Page 44 of Grumpy Orc CEO

Lucy’s eyes glisten with unshed tears as she looks up at me, her defenses starting to crumble. She takes a deep breath as if gathering the courage to speak.

"Jarvin, I..." she begins but trails off, unable to find the words.

Lucy’s eyes fill with tears. I reach out, grasping her hands in mine. "Please, don’t run away from this. Don’t run away from us," I plead, my voice still decided and firm. The intensity of the moment leaves us both breathless, standing on the precipice of a new beginning or a final goodbye.

Her hands are warm in mine, and I can feel them trembling slightly. It takes all my strength to keep my own emotions in check, to not explode and demand she open her eyes. "We have something real here. I know you've felt it."

She looks up at me, her green eyes shimmering with tears that threaten to spill over. Her lips part as if she's about to speak, but she hesitates. I can see the conflict waging war within her, the battle between her head and her heart.

I squeeze her hands, willing her to feel the sincerity in my words. "We can't let fear dictate our lives," I say. "I've felt more alive these past few weeks with you than I have in years."

A tear finally escapes and rolls down her cheek. My thumb instinctively reaches up to wipe it away. Her skin is soft under my touch, and for a moment, everything else fades away—the office politics, our pasts, the uncertainty of the future.

"I can't do this," she finally whispers, her voice trembling with vulnerability. The uncertainty in her eyes cuts through me, making me want to pull her into my arms and shield her from every doubt.

"Yes you can," I assure her, my tone gentle but insistent.

Lucy takes a shaky breath and nods slightly, though doubt still clouds her eyes. "I just… I don’t want to get hurt again," she admits, her voice breaking on the last word.

I tighten my grip on her hands, my amber eyes locking onto her vibrant green ones. "I won’t let that happen," I promise firmly.

"But you already have," she says, her voice cracking again.

I look at her with confusion in my eyes as the feeling overwhelms me. "What are you talking about? What aren't you telling me?"

CHAPTER 26

Lucy

Standing close to Jarvin, I feel the intensity of his gaze, his words echoing in my mind. My heart races, torn between fear and longing. The sincerity and confusion in his eyes moves me in a way I hadn’t expected. I take a deep breath, deciding to lay everything bare.

“Jarvin,” I start, my voice trembling. “I saw you with another woman in your office. I was looking forward to seeing you, and then it all came crashing down when I saw you.” I hold his gaze knowing I need to confront things head on if I hope to have any chance of closure and a future with him. “Seeing you with her brought all that hurt back. I pulled away because I couldn’t bear the thought of going through that again.”

His expression softens with clarity, surprise etched into every line of his face. He pulls me closer, his grip on my hands tightening gently. “Lucy, that woman you saw, Elara... is my ex.” His voice is calm but firm, every word deliberate. "There was nothing going on between us."

"She had her hand on you, and she was laughing, " I say, feeling the heat of humiliation flood my cheeks.

He continues, “She came by hoping to reconcile, but I turned her away. She's been wanting to get back together for a while and came in trying to convince me to give her another chance. But I told her I don't feel the same and I made her leave.” His eyes lock onto mine, filled with an intensity that leaves no room for doubt. “I rejected her because I’m in love with you. Only you.”

My heart races as I look into Jarvin’s eyes, feeling more certain than ever. “I was so scared,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “That what we have… didn’t mean anything to you. My walls were down, and I felt so betrayed.”

Jarvin squeezes my hands, his eyes never leaving mine. “I understand. I can see why you felt betrayed, but I would never do that to you Lucy,” he says, his voice steady and reassuring. “Why didn’t you just tell me how you felt instead of running?”

"I don’t know. Fear, mainly… I didn’t want to get rejected or abandoned again."

Hearing Jarvin’s explanation, a wave of relief and understanding washes over me. The tension in my chest loosens, replaced by a warmth that spreads through my entire being. I see the truth in his eyes, the depth of his feelings unmistakable.

I find myself wishing I had said something sooner. I've spent all this time hurt and confused because I didn't have the strength to face the problem.

Taking a deep breath, I decide to take a leap of faith. I have feelings for him. Stepping closer to him, I feel my vulnerability transform into a brave resolve. “I don’t want to run anymore; all it has done is put distance between us and left me confused and alone. I don't want that anymore. My fear has only been an obstacle, but if I don't let anyone in, I might miss out on something worth having,” I say, my voice gaining strength. “I want to trust you, because I love you, too.”

The relief on his face is palpable as he pulls me tightly against him, wrapping his muscled arms around me. He pulls back and holds my eyes with his."Promise me, you won't shut me out. This could become?—"

"Complicated," I interrupt with a small smile.

"Yes, that," he says with a chuckle. "But more than that, we need to be able to communicate if we're going to make this work."

"I promise to work on it."

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