The office was quiet, the dim light casting long shadows across the polished mahogany desk. Paisley sat, her fingers drumming lightly on the surface, waiting for the sound of Stephan's footsteps to break the silence. When the door creaked open, she didn't look up. She knew it was him before he even spoke. The familiar scent of his cologne filled the room, strong and purposeful, just like him.
Stephan stood in the doorway for a moment, his frame solid and unwavering, like he had never left. He looked different tonightless the powerful, confident lawyer she had come to know, and more like a man struggling to hold on.
I didn't expect you to be here so late, she said, her voice cold, but her eyes remained fixed on the papers before her.
I had to come, he replied, his voice softer than usual. We need to talk.
She glanced up, meeting his eyes for the first time that evening. His gaze was intense, like he was trying to find something in her. Maybe answers, maybe forgiveness. She wasn't sure.
I'm listening, she said, leaning back in her chair, arms crossed, the same walls that had kept him out before still firmly in place.
He hesitated, then took a step toward her. This case… it's more than just business to me, Paisley. It's personal.
She raised an eyebrow, her heart racing for a reason she couldn't quite explain. Personal?
His jaw tightened as he walked to the side of her desk, his hand resting briefly on the edge. Yes. I didn't ask for this war, but I'm caught in the middle of it. The Lautners... they've done more than just tear families apart. They've destroyed lives.
Paisley felt the weight of his words, but she wasn't ready to show any vulnerability. You're playing a dangerous game, Stephan. And you've dragged me into it.
I never wanted that, he muttered, his eyes searching hers. But I can't undo what's been done. I can't fix everything. But I can try... if you'll help me.
There was something in his eyes that made her heart thud painfully in her chest. A flicker of the man she once knew, and maybe even cared for. The one she had never quite stopped thinking about. She fought against the longing that bubbled to the surface.
Her voice was tight when she spoke, I'm not sure I can help you, not after everything you've done.
Stephan's gaze softened, a flicker of something else regret, maybe? He turned away, his shoulders heavy with the weight of their shared past. I never meant to hurt you, Paisley. You have to believe me.
She watched him, wondering if he truly understood the depths of the damage between them. I'm not the same person I was back then, she said quietly.
He turned back to face her, the vulnerability in his eyes striking. Neither am I.
Her breath caught in her throat as the room seemed to shrink around them. The past hung between them like a living thing, yet neither of them knew how to move past it.
Why didn't you tell me this before? she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Because I was afraid you'd hate me more.
Silence filled the space, and for a moment, the weight of it felt like a betrayal. But in that silence, something else emerged a connection, fragile but real.
Paisley broke the silence, her tone sharper than she intended. I still don't know if I can trust you.
He nodded slowly, accepting the distance. I don't expect you to. But I'm asking for a chance to prove that I'm not the man you think I am.
She met his gaze, her emotions swirling in a chaotic storm. He was asking for something she wasn't sure she could give. But the pull between them, the familiarity, the hurt, and the hope it was all too much to ignore.
But before she could speak, his phone buzzed, the sound sharp in the quiet room. Stephan's expression shifted, his earlier vulnerability replaced by that familiar coldness she had come to associate with him.
I'll be in touch, he said, turning towards the door.
Wait, she called out before he could leave.
He paused, his hand on the doorframe.
Don't disappear again, she added, her voice steady, but her heart racing.
His eyes met hers, a silent promise passing between them. He didn't say anything, but the look he gave her said it all. He wasn't done yet. Neither was she.
And as he walked out, leaving her alone with the silence once more, Paisley couldn't help but wonder if, maybe, just maybe, they were both walking the same dangerous path.
The night was thick with the hum of the city outside, but inside the office, everything felt quieter, more intimate. The tension between them had shifted, thickening the air. She had been too lost in the moment, her heart racing faster than her mind could keep up.
Stephan had left, but his words lingered in the air like a faint melody. I can't undo what's been done.
Paisley ran her fingers through her hair, trying to gather her thoughts. He had said more than he ever had before. More than she had expected. And for a brief second, she had almost believed him. Almost.
Her mind replayed the conversation over and over again. Was he lying? Or was this the truth?
Just then, her phone buzzed again. The screen lit up, showing Stephan's name. Hesitantly, she answered.
What now? she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral, but failing.
I need you to come with me, his voice was low, tense. I'm in danger.
Paisley's stomach tightened. The words hung heavy between them. What do you mean?
I'll explain everything. But you need to trust me.
The urgency in his voice sent a chill down her spine.
Her heart raced. Could she really go back into his world? Could she trust him again?
She stood, pacing, her mind at war with her emotions. There was still so much they hadn't talked aboutso many unanswered questions.
But there was something in his tone, something raw and desperate, that pulled at her.
Where are you? she asked, her voice shaky despite her best efforts to remain calm.
I'll text you the address. Please, Paisley. I don't have much time.
Her pulse quickened as she grabbed her coat and headed for the door. The night was far from over, and the stakes had just risen higher than ever before