When History Repeats Itself

Chapter Eighteen

There's a certain kind of silence before a storm. The kind that fools you into thinking the sky will stay blue forever.

That's what loving Dom felt like—too smooth, too safe. Deep down, I knew trouble didn't knock. It crept in unnoticed.

Valentine's Day fell on a Wednesday. My birthday. Twenty-seven. An age that sounded too adult for someone still figuring things out.

I pulled myself out of bed, blurry-eyed but grateful. Sumaya had made me breakfast—pancakes, eggs, and a single cupcake. She sang off-key, lighting a tiny candle as I blew out the flame and made a wish I wouldn't speak aloud. It felt too fragile to name.

Before I left for work, my dad and Aunt Jamila popped by with gifts. Daddy handed me a box from Lucas Wole's signature line, a glinting diamond necklace inside. I could've laughed—Lucas was literally coming in for a meeting at Chase Men later that day. Aunt Jamila gave me perfume and a hug that smelled like homemade baked goods.

My mum called from her restaurant, promising to see me later. Even when I coyly mentioned that Dom and I had plans later tonight, she only laughed and said she'd find me and tuck us in—wherever we were, if need be. And the thing is, I believed her.

Dom arrived to pick me up. He kissed me—soft and sure—then reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a small velvet box.

Inside was a delicate silver charm bracelet, each charm catching the light like it held a secret.

He slipped it onto my wrist, smiling.
"Happy Valentine's Day—and happy birthday," he said, brushing another kiss over my lips.

My fingers grazed each charm dangling from the bracelet, each one capturing a memory we'd already made—and quiet promises of all we hadn't yet.

He watched as I turned my wrist to admire it.

""Lucas is definitely going to brag about this later," Dom said, his eyes twinkling. "I had it custom made."

I laughed. "He has reason to. My dad gave me one of his necklaces this morning."

Dom groaned. "Please don't tell him that.  His ego doesn't need the boost."

We kissed once more before settling into a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes when everything feels just right. By the time we reached the office, I didn't want the morning to end.

Once within Chase Men territory, we snapped back to business mode. The steps leading up to the foyer marked our invisible boundary. We walked into the high-rise, keeping a careful distance between us. Our relationship wasn't exactly a secret—but it was bound by caution. Six pages of company policy made sure of that.

Paba surprised me with beauty products and gossip the second I sat at my desk. "Boyfriend gifted you the bracelet?" she asked, tilting her head toward my wrist.

I smiled and twisted it slowly. "Custom-made."

Before she could respond, the elevator pinged and Lucas Wole stepped out, sunglasses hanging from his shirt, swagger intact.

"Happy birthday," Lucas said with a knowing smile, his eyes dropping to my wrist. "Gorgeous piece for a gorgeous woman."

"Thank you, Lucas. It's absolutely beautiful."

He gave a little shrug, casual as ever. "Dom picked the charms. I just brought them to life."

"Dom's got great taste," he added, his tone light, but his eyes flicking up to meet mine with a spark.

For a split second, I wondered—did he mean jewelry, women, or both?

"He did well," I said, holding Lucas's gaze with a smile that didn't give too much away.