“Yeah, but that was before I got to know you,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration. “And before I realized there’s more to you than just being Aiden's girlfriend. You deserve to be happy, Jenna. And if I can help with that, I will.”
I felt a warmth spread through me at his words, but I quickly pushed it aside. “Is that really you? I mean, you’re dominant, narcissistic, or whatever you want to call it,” I said, crossing my arms defensively. “How can I trust that you genuinely care?”
Felix chuckled softly, a hint of self-deprecation in his laugh. “Fair point. I’ve built a reputation, and I won’t deny it. But you have to understand, there’s a difference between how I act in business and how I feel personally. With you, it’s different.”
“Different how?” I pressed, curious despite myself.
He took a deep breath, looking into my eyes as if searching for the right words. “With you, I want to be someone who listens, who supports you. You bring out something in me that I didn’t expect. Maybe I’m still that dominant guy, but I want to be more than just the guy who wins bets.”
His sincerity struck me, making it hard to maintain my defensive stance. “I don’t know if I can believe that,” I admitted. “After everything, it feels like there are too many layers between us.”
“Then let’s peel them back,” he suggested, stepping closer. “I’ll show you who I really am if you let me. No more games. Just… us figuring this out.”
I felt my heart race at his proximity, the tension between us thickening. “What do you want from me, Felix? What are you really asking for?”
He paused, the intensity in his gaze unwavering. “I want you to let me in, Jenna. I want you to see me as someone who can be there for you, not just as a bet or an obligation. We’re both hurting. Maybe we can help each other heal.”
I searched his eyes, trying to decipher the truth behind his words. It was hard to reconcile the image of Felix, the cocky businessman, with the man who stood before me, looking vulnerable. “You really think we can do that?”
“I do,” he replied, his voice steady. “But it starts with you. I need you to trust me, even just a little. Let’s move past the games and the pain. Let’s create our own story.”
His earnestness touched something deep within me, but the fear of getting hurt again held me back. “I don’t want to get caught up in another mess, Felix. I don’t want to be a pawn in someone else’s game.”
“You’re not a pawn,” he insisted, taking another step closer. “You’re the queen. I want to fight for you, not against you. But I can’t do it alone.”
I felt the walls I’d built around my heart starting to crumble, the weight of his words lifting some of my burdens. “Okay,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “But this won’t be easy. I still have feelings for Aiden, and I need time to sort through everything.”
“Time is all I ask,” he replied, his eyes softening. “No pressure. Just… let’s take it one day at a time. We can navigate this together.”
I nodded, feeling a mixture of hope and apprehension. It was a fragile beginning, but I couldn’t deny the spark of possibility that flickered between us. Maybe, just maybe, we could find a way to make this work.
“Alright,” I said, a small smile breaking through. “Let’s see where this takes us.”
Felix grinned, and in that moment, the tension in the air shifted from uncertainty to something lighter, something filled with promise. We might be two people with complicated pasts, but for the first time, I felt like we could create a future—together.
"By the way, you really have everything—” I didn’t finish what I was saying when he spoke.
“No, there's still something missing,” he replied, his tone serious and full of emotion.
I frowned. Missing? How? “What do you mean?” I asked, confusion washing over me.
“I have someone I like, but she wants someone else, and I’m not that guy,” he continued, his voice dropping to a softer, almost vulnerable tone. “But the person I like got cheated on…” He recounted, as if recalling all their memories together. The look in his eyes revealed a depth of emotion I hadn’t expected.
“And?” I pressed on, unable to contain my curiosity. But I was startled when he shot a sharp look at me, a flicker of pain crossing his face.
“The truth is, I don’t want to be the rebound guy. I want to be the one who helps her heal, but I need her to want that too,” he confessed, the weight of his words heavy in the air.
I felt a twinge of sympathy for him, but at the same time, it left me feeling unsettled. “Are you saying you still have feelings for her?” I asked carefully, trying to gauge how much this would affect us.
“Yes,” he admitted, his gaze unwavering. “When I found out she was cheated on, I wanted to make the guy who cheated on her feel that he was wrong for pursuing her. I wanted to protect her, to show her that she deserves better.”
His words hung heavily in the air, and I struggled to process them. “So, this is about revenge? You want to save her from the pain by getting back at the guy who hurt her?”
“It’s more than that,” he insisted, frustration creeping into his tone. “I want to help her heal, to show her that she’s worth more than she thinks. But at the same time, I’m drawn to you, Jenna. You make me feel alive in a way I haven’t felt in a long time.”
I couldn't help but feel flattered by his confession, yet a part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that I was just a substitute in a game that was far too complicated. “And where does that leave us?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly. “Am I just a distraction while you figure things out with her?”
“No! You’re not a distraction,” he said emphatically, stepping closer. “You’re real, Jenna. You’re genuine. I want to explore this connection between us, but I can’t deny that my past is still lingering.”
“Felix, I need to know that I’m not just a backup plan,” I replied, my heart racing. “I can’t go through the pain of being second choice again.”
He reached out, gently taking my hands in his. “You’re not a backup plan. You’re my choice. But I need time to sort things out with my feelings. I owe it to both you and her to be clear about where I stand.”
“Time?” I echoed, uncertainty creeping back in. “What if in that time, I end up getting hurt again? What if she comes back into the picture and you choose her?”
“I don’t want that,” he replied, a hint of desperation in his voice. “I’m telling you this because I want you to know how much you mean to me. But I need you to trust me, Jenna.”
Trust. The word hung heavily in the air, and I felt a war within myself. Part of me wanted to believe him, to lean into this connection we had. But the other part was terrified of being hurt again.