His name was Nathaniel

57

Nathaniel had grown used to the rhythm of his crutches, though he despised the constant reminder of his injury. His ankle was still in a cast, and while he was back in the office, the frustration of not hearing a clear answer from Adaliya gnawed at him. They had started texting more frequently, but she still hadn't given him a response to his question—the one that mattered the most. Would she agree to date him?

It was early evening, and Nathaniel was still at his desk, the city skyline stretching out beyond his window. He was deep in thought when the door to his office flew open with a loud bang.

Nathaniel looked up, startled, as his secretary, Sophie, rushed in behind the intruder. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Donovan, I tried to stop her—"

But she didn't need to say more. The intruder was Adaliya.

Nathaniel blinked, momentarily lost for words. "It's alright, Sophie," he said, his voice softening. "Adaliya's allowed to visit"

Sophie hesitated, glancing between them before nodding. "Very well, sir. Let me know if you need anything."

As Sophie closed the door behind her, the office suddenly felt much smaller, the air thick with the tension between them. Adaliya stood a few feet away, her eyes scanning the nicely decorated room before they settled on his cast.

Her first words came out in a rush. "Nathaniel, your ankle—are you okay?"

He gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I'm fine. It's just a minor inconvenience."

Adaliya frowned, clearly not convinced. "You shouldn't be working so hard. You need to rest."

Nathaniel waved it off. "I'm alright, really. What brings you here?"

Adaliya hesitated for a moment, her fingers twisting nervously. She took a deep breath, stepping closer. "I needed to see you," she said softly.

Nathaniel's heart skipped a beat. The world outside his office seemed to blur as his focus locked on her. He tried to play it cool, but the anxiety bubbling inside was hard to suppress. He could see it in her eyes—she had something important to say.

"I've been thinking... about everything," she continued, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "About us."

His pulse quickened. This was it—the moment he had been waiting for. His mind raced, his heart hammering in his chest. He wasn't sure what to expect but hoped for the best.

Adaliya stepped closer until she stood right in front of him. "I'm ready," she finally said, her voice soft but sure. "I'm ready to try dating you."

For a moment, Nathaniel was silent, barely processing the wave of relief and joy that crashed over him. "You mean it?" he asked, his voice betraying the vulnerability he so rarely showed.

Adaliya nodded, her lips curving into a small smile. "I mean it."

Without thinking, Nathaniel reached out, gently tugging her down onto his lap. The move was instinctive, and Adaliya let out a small gasp as she settled against him. His hands moved to her waist, holding her close, and for the first time in a long while, Nathaniel allowed himself to breathe freely.

"Adaliya," he murmured, his voice low and filled with emotion. "You don't know how happy that makes me."

Before she could respond, he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, tentative kiss. But the moment she responded, the kiss deepened, all their pent-up emotions spilling out. Nathaniel's heart pounded as he felt the warmth of her body against his, the sweet intensity of the kiss sending a shiver down his spine.

The world outside his office faded away. There was no work, no past, no worries—just the two of them, finally connected in the way they had both longed for. His hands tightened slightly on her waist, pulling her even closer as the kiss deepened, their emotions pouring into every touch, every movement.

When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless. Nathaniel's hands lingered on her waist, his forehead resting against hers as he searched her eyes for any sign of doubt—but all he found was warmth and something else he hadn't seen before: trust.

Adaliya smiled up at him, her face warm. "Well, that was worth the wait."

Nathaniel chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "You have no idea."