Three days.
It had been three days since Kael's alcohol poisoning incident.
Three days since the hospital room.
Three days since Amara held his hand without letting go.
Three days since hope quietly bloomed in Damian's chest—only to be slowly suffocated.
And now, at lunchtime, Damian sat alone in his office.
The tray of untouched food on his desk had already gone cold.
He hadn't taken a single bite.
He leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.
His heart felt heavy.
Not dramatic. Not explosive.
Just… heavy.
Like something pressing down on his ribs, making it hard to breathe.
For three days straight, he hadn't been able to be alone with Amara.
Not even five minutes.
Every single time he walked toward her desk—
Kael was already there.
"Amara, I need your help with this contract."
"Amara, the client wants clarification."
"Amara, can you accompany me to review the proposal?"
Always something.
Always a reason.
And because it involved work, Amara never refused.
Damian knew her too well.
Work was sacred to her.
No matter how complicated her emotions were, she would never mix them with responsibility.
Which was why today—
She had gone with Kael to a luncheon meeting.
Kael had claimed her presence was necessary since she was the one who closed the deal.
Damian couldn't object.
He had no right to.
But the thought of them sitting side by side, smiling at clients, possibly laughing together—
It made his chest ache.
He closed his eyes.
Meanwhile — The Luncheon
Kael adjusted his cufflinks as he walked beside Amara toward the restaurant's private dining room.
"You didn't have to bring me," Amara said lightly. "I already briefed you about everything."
"I know," Kael replied smoothly. "But they requested the person who finalized the deal. You deserve the recognition."
He smiled at her.
It was softer now.
Less arrogant.
More careful.
Amara didn't notice the calculation behind it.
Because Kael knew something very clearly.
When it came to work, Amara would never say no.
Even if she was upset with him.
Even if she was trying to keep distance.
Work was neutral ground.
And as long as he kept bringing work into it—
He could stay beside her.
Throughout the luncheon, Kael observed her more than the client did.
The way she explained projections.
The way she answered objections without raising her voice.
The quiet authority she carried.
She's always been like this, he thought. Strong. Capable. Mine.
When the client excused himself briefly, Kael leaned closer.
"You barely touched your food."
"I'm not that hungry," she replied absentmindedly.
Talking about meals made her mind drift elsewhere.
To someone else.
She missed eating with Damian.
The quiet comfort. The small smiles. The way he would slide her favourite dish toward her without asking.
It had been three days since they last sat together.
Three days of almost.
Three days of being interrupted.
"Since I almost died, I think I earned the right to worry," Kael said bluntly.
Her expression softened for a brief second.
But her thoughts were not about him.
Kael saw the softness—
And misunderstood it.
Satisfied, he leaned back.
The client returned.
The meeting resumed.
But Kael's real goal had already been achieved.
Another hour beside her.
Another chance to occupy her time.
Another barrier between her and Damian.
Back at the Office
Damian's phone vibrated.
He blinked and looked down.
A message from Amara.
We just got back from the luncheon. We're in basement of the company already.
I didn't eat much earlier.
Can we meet in the cafeteria?
I kind of… missed you.
He froze.
His eyes reread the last sentence.
I kind of… missed you.
His heart, heavy all morning, suddenly began beating wildly.
Fast.
Uncontrolled.
He stood up so abruptly his chair rolled backward.
Missed him.
Not Kael.
Him.
Without thinking, he grabbed his phone and rushed toward the elevator.
What he didn't know—
Was that someone else had read the message too.
Basement Parking
Amara walked ahead of Kael toward the elevator.
Her phone was still in her hand.
She hadn't noticed that when she typed the message—
Kael had been standing just behind her shoulder.
Close enough.
Close enough to read.
Close enough to see every word.
I kind of… missed you.
Something sharp twisted inside him.
So that was it.
So that was who she missed.
Not him.
Damian.
He looked toward the elevator lobby.
The timing.
If Damian rushed down—
He would use it.
A cold, deliberate idea formed.
"Amara," he called.
She turned halfway.
"What?"
Kael stepped closer.
Too close.
Before she could react, he placed one hand on her head—
Leaning in.
From the angle of the elevator doors—
It would look like a kiss.
Perfectly.
But his lips never touched hers.
They stopped just at the corner of her cheek.
Close enough for illusion.
Far enough to avoid contact.
Amara stiffened instantly.
"What are you doing?" she whispered sharply.
But before she could push him—
The elevator doors slid open.
Damian stepped out.
And from where he stood—
All he saw was Kael leaning in, blocking Amara from view, and their faces inches apart.
It looked intimate.
It looked unmistakable.
It looked like a kiss.
Kael tilted his head slightly—just enough to sell it.
For a brief second, his eyes flicked toward Damian.
And he knew.
Damian saw.
Then Kael straightened slowly.
Amara immediately shoved him back.
"What is wrong with you?!" she demanded, furious.
Kael stepped away.
Calm.
Almost composed.
"Relax," he said quietly.
From the elevator entrance, Damian's world had already gone silent.
He didn't hear the words.
He didn't see the gap between their lips.
He only saw proximity.
Possession.
Intimacy.
Amara looked up—
And met Damian's eyes.
Her stomach dropped.
"Damian—"
But the elevator doors closed before she could move.
Upstairs — Damian's Office
He walked back like a man underwater.
Every step distant.
Muted.
His mind replayed the image.
Kael leaning in.
Amara against the car.
So close.
So close.
He sank into his chair.
His hands trembled.
Maybe I misunderstood.
But the doubt was already there.
Why would Kael dare… unless he knew something?
He had promised himself from the beginning—
If Amara chose Kael—
He would step aside.
Maybe that was the answer.
He leaned forward, hands covering his face.
I was foolish to hope.
He had known from the start.
Kael had been her first love.
Her unfinished story.
Damian had only entered during the pause.
And maybe the pause was ending.
A clear, painful thought formed.
It's time for me to leave.
Not dramatically.
Not angrily.
Just quietly.
Return to managing his own company.
Create distance.
Because watching her choose someone else—
Would slowly destroy him.
If she was happy with Kael—
Wasn't that enough?
Even if it cost him everything?
He closed his eyes.
I'll let her go.
Basement — Moments After
Amara turned to Kael, fury blazing in her eyes.
"What was that?"
"I didn't kiss you," he replied calmly.
"You leaned in!"
"And?" he said evenly. "Did I touch you?"
She faltered.
No.
He hadn't.
But the angle—
Her eyes widened.
"You did that on purpose."
Kael didn't deny it.
"He needed to see something."
"You made it look like you kissed me!"
"He saw what I wanted him to see."
Her hands trembled.
"You're unbelievable."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"I saw your message."
Her breath caught.
"You read my phone?"
"You didn't even notice I was standing behind you."
Silence.
"You missed him," Kael said quietly.
She didn't answer.
"That's why I did it," he continued. "Because I'm not losing you without fighting."
"You don't get to manipulate people like that!" she snapped.
"And you don't get to act like he hasn't replaced me."
"He didn't replace you," she said sharply. "You lost me."
The words hit harder than she intended.
But Kael only stared at the elevator.
"He'll step back now," he murmured.
Her heart pounded.
"No," she whispered.
And she ran.