Rejected: A love story-Chapter 114: It was love at first sight

I stared at my phone for the sixth time, hoping and perhaps —wishing, that Fiona would suddenly message me. The silence was maddening, and the ache in my chest was proof enough that I couldn’t live without her. Last night had solidified that fact. I’d traveled miles just to be close to her, and I would do it again without hesitation.

My mind drifted back to the first time I saw her. It was late at night, and she was wandering the streets with a bag slung over her shoulder, looking lost and unsure of herself. I’d watched her from a distance, mesmerized by the way she looked, wallked and everything about her that I was yet to know. She had looked sad and unsure and I badly wanted to approach her, well not until a middle-aged woman approached her instead. I had only hesitated because I didn’t want to admit to myself that I was attracted to someone after so long.

It was love at first sight. I knew it then, though I never wanted to admit it. Something about her had captivated me in a way I couldn’t explain.

Even during my phone calls with my parents, when I had lied about having a fiancée to get them off my back, she was the one on my mind. Fiona. The woman who had unknowingly become the center of my world. I never regretted the day she came into my life, even if it meant enduring the chaos she brought with her.

My phone buzzed, cutting through my thoughts. I glanced at the screen before picking up.

"Hey, Caleb, what’s the news?"

"They’ve arrived," Caleb said, his voice confident. "Just checked into the building. Security is everywhere, just like you asked."

"And you’re sure they won’t see each other?" I asked, my tone sharp.

"Affirmative," Caleb replied confidently. "They can’t and won’t. Everything’s been arranged."

"Good," I said, leaning back in my chair. "I’ll give you a call once I’m ready."

"Alright, brother," Caleb replied, his tone lighter now.

I hesitated before speaking again. "And Caleb—"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you, brother. I’ll forever be grateful."

There was a pause on the other end before Caleb chuckled. "Fiona has really changed you, huh?. The almighty cold Nathan Keith apologizing? Now that’s something you don’t see every day."

"Shut up," I said, rolling my eyes even though he couldn’t see me. "I was just giving you a proper thanks."

Caleb laughed again, the sound warm and teasing. "Go get your girl, bro."

The line went dead, and I set my phone down, staring at it for a moment longer.

The truth was, Caleb wasn’t wrong. Fiona had changed me. Before her, I was ruthless, focused solely on my business and the empire I was building. I didn’t have time for distractions, especially not love. But Fiona had turned my world upside down, and now I couldn’t imagine a future without her in it.

I stood up and walked to the window, staring out at the city. The city was bustling with activities and all, but they couldn’t hold be compared to the liveliness Fiona brought into my life.

She didn’t know it, of course–—If she had, she wouldn’t have left. Fiona thought I was just a cold, calculating man who cared more about power than people. And maybe that had been true once. But not anymore.

I was determined to show her the truth—to make her see that she was the reason I woke up every morning, the reason I pushed myself harder than ever.

Fiona’s POV

I had spent the last couple minutes in my mini kitchen and had just finished making dinner—creamy tomato pasta, with some roasted chicken. You can guess I used out of the money the stranger left.

I had just finished setting up the table when the doorbell rang.

Ohhh, must be the dessert I ordered. My stomach did a little happy dance as I rushed to the door, wearing nothing but my night gown and a smile. But that smile vanished the moment I opened the door.

I slammed it shut so fast, I almost caught my fingers in the process.

No. Nope. Absolutely not. Please tell me I’m dreaming.

I pressed my back against the door, my heart pounding. Where did he come from? How the heck did he find me??

Okay, Fiona, calm down. Maybe you’re just tired and your brain is playing tricks on you. Yeah, that’s it. You’ve been working too hard. Stress hallucinations.

I took a deep breath and opened the door again, hoping to see a delivery driver holding my dessert instead of... him.

But nope. There he was!Definitely not a figment of my imagination.

"Hi," he said, his voice annoyingly casual.

I slammed the door shut again without saying a word, my pulse racing even faster.

Did Nathan die? Is this his ghost? Has he come to haunt me for leaving him and breaking his heart?

"Go away, ghost!" I yelled through the door, my voice shaky.

"Fiona! It’s me, Nathan!" His voice was louder now, frustrated but unmistakably alive.

I froze, my fingers gripping the doorknob. "How did you find me? Why are you here? Please go back to wherever you came from!"

"Fiona, open the door," he demanded, his tone firm but not angry.

"No!" I shouted back. "I moved here to get away from you, Nathan! You weren’t supposed to find me!"

"Fiona, I need to talk to you!"

"Well, I don’t want to talk to you!" I snapped.

For the next two minutes, there was silence. For a moment, I thought he’d given up. Maybe he’d finally realized I didn’t want him here and had decided to leave.

But then, I heard his voice again, quieter this time. "Fiona, please. Just open the door for five minutes. I promise I’ll leave after that."

Five minutes? Ha! Like I’d fall for that. "You think I’m stupid? You’ll never leave, Nathan. You’ll just keep talking and talking until I lose my mind!"

"Fiona!" His voice was louder now, impatient. "I came all this way to see you! Can you at least give me a chance to explain?"

"Nope!" I yelled back, crossing my arms as if he could see me.

"Fiona, don’t make me do something drastic," he warned.

I rolled my eyes. "What are you going to do? Stand there all night?"

There was a pause, then he said, "I’ll yell. I’ll yell so loud the neighbors will hear me. I’ll tell them everything, Fiona. I’ll tell them you’re hiding from me, and they’ll think I’m some poor, abandoned boyfriend trying to win you back."

My jaw dropped. "You wouldn’t dare!"

"Try me," he said, and I could hear the smirk in his voice.

I groaned, my head falling back against the door. Why was he like this? Why couldn’t he just leave me alone?

"Fine!" I shouted. "But only five minutes, Nathan! And if you don’t leave after that, I swear I’ll call the cops!"

"Deal," he said immediately.

I unlocked the door and opened it just wide enough to glare at him. "Five minutes," I repeated, pointing a finger at him.

He nodded, his expression serious. "Five minutes."

I stepped aside reluctantly, letting him in. As he walked past me, I couldn’t help but notice how annoyingly good he looked.

I shut the door behind him, already regretting my decision.

Nathan took a deep breath, his eyes locked on mine.

"Fiona, I know I’m the last person you want to see right now. But I couldn’t stay away. I had to come."

I crossed my arms, of course he was trying to use the pitiful tactics on me. You’d have to up your game Nathan.

"You have five minutes. Use them wisely." I advised.

"I will," he said, his tone soft but still steady. "I just need you to listen. That’s all I’m asking. I know I might have screwed up, with having a son and family issues. I know I’ve hurt you and if you want me to leave after this, I will. But I need you to understand why I’m here." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Why are you here, Nathan? What could possibly be so important that you had to track me down?"

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes were vulnerable. I quickly looked away.

"Because I can’t stop thinking about you. Because every time I try to move on, I find myself coming back to you. Fiona, you’re the only person who’s ever made me feel like... like I’m more than just my name. More than the reputation I’ve built or the walls I’ve put up."

I felt my face softening, but I quickly masked it with indifference. "What do you want from me, Nathan? An apology? Closure? What?"

"I want a chance," he said, his voice breaking slightly. "A chance to fix things. A chance to prove that I’m not the guy you think I am. That I can be better—for you. I can protect you."

I scoffed. "Protect me? Nathan you might be rich and powerful but there are other people who holds and commands power! It’s not always about me, Nathan. It’s about the people I care about and how far I’m willing to go for them."

"Exactly! Exactly, Fiona. We share the same idea and perspective and I’m willing to go through any length for you. And you know why? It’s because I love you! I love you with every inch of me, I love you more than words can describe!..."

He held my hand and I instantly pulled away.

"If that’s what you came to say Nathan you can leave." I turned away immediately wiping my tears off.

"So you pulled me in... made me love you like an idiot...My heart wasn’t a joke... so why does it feel like you treated it like one?"

I swallowed hard not saying anything. Why was he making this all hard?? It’s harder than it seemed already.

"I keep asking myself what I did to lose you....seems only you have the answer to that."

I turned facing him abruptly. "Nothing ok! It’s not you! It’s me. I–I have and will never toy with your heart like that..."

I looked at him painfully, his eyes were pleading desperately, like someone who’s been suffering desperately.

"I–I lo..." I turned away again.

"I love you Nathan. But I can’t choose two lives over being with you. It’s too much price."