Liam had made his decision.
He wasn't going to pretend anymore.
But Grace ? She was still pretending.
Pretending that the kiss hadn't happened.
Pretending that her heart didn't race every time she saw him.
Pretending that the fire between them could be extinguished by sheer willpower,.
He saw through it all
He saw it in the way her eyes lingered on him a second too long during meetings
In the way her breath hitched when their hands brushed.
In the way she avoided being alone with him, yet always found reasons to be near.
She was denying her feelings but her body betrayed her
Liam was patient, but he was also persistent.
He started leaving her notes and simple handwritten messages slipped under her office door.
"Coffee at 10?"
"Working late tonight , care to Join me?"
"Thinking of you"
Grace read every note but never responded.
She kept her distance, but Liam noticed the subtle changes.
She began wearing her hair down, the way he liked.
She wore the perfume he once complimented
She was denying her feelings, but she was also drawn to him.
One evening, he found her in the conference room, poring over blueprints.
He leaned against the doorway, watching her.
"You work too hard" he said
She looked up, startled
"I could say the same about you," she replied, her voice steady.
He stepped closer
"Grace, we need to talk."
She stood, gathering her papers.
"There's nothing to talk about"
"Stop pretending," he said, his voice firm
"I'm not pretending."
"Yes, you are. You're pretending that what happened between us meant nothing. You're pretending that you don't feel the same way I do."
She looked away.
"It's complicated."
"It doesn't have to be."
She met his gaze.
"Damien, this... whatever this is, it's dangerous. For both of us."
He stepped closer, closing the distance between them.
"What's dangerous is denying ourselves what we both want."
She shook her head.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm afraid."
He reached out, gently cupping her cheek.
"Afraid of what?"
"Afraid of losing control , Afraid of getting hurt, Afraid that if I let myself feel, everything will fall apart."
He leaned in, his lips inches from hers.
"Grace , sometimes you have to take a leap of faith."
She closed her eyes, torn between desire and fear.
"I need time," she whispered.
He nodded, stepping back.
"I'll wait. But not forever."
As he left the room Grace felt a mix of relief and longing
She was still denying her feelings, but the walls she had built were starting to crumble.