42. Cora
Chapter forty-two
Cora
Three Months Later
“ S ee you tonight, Dad. Love you, Leo!” I call out, slamming the front door behind me. The cold morning air bites at my skin, and I instinctively rub my hands along my arms for warmth. I shrug into my jacket, but then freeze with my fingers on the zipper.
No James.
I stop at the gate, my hand gripping the cold metal, frowning as I scan the street. Empty. No familiar black SUV, no James leaning casually against it, waiting.
I bite the inside of my cheek.
Is he late? Or… did he give up?
For the past six months he’s been as constant as the sunrise. Stationed outside my house, ready to offer me a ride and breakfast. Sometimes he would follow me to the station, other times he would join me on the train. I doubt he’d ever been on public transport before then. I had to press my lips together to stifle a laugh as he glanced around the train with his nose in the air. He always stood in case he dirtied his suit.
He can be such a princess .
We never talked, just walked in silence, but his presence had become… familiar. Comforting, in a way I never expected. It was the only time I got to see him. James has been keeping his distance at work, so I rarely catch a glimpse of him around the office or at Eden.
But today? There’s no James.
I wait another minute, telling myself it doesn’t matter. I should be relieved—he’s finally leaving me be. But when it becomes clear he’s not coming , a hollow sensation seeps into my heart. I shake my head, trying to push away the disappointment. It seems our expiration date on this dance is up.
It’s better this way.
I shove my hands in my pockets and start walking, my footsteps slower than usual. My legs are heavier, and I hate that his absence has this effect on me. The empty space beside me feels more pronounced with every step.
Did he reach his limit?
Or did he wake up this morning and realize I wasn’t worth the effort?
I reach the station, and for the first time in months, I’m alone.
When I arrive at the office, I’m in a pissy mood.
“Morning, Rossi!” Nathan booms, far too chipper for a Monday. “How was your weekend?” He’s grinning from ear to ear, bouncing on the balls of his feet. The guy needs to lay off the caffeine. Stat.
I force a tight smile, tossing my purse into the desk drawer with a little more oomph than I intended.
“Meh.” I shrug.
“Wow, someone’s in a mood,” he drawls. “Well, this’ll brighten your day. Emergency town hall called for this morning.”
“What? What’s the emergency?” I ask, frowning. My thoughts immediately shift to work, relieved for the distraction.
“Beats me. If I knew, I wouldn’t have to go,” he deadpans.
“Whatever.” I huff, rolling my eyes.
His grin widens, and I fight the urge to whack him with a file folder.
We stop for coffee on our way to the auditorium and I manage to convince Nathan to order decaffeinated, since he doesn’t need more adrenaline running through his veins. We enter the crowded auditorium just in time to see James confidently stride onto the stage. I pause for a second, my heart flipping in that irritating way it always does when I see him.
So, he didn’t sleep in after all.
I take my seat, forcing my eyes anywhere but on him, but I can’t help stealing glances. My body betrays me every damn time. His baby blue shirt stretches over his chest, his sleeves are rolled up, showcasing those muscular forearms, and his hair is perfectly tousled.
Damn it.
But something about his stance is off today. He looks tense. Nervous, even. I take a sip of my coffee and sit up a little straighter, watching him closely.
“Good morning, everyone. Thanks for attending on such short notice.” His voice is steady, but there’s a stiffness in it that makes me uneasy. “I wanted to address some of the changes we’ve implemented in the company over the past year, particularly in regard to our work culture. I’ve seen significant improvements at all levels, and that’s largely thanks to one person—Cora Rossi.”
What?
The room seems to shrink as all eyes turn to me. My cheeks flush instantly, and I sink into my seat, suddenly too hot under the bright lights.
What the hell is he doing?
“Her leadership and commitment have been instrumental in improving morale and creating a more positive environment for everyone here.”
The eyes of my colleagues are on me—some smiling, some murmuring—but all I can do is stare at James, my heart pounding.
“Most of what I’ve said could’ve been sent in an email.” James clears his throat. “But the truth is… this town hall is personal for me.” He pauses, taking an intentional breath, his fingers flexing on the edge of the podium. “I’ve learned that to be an effective leader, I need to demonstrate openness and vulnerability. So, I’m standing here today in front of you all, attempting to do just that. Because I’ve fallen in love… with someone in this room.”
My stomach flips, and my coffee nearly slips from my grasp. The room collectively gasps, soft whispers rippling through the crowd.
Our eyes lock across the room, and in that moment, everything else fades. He looks at me like I’m the only person in the world. Like I’m his everything. He’s laying his heart bare… in front of everyone.
“I fell in love with her,” James continues, his voice thick with emotion. “And then I completely fucked it up. She hasn’t spoken to me in months, and honestly, it’s been the worst six months of my life.”
I swallow hard, trying to push down the lump forming in my throat. My fingers tremble around my coffee cup.
Is this really happening?
I think of the mornings he showed up outside my door. How he didn’t push, didn’t force me to talk to him, but was just… there. Every single day. I told myself his presence didn’t matter, that he was just trying to make up for what he did. But now, hearing him say that those months were as hard for him as they were for me—it changes things. It chips away at the armor I’ve built around my heart.
“I’ve realized I can’t live without her. Her smile, her laugh, the way she puts me in my place with a single look…” He trails off, his lips twitching into a brief smile before it fades. “I don’t deserve her forgiveness. I don’t deserve anything from her, not after the way I hurt her. But if I don’t say this now—if I don’t tell her how much I love her, how much I need her—I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”
The room is silent now, everyone watching, waiting. Tears burn at the corners of my eyes, but I blink them back. James just stands there, vulnerable and exposed in front of everyone. And it’s something I never thought I’d see.
“If she can forgive me…” He falters, his voice cracking slightly. He steps back from the podium, runs a hand over his face and steps up again. “I’ll be right here. Waiting. But if she can’t… if I’ve lost her for good… then at least she knows. At least she knows how much I love her.” His eyes find mine, and for a second, the room is too small, too quiet.
“That is all. You’re all dismissed.”
The auditorium starts buzzing with murmurs as the crowd starts to file out. But all I can focus on is James. Nathan gives my arm a reassuring squeeze as he passes, but I hardly feel it. My mind is spinning.
He loves me.
Part of me wants to run to him, to accept every word that just came out of his mouth. But the sting of betrayal lingers; the weight of what he did. Trust is fragile, and mine shattered the day he took Leo.
I squeeze my coffee cup, the cardboard crumpling under my fingers. If I go up there, it means lowering my guard. Letting him in. And what if he breaks my heart all over again? The fear pulls me in one direction, while the memory of his smile pulls me in another. The war between my heart and my head is raging.
I glance down at him. He’s still standing there, waiting, his gaze locked on me. He looks different, though. There’s no arrogance, no walls anymore, and my heart aches at the sight of him. He’s the one that I want, but he’s also the one who hurt me the most. And that’s what makes this so damn hard.
When the room finally empties, I rise from my seat, my feet moving before my brain can catch up. But I can’t stop. I can’t walk away. Not now. Because there’s one thing I know for sure: I still love him .
I reach him in the center of the stage, and for a moment, we just stand there, the silence thick between us.
“Well, that was ballsy,” I finally say, my voice coming out lighter than I expected.
James cracks a small smile, his eyes searching mine. “Worth the risk, wouldn’t you say?”
I arch a brow, crossing my arms. “Did you really mean what you said?”
“Which part?” he deadpans.
“You know which part!” I huff, swatting his arm lightly.
His face softens, his eyes warm. He steps closer, his hands reaching up to gently cradle my face. “I meant every word. I love you, Cora. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. I want you. I want Leo. I want us… if you’ll give me that chance.”
His thumb brushes softly against my cheek. “Can you ever forgive me?”
I pause, tapping my chin in mock contemplation, trying to keep the moment light, even though my heart is hammering. “Hmm… I’ll think about it.”
He laughs, a sound that warms me from the inside out, and before I can say anything else, his lips meet mine in a searing kiss that’s more than just a promise. His hands hold me close, and I let myself believe that maybe this could work.
Maybe we can be whole again.