leave and take over the family’s operations there. The timing was… Convenient . They knew I wouldn’t have time to question anything.”
We sat in silence for a moment, his eyes locked on me, waiting for my response.
I shook my head, the pieces falling into place. “You should’ve talked to me,” I said, my voice trembling. “You should’ve given me a choice, Trevor. You didn’t trust me enough to handle it.”
His jaw tightened, his expression pained. “I know. And I’ve regretted it every day since.” He brushed a strand of hair out of my face. “If I’d stayed, they would’ve kept coming after us. I couldn’t risk putting you in danger, not when I didn’t know who I could trust.”
The weight of his words settled over me, mingling with the ache that had been there for years. I understood now – understood the impossible position he’d been in – but that didn’t erase the hurt.
Taking a deep breath, I looked at him again. “When you left my place earlier… Did you go see Gìo?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you punch him?”
He nodded.
I frowned. “Good. He’s an asshole.”
“Baby…”
“I thought he was a friend. But he’s just another enemy.”
“This was between me and him. Business pay-back.”
I shook my head. “It affected me too. He was supposed to be a trusted friend.”
I looked down at the pancakes, at the carefully written words in chocolate, and my heart twisted.
“I can’t be with you until I forgive you,” I said finally, meeting his gaze. “And like I told you this afternoon, that hasn’t happened yet.”
His shoulders tensed slightly, but he nodded. “I’ll wait, Natalia. As long as it takes.”
The sincerity in his voice made my chest ache, but I didn’t let it show. I picked up my fork, cutting into the pancakes, and took a bite. “Good,” I said, trying to keep my tone light, even though the weight of the conversation lingered. “Because I don’t plan on rushing this.”
Trevor smiled faintly as he watched me eat, the unspoken tension still heavy between us. For now, it would have to be enough.