As The Stars Aligned

Chapter 10

 Damien stirred his cappuccino absentmindedly, his thoughts in turmoil as he sat quietly, listening to Sebastian and his newfound friend's chat.

Sophia's revelation about Novalie being the masked woman he had danced with at the masquerade had sent shockwaves through his carefully crafted world. Days of searching for the elusive woman, and she had been right in front of him all along.

He couldn't help but steal glances at Novalie, who was engaged in a conversation with Sophia, their voices hushed but animated. Her presence stirred up a whirlwind of memories—the soft, enchanting music of the masquerade ball, the feel of her hand in his, and the undeniable chemistry that had crackled between them.

Despite his earlier denial, Damien couldn't deny the connection he felt with her, a connection that had haunted him since that night. It was a truth he couldn't ignore any longer.

As he watched her, he knew that the unspoken truths between them could no longer be ignored. The question was whether he had the courage to confront them.

Contemplating on what he should do, Damien silently pondered his next move. Sophia's words caught his attention, pulling him from his thoughts. "Yeah, I would like that," she said, "I heard that the view is great there."

Sebastian chimed in enthusiastically, "Great, shall we go now?"

Damien raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "What? Go where?" he wondered internally, feeling somewhat out of the loop.

Just as he was about to ask for clarification, Novalie spoke. "Well, if you're leaving, I might as well go," she said as she got up from her chair.

"No, you should stay," Damien blurted out, the words escaping his lips before he could stop them. The unexpected statement left him momentarily flustered as he realized he didn't want her to leave.

Novalie raised an eyebrow at Damien's unexpected suggestion, her curiosity piqued. "And why should I?" she inquired, her tone laced with intrigue.

Meanwhile, Damien struggled to find the right words. "Why should she stay? I don't even know what to say to her," he mused silently as he collected his thoughts.

As the seconds ticked by, Novalie made a decision. She would stay if only to see what Damien had in mind. "Okay, I'll talk to you later, love you and be safe," she said to Sofia, giving her friend a warm hug before sitting back down.

Damien was genuinely surprised by her choice. He had expected her to leave, and her decision to stay left him momentarily at a loss for words.

"So, what's up?" Novalie said, her eyes fixed on Damien.

Damien felt a strange sense of nervousness, something he wasn't accustomed to. He stumbled over his words, his thoughts jumbled like a shaken snow globe. "Um, I...I, hmm," he mumbled, trying to regain his composure. "This is a first," he thought, surprised by his own unease.

"Well, if you don't have anything to say, then I'm leaving," Novalie declared, making a move to get up from her chair.

Panic surged through Damien as he saw her about to leave again. Acting on instinct, he reached out and gently grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. "Wait," he said urgently, his grip careful but firm. "I really want you to stay."

Novalie paused, looking down at Damien's hand on her arm, and then back into his eyes. She could see something in his expression that was different from their usual encounters, a vulnerability she hadn't expected.

"Can you please sit back down...Please?" Damien asked, his tone earnest and his eyes pleading with sincerity.

Novalie voluntarily sat back down, a curious expression on her face, urging him to go on.