The following day, Natalia woke up to a warm, early-morning glow spilling across her apartment. The city below was coming to life, and despite her exhaustion from the previous night, she felt an unfamiliar energy buzzing through her veins.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and she hesitated before picking it up, half-expecting a message from Luca. But it was Sam, sending a quick, thoughtful "Good morning" and asking if she was okay. She sent a short reply, grateful for his friendship and for the steadiness he brought to her life.
Finally, she dragged herself up, threw on a simple outfit, and made her way to the restaurant. Working the morning shift felt both grounding and surreal. The simplicity of pouring coffee, serving food and chatting with regulars felt like a temporary shelter from the whirlwind Luca had brought into her world. But she also sensed that this sense of normalcy wouldn't hold forever.
Around midday, a customer waved her over with a familiar smirk. It was Luca. He leaned back, looking effortlessly composed as usual, in dark jeans and a fitted black shirt that seemed to echo the midnight allure of last night. She felt her breath catch as she approached, surprised to see him in her own world rather than his.
"Good morning, Natalia," he greeted, his voice carrying a warmth that seemed to melt the noise around them.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her own tone softer than she intended.
He shrugged casually. "Just a bit of curiosity. I wanted to see you in your natural habitat."
A small smile tugged at her lips despite herself. "So, what do you think?"
"I think you're even more captivating than I imagined," he said, his gaze steady on her, making her feel both vulnerable and seen. He gestured to the seat across from him, inviting her to take a moment's rest. "Join me, if you can."
For a split second, she considered declining, just to maintain her carefully built boundaries. But curiosity and that undeniable pull won out. She signaled to her manager, who waved her off with an understanding smile, and sat across from him.
"Last night was… unexpected," she began, unsure how to phrase the swirl of emotions she'd felt since they'd returned. "I don't understand why you went to so much trouble just for me."
Luca's gaze softened. "You say 'just,' but to me, it's anything but. Last night wasn't about trouble; it was about showing you that the choice, in the end, is yours."
She nodded, feeling a warmth blossom in her chest at his words, even as they deepened her confusion. "You say it's my choice, but I don't know if it's that simple. It feels like there's always something more—something dangerous."
His expression darkened slightly, the weight of his world momentarily cracking his polished facade. "You're right. It's not a simple choice. But I believe you have the strength to make it, if you want it."
As they talked, she felt a steady pull toward him, even with Sam's words echoing in the back of her mind. Her life had been carefully crafted around predictability and security, but Luca had shattered that with a quiet ease, making her question what she truly wanted.
When she finally had to return to work, Luca took her hand gently. "I'll be waiting for you, Natalia. Whenever you're ready, and wherever you choose to be."
The simplicity of his words wrapped around her like a promise. She returned to her shift, her mind spinning as she felt the lingering warmth of his touch on her hand. For the rest of the day, she replayed their conversation in her mind, trying to reconcile the girl she'd always been with the woman she felt herself becoming.
As night fell and she left the café, she glanced down the street and saw Luca's car parked a little way off. He didn't make any move to approach her—he was simply there, a silent presence at the edge of her world. And though she knew that stepping fully into his life would mean leaving parts of her old one behind, she couldn't shake the feeling that, perhaps, she was already halfway there.
The days that followed were marked by a slow, magnetic pull between Natalia's two worlds. Every day at the café, she slipped back into the familiarity of her old life—laughing with Sam, Nicole and Ashley, greeting regulars, serving food, and brewing coffee—but every evening, Luca would appear, lingering in the edges of her world, offering a quiet, steady reminder of the choice waiting for her.
One night, as she closed up, she found him waiting by her car, his face illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlights. He leaned against the door, his expression calm yet watchful.
"Thought I'd walk you home," he said with a smile, his tone gentle but resolute.
They started walking in silence, the late-night hum of the city wrapping around them, creating a bubble of quiet amidst the noise. Luca's presence, though quiet, was anything but insignificant. She found herself attuned to every subtle shift of his gaze, the brief touch of his hand as he helped her over a puddle, the way he seemed to take in every detail around them, as though cataloging each movement and sound to keep her safe.
"Can I ask you something?" she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course." He glanced down at her, his gaze softening.
"Why do you want me in your life, Luca? There's a whole world between us, and I… I don't even understand half of it."
He stopped, turning to face her fully, his eyes dark and intense in the dim light. "Natalia, I've spent my life surrounded by power, control, and risk. I know every corner of my world, and it's a place most people wouldn't want to step into. But you… you make me feel like there's more than just survival, more than just control. You bring something genuine, something untouchable. And once I realized that, I couldn't look away."
His words hung between them, raw and unfiltered, leaving Natalia feeling exposed. She looked down, overwhelmed by the weight of his honesty. She wanted to respond, to find the words that could capture the complex emotions surging through her, but all she could manage was a soft, "Luca, I'm scared."
He reached out, taking her hand gently, grounding her with his touch. "I know," he murmured. "And I won't pretend it's easy. But whatever you're feeling, just know that I'm here. I'll be here until you're ready, however long that takes."
They resumed walking, the silence between them filled with unspoken words. When they reached her apartment, Luca lingered outside the door, his gaze steady but uncharacteristically vulnerable. Natalia felt the weight of the moment pressing down on her. Her hand lingered on the doorknob, her thoughts tangled between her past, her dreams, and the uncertainty Luca had brought into her life.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with sincerity and hesitation. "For tonight, and for… everything."
He offered a faint smile. "It's nothing. Just… don't ever feel you're alone in this. Not with me around."
A warmth blossomed in her chest, and she fought the urge to reach out and pull him into an embrace and kiss him but something inside her head held her steadyZ Instead, she gave a quiet nod, her eyes lingering on his for a moment too long. Then she turned and stepped inside, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
She rested her back against the door, the quiet of her apartment stark and surreal after the intensity of his presence. The shadows in her living room seemed deeper, the silence thicker. For a long time, she stood there, replaying his words, wondering how one person could feel both like a lifeline and a danger all at once.
The days continued like this, an odd rhythm that seemed to bridge her two worlds. She would see Luca often in passing—sometimes waiting for her outside the café, other times, he'd surprise her with small gestures: an espresso on the counter when she was working a long shift, a note tucked under his receipt telling her how beautiful she looked.
But there was always Sam, too. Every day, he'd offer a steady, grounding presence, his concern for her an unspoken but comforting constant. One night, after closing, they walked together to a small bar nearby. She welcomed the familiarity, the ease of his company.
They laughed over drinks, the casual chatter about work and life making her forget, if only for a moment, the weight of her growing connection with Luca.
Eventually, Sam looked at her, his gaze serious. "Nat, I can see something's different with you," he said gently. "You don't have to tell me everything, but… I just want to know if you're okay. Really."
Natalia took a deep breath, realizing how much she'd needed a friend to confide in. She looked down, twirling the glass between her fingers. "Sam, I'm… involved with someone. And it's complicated. He's from a world that's nothing like ours. There's danger, there's… so much I don't even understand."
He studied her for a moment, concern etched in his features. "Does he make you happy? Do you feel safe with him?"
"Yes… and no," she admitted, the conflict raw in her voice. "He makes me feel things I didn't think were possible. But his world—it's risky, and I'm not sure I fit in it. And yet, I can't seem to let go."
Sam placed a reassuring hand over hers. "Just… promise me you'll keep yourself safe, no matter what."
She nodded, grateful for his understanding. They continued talking late into the night, the conversation weaving between light-hearted memories and unspoken fears. She knew Sam couldn't fully understand the pull Luca had over her, but he didn't need to. Just knowing he was there, ready to catch her if she fell, was enough.
The next morning, a note slipped under her door caught her eye. She unfolded it, recognizing Luca's handwriting immediately.
Meet me tonight. Same place. I'll be waiting.
That night, she found him in the dimly lit lounge of an upscale restaurant. He was sitting alone at a secluded table, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw her. As she approached, he rose and held out a chair for her, his touch lingering as she sat down.
"I didn't know if you'd come," he admitted, a flicker of relief in his eyes.
"I almost didn't," she replied honestly. "But… here I am."
They settled into an easy conversation, the usual intensity between them softened by the warmth of the evening. As the night wore on, Luca shared stories about his childhood, glimpses of the life he rarely let others see. And Natalia listened, taking in each piece of his past, each vulnerability he revealed.
As they walked outside afterward, a warm breeze rustling around them, Luca paused, looking out over the city skyline. "Natalia… I want you to know that you don't have to make a decision tonight. But whatever you decide, I hope it's for you. Not for me, not for anyone else. Just for you."
She felt her heart swell with the complexity of her emotions. "I appreciate that, Luca. But it's hard to know what's best when part of me is so drawn to this… to you."
He reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, his hand lingering by her cheek. "Then take all the time you need," he whispered.
They stood there, the city lights flickering around them, his touch a gentle reminder that, whatever choice she made, Luca would be waiting.
While laying down and replaying all that happened since the event where she met Luca, she finaly decided. No more games, she'll decide once and for all and let him know tomorrow.