After our conversation in the bookstore, Draven and I agreed to meet again, this time at a small café tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. I still had a million questions running through my mind, but at least now there was a chance for answers.
As I sipped my coffee, I couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and curiosity. The man I thought I knew was so different from the one sitting across from me now. Draven had traded his usual suit for a simple sweater and jeans, making him look less like the powerful CEO I now knew him to be, and more like the man I had come to know during our time working together.
"Thanks for meeting me," Draven said, his voice soft yet steady.
I nodded, still unsure of what to say. "I guess I just want to understand… everything."
Draven took a deep breath, his eyes holding a seriousness that made my heart skip a beat. "There's something important I need to tell you, Seren," he began, his tone becoming more earnest. "It's about the woman who had you fired."
I felt a jolt of surprise at his words. "The woman? You mean the one who showed up at the office that day?"
Draven nodded. "Her name is Isabelle Carson. She's the daughter of the CEO of a rival company. They've been trying to merge with my company for years, looking for any leverage they can use."
I frowned, not quite understanding. "Why would they want to fire me? What does that have to do with a merger?"
Draven sighed, leaning forward slightly. "Isabelle and her family think a marriage between us is the quickest way to seal the merger. They believe if she marries me, our companies can combine more easily, giving them access to our resources and market share."
The words hung heavily in the air, and I could hardly believe what I was hearing. "Marriage?" I echoed, stunned. "But… why would they want to force you into that? Can't you just say no?"
He ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. "I've tried, but they're persistent. They're using every trick in the book to make this happen. They saw you as a distraction, as someone who could derail their plans, so they manipulated things to have you removed from the picture."
I felt a surge of anger at the thought of being used as a pawn in someone else's game. "That's… insane. And wrong," I muttered, shaking my head.
Draven's expression softened, and he reached across the table to take my hand. "I know. And I'm sorry you got caught in the middle of this. But you need to know something else."
I looked up, my eyes meeting his. "What is it?"
He hesitated for a moment, his grip on my hand tightening slightly. "I don't want to marry Isabelle. I never did. The only reason I didn't outright refuse was to buy myself some time, to figure out how to deal with her and her family without causing a massive corporate scandal."
I could see the strain in his eyes, the weight of everything he was carrying. "Then why didn't you just tell me?" I asked quietly. "Why didn't you tell me what was going on?"
Draven sighed, his thumb brushing gently over my knuckles. "I didn't want to drag you into it. I didn't want you to get hurt because of me. But most importantly… I didn't want to complicate things between us."
I felt a flutter in my chest at his words, but I kept my expression steady. "Complicate things how?" I pressed, needing to hear him say it.
He looked down at our joined hands, his voice barely above a whisper. "Because I'm in love with someone else," he admitted, finally meeting my gaze. "I've been in love with you since the first time we met. I just… I didn't know how to handle it. How to balance my feelings for you with the responsibilities I have as CEO."
The confession hit me like a tidal wave, and I felt a rush of emotions I couldn't quite control. "You're… in love with me?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
Draven nodded, his eyes earnest and filled with sincerity. "I am. I have been for a long time. That's why I've been so torn about everything. I wanted to protect you, but I also wanted to be with you. I just didn't know how to do both."
I sat back, trying to process everything. This was more than I had ever expected to hear, and I wasn't sure how to feel. Part of me was angry—angry at the secrets, the manipulation, the lies. But another part of me… another part of me was undeniably drawn to him, to the man who had finally laid his heart bare.
"Draven… this is a lot to take in," I said finally, my voice soft.
He nodded, looking pained. "I know. And I don't expect you to forgive me, or even feel the same way. I just… I needed you to know the truth. About everything."
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his words settle around us. "I don't know what to say," I admitted. "But I appreciate you being honest with me now."
Draven nodded again, his eyes never leaving mine. "Whatever you decide, Seren, I'll respect it. I just want you to know that you have a choice. And that I'm here for you, no matter what."
For a moment, we sat in silence, the air between us thick with unspoken words and unresolved feelings. I wasn't sure what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe, just maybe, we could figure it out together.