After their heated argument had finally cooled, silence settled thickly in the room. Diego and Lucia sat apart, each nursing their frustration, both too stubborn to be the first to break the quiet. But Diego couldn't shake a strange urge he felt whenever he was around her, a feeling that was even stronger now, beneath the annoyance and confusion. He looked over at her, noting the determination in her eyes, the sharpness to her gaze that never seemed to waver.
He finally spoke up, his tone softened, almost unsure. "Emily," he began, his voice lacking the usual edge.
Lucia's eyes flicked over to him, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something in her expression that wasn't irritation. She was listening.
"I know I'm not the easiest person to be around, alright?" Diego admitted, running a hand through his hair. "I'm... yeah, I might have some bad habits, but that doesn't make me a bad person. You understand that, don't you?"
Lucia gave him a sidelong glance, her brows furrowing. After a beat, she shrugged, looking away as if to guard her thoughts. "I know you're not a bad person, sir," she finally replied, almost reluctantly. "But... you don't just have bad habits. You lack discipline. And that's your problem."
Diego exhaled, caught between wanting to defend himself and a strange need to hear her out. "Emily, nobody's perfect. We all have flaws."
Lucia snorted, crossing her arms. "I know. I just think you could work a little harder on yours."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Diego's mouth. "And here I thought you were just my driver," he teased, trying to ease the tension.
Lucia rolled her eyes, a slight smirk appearing as she shook her head. "Maybe you need someone to remind you of the truth every once in a while."
He chuckled softly but quickly became serious again, his gaze intensifying. "Emily… I've noticed there's something… I don't know, something off with you. Almost like you're hiding something."
Lucia's smile wavered, and she avoided his eyes, an instinctive defense against his probing gaze. "I'm not hiding anything, sir," she said, a bit too quickly.
A hint of mischief crept into Diego's tone. "Maybe it's just that you're secretly in love with me," he said, half-jokingly, trying to read her reaction.
Lucia's cheeks colored, a flicker of irritation sparking in her eyes. "Or maybe I'm just trying to help a boss who needs it," she snapped back. "I could never… " But before she could finish, a sudden pain gripped her stomach, cutting her words short. She winced, bringing a hand to her abdomen, trying to stifle the groan that slipped from her lips.
Diego's playful expression melted away, replaced by genuine concern as he noticed her pained look. He quickly stood up, crossing the room to her side. "Emily, what's wrong?" he asked, his tone urgent, his eyes scanning her face. "Are you alright?"
Lucia's face twisted as another wave of pain hit, and she forced herself to sit upright, still clutching her stomach. "I... I need to leave," she managed, her voice strained.
Diego's eyes narrowed as he put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her from moving. "Wait... is it... are you... on your period?" he asked awkwardly, as if trying to tread carefully but visibly alarmed.
Lucia's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she looked away, biting her lip as she gave a small, reluctant nod. "Yes, sir. I just need to go."
Diego's expression softened with a mix of amusement and sympathy. "Ah… so that's why you were extra... feisty today."
Lucia shot him a glare, her cheeks deepening in color. "Are you serious?" she hissed, but a faint smirk played at the edge of her lips despite herself.
Diego chuckled, then cleared his throat, his face shifting back to concern as he realized she was in real discomfort. When she tried to stand, he placed a steadying hand on her shoulder again, gently keeping her seated. "No, no… don't go," he murmured softly. "Stay. Just... rest here for a bit, alright?"
Lucia hesitated, pain momentarily clouding her judgment, and before she knew it, she was leaning into his touch. "Sir, I really should go. I—" But another sharp pang stopped her words, and she winced, closing her eyes for a moment to steady herself.
Diego, watching her pained expression, frowned as if realizing something about her he hadn't seen before. "You don't have to be so tough all the time, Emily," he murmured, his tone low but warm. "You're allowed to take a break. You're allowed to let someone else help."
Lucia blinked up at him, momentarily surprised by the softness in his tone. "I don't... need help," she insisted stubbornly, even as another wave of pain contradicted her words.
Diego shook his head, chuckling. "Fine, you don't need help," he said, gently nudging her up from the couch. "But humor me, will you? Come on, let me take you to the guest room. You need to lie down."
Despite herself, she let him guide her, his hand on her shoulder as he led her down the hallway. Every step was painful, and she was thankful for his support, though she was careful to keep a respectful distance.
Finally, they reached the guest room, and Diego opened the door, stepping aside so she could enter. "There," he said, his voice laced with satisfaction as she gingerly walked in. "Just relax, alright?"
Lucia let out a sigh as she sank into the bed, feeling the tension in her body ease slightly. Diego pulled the covers over her, careful not to make her feel like she was being fussed over.
"Thank you, sir," she murmured, genuinely touched despite her earlier reluctance. "But... really, you didn't have to—"
"Emily," he interrupted, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You've been there for me. It's my turn, alright? Just get some rest."
She nodded, her eyes softening as she studied him, noticing a gentleness she hadn't expected. "Alright… thank you."
Diego stood there for a moment, and they shared a silent exchange, a look that spoke of mutual understanding, of something unspoken between them. Finally, he gave her a small nod, closing the door softly behind him as he left her to rest.
Once he was alone, Diego found himself oddly moved. He hadn't expected his day to turn out this way, hadn't expected his new driver—the one he often found infuriating—to bring out such a protective side of him. He shook his head, muttering to himself, "What am I getting myself into?"
But as he thought about her stubborn determination, the fire in her eyes, he couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his face. He'd never met anyone quite like her before.