REWOVEN HEARTS

Chapter nineteen: The Reluctant Pursuit

The days after the encounter in the conference room were a whirlwind of conflicting emotions for both Nina and Damien. While Nina remained steadfast to keep in her decision to keep the past behind her, Damien found himself pulled back in the whirlwind they had once shared, unable to let go of the woman who had once meant every thing to him. He had grown in many ways-his career, his stature, his sense of self-but a part of him still carried the unresolved feelings for Nina. And those feelings were resurfacing with an intensity he hadn't anticipated.

It had been weeks since the awkward meeting. They passed each other in the hallway of the office, exchanged polite nods, but nothing beyond the professional distance. Yet the air between them was thick with unspoken tension. Damien could feel her presence eve when they were in different rooms. Every time they eyes met, he saw that flicker of something-maybe hope, maybe doubt-but it was enough to make his heart race.

Damien had always prided himself on being in control. His rise to the CEO had been the result of hard work, determination, and an unwavering focus. But Nina... Nina was a challenge he couldn't figure out, and it drove him mad. He was used in being persistent, used to getting what he wanted. And right now, he wanted her.

One afternoon, as he worked late in his office, his phone buzzed with a message from her. It wasn't unexpected-Nina was assigned to one of the most important projects at the company again. It was part of their professional duties, after all.

Damien stared at the message for a long time before responding. He knew he couldn't keep pretending that this was just about work. Every time they interacted, the walls between them felt thinner. He wanted more. He needed to know if there was still something between them, or if it had all been a figment of his imagination.

 He typed out a quick reply.

I'll meet you in the conference room at 6 PM to go over the proposal.

He didn't wait for a response before walking out of his office, determination in his step. He couldn't let this go. Not again.

When Nina arrived at the conference room, she found Damien already there, seated at the head of the table, reviewing some documents. His posture was as confident as always, but there was something in his eyes that betrayed his usual composure. Nina couldn't quite place it-was it frustration? Longing? Whatever it was, it made her feel uneasy.

She walked in the room, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. She took a deep breath and walked towards the opposite side of the table, trying to ignore the knot in her stomach.

"Good evening," she said coolly, settling into her seat.

 Damien looked up, his gaze meeting hers with intensity that made her heart beat faster. For a moment, there was silence, the weight of their past hanging between them.

"Nina," he said, his voice low. "I need to talk to you."

She frowned slightly. "About the project?"

He shook his head, his hands resting on the table. "No. About us."

Nin felt a pang of irritation, though she knew it wasn't entirely fair. "Damien, we agreed that we wouldn't talk about this anymore. It's been years, and-"

"I know," he interrupted, his voice softer now. "But you can't expect me to just let this go. Not when I still care about you. Not when I know there's something between us."

Nina clenched her jaw, her mind racing. She didn't want to feel this way. She didn't want to let him back in. "I've moved on, Damien," she said firmly. "I've moved on from everything we were. We're different people now."

Damien stood up and walked around the table, closing the distance between them. "Maybe we are different, but some things don't change. Nina, you know that what we had was real. And I'm not going to let you push me away without at least trying to fix what was broken."

She stood as well, facing him, her face wavering despite her best efforts to remain composed. "You don't get it. We weren't just from different worlds. You were never serious about me. You were serious about what your parents thought. You never gave us a real chance. And I'm not going to pretend that what we had was enough, Damien."

His expression softened, and for the first time, Nina saw the vulnerability in his eyes that he often hid behind his confident, Nina I know I hurt you. But I can't undo that. I can promise that I want to make it right."

Nina felt a lump form in her throat. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that they could pick up the pieces, but the pain of their pat was still too fresh. She had fought so hard to move forward, and this... this was a step back.

"You can't undo the past Damien," she said quietly, her voice trembling. "And I can't go back to who I was before. I'm not that girl anymore. I can't just fall back into something that was never given a fair chance."

Damien reached out, his hands brushing against hers gently. "I don't want to rush you. But I want you to know that am not giving up on us. Not now, not ever."

Nina pulled her hand back, her heart aching. "You don't get it. I'm not the one who's holding us back anymore. I'm just trying to protect myself."

For a long moment, Damien said nothing. He simply looked at her, as if searching for something-some sign that she felt the same. But Nina remained firm, her gaze unwavering. She wasn't going to let him back into her life that easily. Not again.

Damien sighed, taking a step back. "I can't make you feel something you don't. But I'm not giving up on us. I'll wait as long as it takes."

Nina nodded, her chest tight. "I hope you find what you are looking for, Damien. But it won't be me."

As she turned to leave, Damien's voice stopped her.

"Nina, he said, quietly, "I'll be here when you are ready. But don't wait too long. "I'll never stop caring about you."

Nina didn't look back as she walked out of the room. She didn't want to. Because deep down, she knew the truth-there was still something between them. But she also knew that some things were too broken to fix. And some pasts were too painful to revisit.