PART 3:

When she spoke again, her voice was gentler. “She really did a number on you, didn’t she?” Daniel’s jaw tightened. “We’re not talking about her.” “Why not?” “She’s kind of the elephant in the room.” “Because I didn’t come here to rehash my failed marriage with her younger sister.” “Then why did you come?” “Good question.

” Daniel stared into his coffee like it might contain answers. “I don’t know.” he admitted. “Curiosity, boredom, temporary insanity.” “Those are all terrible reasons.” “What’s your excuse?” Ariana considered this, fingers drumming lightly on her laptop. “Honestly?” “I liked our text conversation. You were funny, self-deprecating without being pathetic about it.

And you didn’t immediately try to leverage our connection into asking me for money or a job.” “That happens a lot?” “More than you’d think.” She shrugged. “People find out I’m Eleanor Blake’s daughter and suddenly everyone’s got a project that needs funding or a nephew who’d be perfect for my company.” “Sounds exhausting.” “It is.

So when someone accidentally likes my profile and then freaks out about it in the most genuine way possible.” She smiled. “It was refreshing.” Daniel felt heat creep up his neck. “Glad my mortification was refreshing for you.” “See?” “There it is again, self-deprecating without being pathetic.” She leaned forward slightly. “Tell me something real.

” “What?” “Something real. Not the script, not the polite small talk. What’s actually going on in your life right now?” The request caught him completely off guard. When was the last time that someone had asked him that? Really asked, not just going through the motions of conversation. “My daughter asked me yesterday if the sun gets tired.” he heard himself say.

“And I realized I had no idea how to answer. Not because I don’t know the science, the sun’s a giant ball of nuclear fusion, it doesn’t get tired, but because I didn’t know how to translate that into something a 6-year-old would understand without crushing the poetry of the question.” Ariana’s expression softened. “What did you tell her?” “That the sun probably doesn’t get tired because it loves its job too much.

” “That’s a good answer.” “It’s a cop-out answer.” “It’s a dad answer. There’s a difference.” She paused. “My turn?” “For what?” “Something real.” She looked down at her coffee. “I’m 30 years old. I run a company worth nine figures. I have an architecture degree from Princeton and an MBA from Stanford.

Last week I presented a design to the mayor’s office that could reshape the city’s entire waterfront.” She looked back up. “And I’m so goddamn lonely I could scream.” The confession hung in the air between them. Daniel didn’t know what to say. Didn’t trust himself to say anything that wouldn’t sound trite or dismissive. “Sorry.” Ariana said, looking embarrassed.

“That was probably too much for a first coffee.” “No.” The word came out firm. “No, it wasn’t.” “You sure?” “Because you look like you’re trying to figure out the nearest exit.” “I’m trying to figure out what to say that isn’t stupid.” “Most things people say are stupid. Say it anyway.” Daniel took a breath. “I get it, the lonely thing.

Different circumstances, obviously, but I get it.” “Single dad life? Nah.” “Single dad life in a city where everyone I used to know is married with 2.5 kids and a Labradoodle. Sophie’s great. She’s everything. But there are nights after she goes to bed when the apartment is so quiet I can hear my own heartbeat and I think, ‘This is it.

This is my life now.’ Is that bad?” “I don’t know. Sometimes it feels safe. Sometimes it feels like I’m slowly disappearing.” Ariana nodded slowly. “Yeah, that’s exactly it. Disappearing.” She picked up her coffee, realized it was empty, set it back down. “I take meetings with men who look through me while talking to me.

I attend events where people collect me like a trading card. I met Eleanor Blake’s daughter. She’s brilliant, but cold. I date men who are either intimidated or trying to use me. And through all of it, I keep thinking, does anyone actually see me or just the Blake name and the company and the penthouse? That sounds unbearable.

It is, but it’s also what I chose. She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. No one forced me to take over the company. No one forced me to build it into what it is. I did that. And now I get to live with the consequences. Still seems unfair. Life’s unfair. We both know that. They sat in silence for a moment.

Around them, the coffee shop hummed with other people’s conversations, other people’s lives intersecting and diverging. Can I ask you something? Ariana said finally. Sure. Why did you really say yes to this coffee? Daniel considered lying, considered saying something safe and socially acceptable. Because, he said instead, for the first time in 2 years someone asked me a question and actually waited to hear the answer.

Ariana’s eyes widened slightly. Then she smiled, real, genuine, reaching her eyes this time. That’s the best answer you could have given. Yeah? Yeah. She glanced at her watch. I have a call in 30 minutes, but I’d like to do this again if you’re interested. I’m interested. The words came out before Daniel could second-guess them.

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