His name was Nathaniel

46

Nathaniel sat in his office, the glass walls offering a panoramic view of the bustling city below. The skyline stretched out in front of him, but today it all seemed to blur into one indistinct haze. His head throbbed with a pounding headache, a remnant of last night's wine and the swirling emotions that had consumed him since his reunion with Adaliya. He'd barely managed to focus all day. Meetings had come and gone, and while he maintained the façade of attentiveness, his mind was anywhere but in the office.

It was Adaliya. Every thought circled back to her-her face, her voice, the way she looked at him when he showed up at her flat. That vulnerability she tried to hide behind anger was etched into his mind. He'd tried so hard to stay calm in front of her, to keep his emotions in check, but it had been impossible. Her leaving the restaurant the other night had only deepened the ache in his chest.

The soft chime of his phone interrupted his thoughts, but instead of the usual business emails or calls, Nathaniel found himself opening his contacts and scrolling down to the number he and Adaliya had exchanged. He hovered over it for a moment, thumb poised to press the call button. Maybe this was reckless-he was already pushing boundaries-but he couldn't shake the need to talk to her, to make things right.

His office was quiet, the only sound being the soft hum of the air conditioner. With a deep breath, he hit call.

The phone rang twice before Adaliya picked up, her voice coming through a bit muffled, as if she were surprised by the call. "Hello?"

Nathaniel straightened up in his chair, clearing his throat. "Adaliya, it's me. Nathaniel."

There was a pause, the kind where he could practically hear her processing the situation. "Nathaniel... Hey." Her voice was tentative, as if she didn't quite know how to feel about him calling.

"Look," Nathaniel started, trying to sound composed despite the fact that his pulse had quickened. "I was thinking... I know things have been tense between us. I know I messed up-"

"Understatement," Adaliya interjected, her voice carrying an edge of sarcasm.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Okay, yes, a major understatement. But I want to make it up to you."

"How exactly do you plan on doing that?" she asked, a hint of disbelief creeping into her tone.

"I want to take you on a date," Nathaniel said firmly. The words were out before he could second-guess them, and there was a silence on the other end of the line.

Adaliya's laughter broke the quiet, light and incredulous. "A date? You're joking, right?"

"I'm serious, Adaliya." He leaned forward, the phone pressed tighter against his ear. "I want to do this right. I want to make it up to you."

Adaliya still sounded unconvinced. "Nathaniel, this isn't exactly something you can fix with dinner and drinks."

"I'm not asking for just dinner and drinks." Nathaniel's voice softened. "I'm asking for a chance to talk, without interruptions, without running away. Just us."

She was quiet again, and Nathaniel could almost picture her biting her lip, thinking it over. Finally, she let out a breath. "Nathaniel... I don't know. This is... it's a lot."

"I know it is," he replied, his tone insistent but gentle. "But hear me out-come for the weekend. I'll fly you here. It doesn't have to be anything crazy, just... a weekend. I can show you around, we can talk, and maybe... maybe, we can figure some things out."

Adaliya scoffed, though there wasn't the usual bite in her tone. "A weekend? Nathaniel, I have work. And school."

"Take a break," Nathaniel countered, leaning back in his chair. "I'm not asking for forever, just a few days. You deserve a break anyway. Let me give you that."

"Nathaniel-" she started, but he cut her off.

"I'm not letting this go until you say yes."

"Excuse me?" Adaliya's voice was suddenly sharp again, and Nathaniel could hear the fire in her words.

He smirked, knowing full well he was pressing her buttons. "I'm serious. Say yes, and I'll stop calling. I'll stop pestering you. Just give me this one weekend."

"You're insufferable, you know that?"

"Yes," Nathaniel admitted, grinning. "But I'm also persistent. So, what do you say?"

There was another long pause, and Nathaniel held his breath, waiting. This was his chance-maybe his last chance-and he needed her to say yes. He needed this weekend, this opportunity to show her that he was serious, that he was still the Nathaniel she once knew, even if things had changed.

Finally, she sighed. "Fine. I'll think about it."

Nathaniel's heart leapt, and he quickly jumped in before she could change her mind. "Great! I'll make all the arrangements. Just let me know when you're ready."

"I said I'll think about it, Nathaniel," she reminded him, her tone cautious. "That's not a yes."

"It's close enough to a yes for me," Nathaniel said confidently. "But take your time. I'll wait."

She huffed, clearly exasperated by his persistence, but he could hear the faintest hint of amusement in her voice. "I'll call you when I've made a decision."

"Deal."

Nathaniel hung up the phone, a sense of victory washing over him. It wasn't a guarantee, but it was a step forward-a step toward reconnecting with her. He leaned back in his chair, his headache forgotten, the excitement of the possibility pushing all other thoughts aside.

He stared out at the cityscape, feeling a sense of purpose take hold. Adaliya was still a part of him, whether she knew it or not, and this was his chance to prove that he wasn't the same boy who had left her behind years ago. He was determined to make things right, no matter how long it took.