Now

Time had stretched and twisted since the college years were gone—eight long years since Chloe and Damian's paths had crossed, seven since they'd gone their separate ways. She sat in the dim glow of her room, the last drops of her wine casting a crimson hue at the bottom of her wine glass.

She set the glass on the chest of drawers, her movements slow and deliberate. Her eyes, red-rimmed and glistening with unshed tears, fixated on the diamond collar nestled in its case. The bejeweled surface gleamed as if it had never been touched. She kept the jewelry a secret from the world, aside from her insurance company, which safeguarded the item against theft. Damian had probably gifted other women such trinkets over the years. A man like him couldn't settle for a serious commitment.

Not after what he did.

With a trembling hand, Chloe touched the cold metal one last time before snapping the case shut. "Fuck it," she muttered, wiping away her tears.

She buried the case beneath a pile of old clothes in her bottom drawer—out of sight but never entirely out of mind. It was a relic of the past, a token of love once burning so fiercely, now just a flickering memory. As she pushed the drawer, the sharp clack of it echoed through her quiet bedroom, a final seal on a tomb of memories. Damian's love, once endless as the ocean, was a ghostly shipwreck in the depths of her heart.

She had trusted Damian, but not anymore. All those promises of love and commitment? They were lies, shattered by his choice to prioritize his career and wealth over their relationship. Yet, despite everything, she missed him and even dreamed about him like a guilty pleasure.

"What a day. First, I lose my job. Then, I run into my ex-boyfriend." Chloe sighed, running her fingers through her long, tangled hair.

She thought about calling Chase to forget Damian. He beat her to it with a message.

> Hey, just checking in on you. Sorry if I came across too strongly. I guess you know how I feel about you now.

> It's okay, Chase. I was tired and grumpy. Losing a job does that, you know? 😒

> Yeah, you had a bad day. If you need me... Need me to come over or something? 😉

She wanted to invite him over. Maybe take that chance and sleep with him.

Chase deserved a whole lot more than Damian ever did. Chase had been her knight in shining armor—from driving her to the doctor when she had food poisoning to unclogging a problematic drain in her kitchen. She didn't mind watching his muscles flex as he worked, his T-shirt lifting slightly to reveal the definition below. He was the ideal boyfriend, but there was one problem: despite her physical attraction to him, she didn't feel that special spark, that magic she felt with Damian.

Screw Damian.

Chloe went to therapy for months after they broke up to get him out of her mind. Her friends Lisa and Angie helped her through her darkest times post-breakup, even spoon-feeding her soup when she fell into a depression so deep she refused to eat and lost fifteen pounds. She remained in contact with Lisa after graduating from college, who was her lifeline during those worst moments. But she couldn't call her now due to the time zone difference in China—Lisa was on a business trip in Beijing. She and Theo were still together, already discussing marriage.

As for Chase...

"No, I can't." Chloe shook her head, then responded to him.

> I'm good. Need to be alone tonight. You said you had an early start tomorrow.

> True. We'll catch up when I'm back.

> I'd like that. Have a safe journey. ✈️

She half-smiled, about to place her phone on the bedside table to recharge, when it buzzed, displaying an unknown number.

"Hello?" Chloe answered, her voice trembling as she waited to discover who was on the other end.

"Chloe, I, uh, it's amazing to hear your voice."

Damian.

His voice was like a siren's call—captivating and dangerous. He was Lucifer, golden and radiant, an aura of light surrounding him whenever he entered a room. He was the master of deception, shredding her heart into pieces of despair.

Chloe couldn't control the rapid beat of her heart, her face flushing with heat at the sound of his voice. Excitement surged through her veins, and she struggled to breathe as her hands trembled. The last thing she needed was an anxiety attack.

"Chloe, are you there?" Damian's voice came through the line, uncertain yet hopeful.

"H-how? How on earth did you get my number? I changed it years ago," she stammered.

Damian's deep, familiar chuckle resonated. "A rather fortunate thing happened. I found your business card on the ground after you left—it must've slipped out of your box of things. Honestly, it felt like fate."

"Well, you have my number now. What do you want from me?" Chloe's voice hardened, a protective edge creeping in.

"It's been a long time. I've thought about you often over the years. You vanished," Damian said softly, his words laced with regret.

"You broke up with me, Damian. What was I supposed to do?"

"Look, I'm truly sorry. Can we meet for coffee and talk? Please?" Damian begged.

"How soon are you thinking?" Chloe asked, curious what he would suggest.

"I'm free tomorrow morning. I can pick you up, or we can meet somewhere if you prefer," he offered.

"Let's meet somewhere. How about Cinderella Punk? It's quiet, and they have great vegan juices," Chloe suggested. She wanted a quiet spot about twenty minutes from the city near the beach where they could talk.

"Yeah, I know the place. I've been there a few times after surfing last summer."

"Okay. What time works for you?"

"Ten a.m.?"

"Ten it is." Chloe clutched her phone tightly, unable to move. It was really happening. She was going to meet Damian for the first time in seven years.

"Great, I'll see you then. Good night, Chloe," his seductive voice drawled, casting a spell over her.

As Chloe set her phone aside, her thoughts weren't filled with images of Chase. Her heart clung to the whisper of hope that Damian's call had sparked—a beacon leading her out of her loneliness.

She remembered his words. Chloe, I'm falling in love with you.

That same night in the library years ago, she also confessed her love, each word saturated with commitment. Chloe pondered over Damian's promise as she succumbed to sleep, her dreams a tumultuous sea of memories and possible futures.

What would tomorrow bring?

***

Image source: Freepik.com