A Second Chance at Love (Millionaire Romance)

20

20

"Damn it," Tristan shouted and hit his balled fists against his desk.

Tristan didn't mean to hurt Nina. He saw the look on her face when he told her they couldn't be together.

It was his fault. He didn't want to see the look of hurt and anger on her face. He had to tell her he was no good for her cause it was the truth. Being in love wasn't all candy and roses.

He was sure of that. Even his own mother didn't want him. She had abandoned him to live in foster care. Then the woman he had loved left him and her own daughter. All women were the same. Even if Tristan would allow himself to be with her, he was sure that she would leave him just like his mother and his last love did.

He didn't need a woman in his life. He was doing just fine being a single father. He was taking care of Nadia by having an amazing career that allowed him to take care of his daughter and spoil her, unlike his childhood he would give her all the love and affection she needed.

Tristan wouldn't be able to go to sleep tonight. His mind wouldn't shut off because it kept wondering to Nina.

Tristan turned on his laptop and went over his next business venture.

Tristan awakened to his alarm going off. Tristan checked the time on his watch and noticed he was an hour late for work. He had missed calls from both Max and Greg. He also realized that it was way past time for Nadia to be in school.

Tristan rushed out of his room and down the hall to Nadia's room. He didn't see Nadia in her bed and her backpack was gone from its usual spot hanging on a hook on the bedroom wall.

"Nadia," he said.

Tristan rushed down the steps to see Nina closing the front door shut.

"I took Nadia to school. She's fine," she said, walking towards the kitchen.

Tristan followed after her. He stopped when she turned on her heels to glare at him.

"How did you sleep?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

Nina scoffed. "Fine."

She turned her back on him to get out eggs and bacon.

"Nina, we should still be cordial to each."

Nina slammed the iron skillet onto the stove and turned the knob to cut on the fire.

"What do you want from me, Tristan?" she asked. "If I wasn't being cordial I wouldn't even be speaking to you."

"It's your tone I don't like."

Nina laughed but there wasn't a ring of humor in it.

"Do you honestly expect me to be happy-go-lucky after what you said?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"I expect you to be professional." He walked closer to her expecting her to back away but she didn't.

Tristan wanted her to understand why they couldn't be together. He didn't have the capacity to love another woman again.

Nina sighed. "Why can't you be honest with yourself?"

Tristan stepped even closer.

"What are you getting at?"

"I know you want to be with me. You're just scared."

Tristan stepped back.

"I'm not scared of anything."

Nina stepped closer to him. She placed her hand against his chest and stared up at him.

"I'm scared too."