Chapter 22: An Attempt at Reconciliation
The sun was setting over the city, casting long shadows through the office windows. Lía sat at her desk, a stack of paperwork in front of her, though she wasn't really looking at it. Her mind kept drifting, wandering back to the conversation she had had with Alejandro just the night before. He had stood at her door, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. And yet, despite the tension in the air, she had shut him out.
She hadn't wanted to. The truth was, part of her had wanted to hear what he had to say. To know if he truly understood what he had done to her, to their relationship, and to the trust they had once shared. But then another part of her, the part that had worked so hard to rebuild herself, had held her back. She wasn't ready. She couldn't go back to that place of vulnerability. Not yet.
Lía's phone buzzed, breaking her from her thoughts. It was a message from Diego: *"Can we talk tonight? I need to tell you something important."*
She stared at the message for a moment, her heart fluttering with uncertainty. Diego had been a constant support throughout the past few weeks, especially during the crisis with his company. She had seen a side of him that was rarely visible to others—his vulnerability, his fears, his regrets. He had opened up to her in ways that most people never did. And now, with this message, she knew that things were about to shift even further.
After a few seconds of hesitation, she typed a quick reply: *"Sure. I'll be there."*
As the day passed, Lía found it increasingly difficult to concentrate. Her mind was caught between Alejandro's lingering presence in her life and Diego's unspoken words. There was so much she needed to figure out, so much she had yet to understand. Her emotions felt like they were pulling her in opposite directions, and she wasn't sure how to navigate through it all.
By the time evening came, she was already heading to Diego's apartment. The city was bathed in the golden light of dusk, the streets bustling with people finishing their workday. As Lía walked, her steps felt heavy, as if each one was leading her toward something inevitable. When she reached Diego's building, she hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath before entering.
She found him waiting in the lobby, leaning against the wall, his eyes focused on the floor. When he saw her, a small, almost nervous smile spread across his face, but Lía could tell he was carrying something heavy.
"Lía," Diego greeted her, his voice softer than usual. "Thanks for coming. I didn't want to keep this from you any longer."
Lía nodded, her heart beating a little faster. She could tell something was coming. His usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by something more raw, more exposed. "What's going on, Diego? You said you needed to tell me something important."
He led her to the elevator, his silence making her wonder if he was second-guessing himself. The ride up to his apartment felt like an eternity, the quiet between them growing more charged with each passing second. When the doors opened, they walked down the hallway to his door, and as he unlocked it, Lía couldn't help but notice the tension in his shoulders. This was different. This wasn't just about the legal crisis or the company—it was about something much more personal.
They stepped inside, and Diego immediately gestured for Lía to sit on the couch. He sat opposite her, his hands resting on his knees, his expression thoughtful.
"Lía," he began, his voice steady but laced with uncertainty. "I don't know how to say this, but I need to be honest with you. I've been trying to ignore it for so long, but I can't anymore."
Lía's pulse quickened. She had a feeling she knew where this was going, but she forced herself to stay calm, to listen.
"Over the past few months," Diego continued, "you've become someone I rely on more than anyone else. You've been there for me when I needed someone the most. And lately, I've been realizing something... something I can't ignore anymore."
Lía sat silently, her eyes fixed on his. She felt a rush of emotion building inside her—confusion, anxiety, and a strange sense of anticipation.
"I'm in love with you, Lía," Diego said, the words hanging in the air between them. His gaze was steady, unwavering, but there was a vulnerability in his eyes that made Lía's breath catch. "I have been for a while. I didn't know how to deal with it, especially with everything that's been happening, but I can't keep pretending like it's not there."
Lía's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing to process what he had just said. Diego—her friend, her colleague, the person who had supported her through the chaos—was in love with her. She hadn't expected this. She had thought about Diego a lot, especially in the past few weeks, but she hadn't ever considered the possibility that he might feel the same way.
She swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. "Diego, I—" she began, but her words faltered. She couldn't lie. Part of her felt the same pull toward him. But there were too many uncertainties, too many complications.
"I don't know what to say," she admitted, her voice softer than usual. "This is... a lot."
Diego nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. "I understand if you don't feel the same way. I just needed you to know. I needed you to know that I'm here. For you. No matter what happens."
Lía's heart swelled with a mix of emotions—gratitude, confusion, and something deeper that she couldn't quite define. She had never expected Diego to be so vulnerable, so open with her. And yet, here he was, laying his feelings bare.
Before she could respond, the doorbell rang, interrupting the moment. Diego stood up quickly, his face clouded with surprise.
"I wasn't expecting anyone else," he muttered, walking over to the door. When he opened it, Lía's breath caught in her throat.
Standing in the doorway was Alejandro.
Lía felt a sharp pang of surprise and something else—something that made her chest tighten. Alejandro had come here, to Diego's apartment, uninvited. The tension that had been building between her and Diego suddenly seemed to freeze in the air.
Alejandro's gaze flicked between her and Diego, his eyes dark with something she couldn't quite read. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then hesitated. The atmosphere was charged with a quiet intensity, and Lía could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her.
"Alejandro," she said, her voice steady, though her heart was racing. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to talk," Alejandro said simply, his gaze fixed on her. "We need to talk."
The air between them thickened. This was the moment she had known was coming—the moment when Alejandro would attempt to bridge the gap he had created between them. But with Diego's confession still hanging in the air, Lía felt more torn than ever.
"I don't think this is the right time, Alejandro," Lía replied, her voice firm but gentle. "I'm already dealing with enough."
Alejandro looked at Diego, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I think you and I both know that's not true, Lía."
The tension in the room was palpable. Diego stepped forward, his body language defensive. "This isn't the time, Alejandro. If you have something to say to Lía, you can do it another time. Right now, she doesn't need this."
Lía stood up, her emotions swirling. She had come here for a reason—to speak with Diego, to sort through her own feelings about the situation. But now, with Alejandro standing there, everything had shifted again. She could feel herself being pulled in two directions, torn between the man who had supported her and the man who had hurt her.
"I think you should leave, Alejandro," Lía said, her voice stronger now. "I'm not ready for this. Not yet."
Alejandro's face flickered with something—disappointment, maybe even regret—but he nodded. "I understand."
He turned to leave, but just before he stepped out, he paused, his gaze locking with Lía's.
"Whenever you're ready," he said softly, "I'll be here."
The door closed behind him, leaving Lía and Diego standing in the silence that followed.
Lía stood frozen, her heart beating wildly. Diego had confessed his feelings, and Alejandro had tried to reconcile. But now, with both men in her life, she felt more confused than ever. What was she supposed to do now?