Chapter 6 - Everyone in the Room Saw Him Walk
Three days later, Damian found Hannah working in a small neighborhood café.
She emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray.
Then she saw him.
Standing.
Wearing a charcoal suit and black open-collar shirt, tattoos visible along his neck and forearms.
She stopped.
The café owner whispered:
“Do you know that guy?”
“Unfortunately.”
Damian approached.
“I'd like to talk.”
“No.”
“Hannah.”
“Still no.”
“Five minutes.”
“Three.”
He nodded.
They stepped outside.
Hannah crossed her arms.
“Where's your wheelchair?”
“At home.”
“Expensive coat rack.”
“I probably deserved that.”
“You deserved worse.”
“Probably.”
That answer surprised her.
Damian handed her an envelope.
She stared at it.
“What's this?”
“Not money.”
“Good, because I'd throw it into traffic.”
“It's a letter.”
“You write letters?”
“Apparently badly. Carlo made corrections.”
Despite herself, Hannah almost smiled.
She opened it.
It was a formal apology.
No excuses.
No job offer.
No money.
At the bottom was one handwritten sentence.
You were kind to me when you believed I had nothing useful to offer you. I repaid that kindness with deception. I am sorry.
Hannah folded the page.
“Why are you here?”
“To apologize.”
“You did.”
“I know.”
“And?”
“And nothing.”
She studied him.
“You expect me to believe Damian Russo drove across Chicago just to say sorry?”
“Yes.”
“No hidden test?”
“No.”
“No employment contract?”
“No.”
“No ridiculous check?”
“No.”
“Flowers?”
“They're in the car.”
She stared at him.
Damian sighed.
“I was advised flowers were appropriate.”
“By Carlo?”
“Mrs. Gable.”
“Smart woman.”
“Terrifying woman.”
Hannah finally smiled.
Damian looked at her for a moment.
“I miss that.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Don't.”
“Why?”
“Because this is where you turn an apology into something else.”
“I'm not asking you to come back.”
“Good.”
“I want you to.”
“Damian.”
“But I'm not asking.”
Hannah shook her head.
“You're impossible.”
“I've heard that.”
She turned toward the café.
“Hannah.”
She looked back.
“Vivien is gone.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't be.”
“I wasn't.”
Damian actually laughed.
Then Hannah's expression became serious.
“You can't build relationships by testing everyone.”
“I know that now.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Because the person who passed my test is the only person I lost.”
Hannah went quiet.
Damian continued.
“I spent my entire life expecting betrayal. So I built a trap designed to prove everyone was lying.”
“And they were.”
“Most of them.”
He looked at her.
“You weren't.”
Hannah looked away.
“I need time.”
Damian nodded.
“How much?”
“I don't know.”
“Okay.”
“You aren't going to argue?”
“No.”
“That might be the first sign of personal growth.”
Damian turned toward his car.
“Damian?”
He looked back.
Hannah held up the letter.
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
Then left.
For once, Damian Russo did not force the outcome.
May you like
He simply waited.
---
