Chapter 38 - The Quiet Coffee
"Would you like to get a coffee with me tomorrow morning?"
Julian asked, a slight, nervous smile touching his usually confident face.
"Not as colleagues discussing a merger. Just... Julian and Valentina."
Valentina felt a warmth spread through her chest. It wasn't the frantic, anxious love she had felt with Rodrigo, always worried about making a mistake or angering his family. It was a calm, steady warmth built on mutual respect and genuine admiration.
"I would like that very much, Julian,"
Valentina replied, her smile radiant and true.
May you like
They stood on the terrace for a long time, talking about their favorite books, their childhoods, and their dreams for the future. There were no ghosts haunting the conversation, no shadows of the past pulling them down.
For the first time in years, Valentina felt completely, wonderfully normal. She was allowing herself to open up to the possibility of a new connection, knowing that this time, she was strong enough to protect her own heart.
