Page 48 of Please, Forgive Me

The reflection staring back wasn’t the strong, confident woman I thought I was. It was someone… lost. Someone completely thrown off by everything that was happening.

Could this nausea, this unease, just be stress? Or was it… something else?

The thought made me shiver. Sure, it could’ve been food poisoning—but deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it might be more than that.

I turned away from the mirror, trying not to panic.

I couldn’t let my mind spiral until I knew for sure. But one thing was clear: I wasn’t okay. I was confused, vulnerable, and scared—and worse, I had no idea how to deal with my boss.

Diego had always been unshakable, a man who controlled everything around him. And now, he was the one throwing me completely off balance.

If what he said was true—if he really wanted me like he claimed—then it meant he was being honest.

But was he really being sincere… or was it just another side of his possessiveness, that instinctive need to never lose control of anything—or anyone?

I knew Diego. He was a man used to having everything his way, never being challenged. Maybe he saw me as just another conquest, something he couldn’t stand to lose.

The idea of being just an object of desire made me uneasy. I didn’t want to be another pawn in his power game.

My thoughts were spinning. The line between what was real and what was manipulation was blurring, and that terrified me.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

There was no way I could go through with dinner tonight. I couldn’t face Diego again—not with my head spinning like this.

I grabbed my phone and typed a quick message:

“I’m not feeling well. I think it’s best to cancel dinner tonight.”

I hit send and leaned my head against the cool tile wall, a faint wave of relief washing over me at the thought of not having to see him later.

The nausea was still there, but now the fear of being sick—or maybe something worse—was starting to take over. I needed time to think, to process everything that was happening.

Diego’s reply came quickly:

“Are you okay? I can send someone to check on you.”

His concern sounded genuine, but I wasn’t sure what to make of it. He was such a complicated man—control and vulnerability woven into one—and that only made me more confused.

“I’m fine, just need to rest.”

I set the phone aside and took another deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.

Diego had always challenged me, always pushed me—but now he was affecting me in a completely different way. He was pulling me into a place I wasn’t sure I was ready to go.

I knew sooner or later I’d have to face him again. Diego wasn’t the kind of man to leave things undefined, and I’d have to be clear about what was happening between us.

But for now, all I wanted was to lie down, close my eyes, and try to quiet the doubts eating away at me from the inside.

I walked slowly back to my room, my head still spinning, and lay down on the bed. Maybe, with a little luck, I’d wake up feeling better—physically and emotionally.

But deep down, I knew the confusion wouldn’t fade that easily.

Diego was like a storm—and I was standing right in the middle of it.

CHAPTER 20

“True love is the kind that grows through the storms…”