His name was Nathaniel

42

After Adaliya had calmed down and offered Nathaniel a glass of water, the air in her small flat was thick with unresolved emotions. They had faced each other, hearts on the line, but there was still so much unsaid. She awkwardly handed him the glass, trying to steady herself after the wave of emotions that had just crashed over them.

Nathaniel took the glass from her, giving her a grateful nod, though his eyes lingered on her longer than necessary. He couldn't help it-he found himself studying her every move. Even in her simple loungewear, with her box braids hanging loosely in a ponytail, she was mesmerizing.

"I'm sorry for just... barging in like that," Nathaniel said, taking a sip from the glass.

Adaliya shrugged, trying to ease the tension. "It's fine, I guess," she mumbled. "Not like it's the first time you've taken me by surprise."

Nathaniel couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. "True."

The atmosphere was still charged, and Adaliya shifted on her feet, keenly aware of how vulnerable she felt. The glass of water was a welcome distraction, but now that the intense emotions had somewhat subsided, she couldn't help but feel self-conscious. She noticed how his eyes were still lingering on her, even though she felt underdressed, unprepared for this unexpected reunion.

"So... what have you been up to?" she asked, trying to shift the mood away from the emotionally charged confrontation. She wanted to distract herself from the weight of their past by focusing on something else, anything else.

Nathaniel sighed, leaning back a little on the couch, the tension in his shoulders slowly unwinding. "It's been... a lot," he began, his voice softer than before. "After everything that happened, I threw myself into work. The Donovan legacy-keeping the business together, managing the estate. My grandfather, Victor, has been mentoring me. But it's been... overwhelming, to say the least."

He ran his hand through his dark hair, clearly choosing his words carefully. As he talked about the intricacies of managing the vast Donovan fortune, Adaliya could see how the weight of responsibility had changed him. He spoke of corporate meetings, acquisitions, and dealing with board members who were always circling like vultures, eager to have their piece of the Donovan empire. His life had become a web of power plays, expectations, and, as he put it, isolation.

"I've had to grow up faster than I ever imagined," Nathaniel admitted, staring into his glass of water. "And sometimes, I feel like I'm drowning in it."

Adaliya watched him closely. She could tell that he wasn't telling her everything-there was something he was keeping hidden. But she didn't press him. After all, they had been apart for so long. She had no right to demand full transparency.

"And your health?" she asked quietly, remembering the time they had spent together all those years ago, when his illness was a constant shadow hanging over him.

Nathaniel hesitated for a moment before giving her a half-smile. "I'm managing. The doctors keep a close watch on me. But I'm fine, really." He quickly changed the subject. "What about you?"

Adaliya opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, Nathaniel cut her off with a knowing look. "Actually, I already know," he said, smirking slightly.

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what do you know?"

He leaned back, his smirk growing wider. "Your art. I know about your work. I've seen it."

Adaliya couldn't help but roll her eyes, even though there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "Yeah, I know you've seen it. You bought one of my paintings, remember?"

Nathaniel chuckled, his eyes gleaming. "I didn't just buy it. I had to have it. When I saw it at the gallery, I just... knew it was yours. I don't know how, but something about the style, the way it felt-it was you. So I bought it."

She nodded, feeling a strange mixture of flattery and irritation. "Yeah, well, thank you for the... very generous purchase. It definitely helped."

Nathaniel's gaze softened. "I'm glad."

There was a pause between them as the weight of their shared history lingered in the air. Adaliya busied herself with opening a bottle of wine she had bought earlier, pouring them both a glass. It wasn't anything fancy-just something to fill the silence and maybe help them both relax.

Nathaniel took a sip, and Adaliya noticed how quickly he downed it, clearly trying to soothe his nerves. But what she didn't realize was that Nathaniel had never been much of a drinker, in fact this was his second time in 22 years of living that he drank alcohol. As the wine flowed, she could see a shift in him. His cheeks were starting to flush, and his posture became looser, less controlled.

"Nathaniel... are you okay?" she asked, narrowing her eyes as she watched him pour himself another glass.

He laughed, a little too loudly. "I'm fine," he said, though the slight slur in his words betrayed him. "Just... haven't had wine in a while, that's all."

Adaliya raised an eyebrow, suddenly suspicious. "How much do you drink these days?"

Nathaniel waved her off with a smile, though his eyes were starting to glaze over. "Not much, I promise. Just... it's been a stressful few days."

As they continued to drink, the conversation flowed more easily between them. Nathaniel found himself telling her about his latest work with the Donovan legacy, but he carefully avoided mentioning the toll it had taken on his health. He didn't want to worry her, especially after their emotional confrontation earlier. He wanted this evening to be about reconnection, not his burdens.

At one point, as Nathaniel started to feel the effects of the wine more strongly, he looked over at Adaliya, noticing the way her face softened in the warm glow of the small apartment. Even in her simple loungewear, even with her hair undone and unstyled, she was the most beautiful thing he had seen in years.

But Adaliya, catching his stare, suddenly felt self-conscious. "What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Nathaniel shook his head, the alcohol making his words bolder. "Nothing. I'm just... I've missed you."

Adaliya felt a warmth spread through her at his words, but she quickly pushed it down. She couldn't let herself get lost in the past again. Not after everything that had happened. Still, the wine was making her more relaxed than she had been in years, and as they continued talking, she realized how easy it was to fall back into old habits with him.

The night stretched on, and though the tension between them hadn't fully disappeared, there was a small spark of hope, a possibility that maybe, they could find their way back to each other. But as Nathaniel downed another glass of wine, Adaliya couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper was still lurking beneath his surface-a part of him that he wasn't ready to reveal just yet.