ISABELLE'S POINT OF VIEW
I stood outside Nathan's office building, staring up at the glass tower stretching toward the sky.
My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
This was a mistake. I should leave. Turn around and pretend I'd never come here.
But I couldn't.
Not anymore.
I'd been carrying this secret for ten years. Ten years of watching him from a distance. Ten years of pretending I didn't feel what I felt.
Today, that ended.
I took a breath and walked through the revolving doors.
The lobby was elegant, all marble and chrome. People in expensive suits moved quickly, purposefully. I felt out of place suddenly, like I didn't belong here.
But I kept walking.
The receptionist smiled when she saw me. "Miss Reyes! Good afternoon. Are you here to see Mr. Blake?"
"Yes, if he's available."
"Let me check." She picked up the phone, spoke quietly for a moment, then nodded. "He says to send you right up. Top floor."
"Thank you."
I stepped into the elevator, my hands trembling slightly as I pressed the button.
What was I doing?
What was I really hoping would happen?
That he'd suddenly realize he'd been in love with me all along? That he'd sweep me into his arms and tell me he'd been waiting for me to grow up?
No.
I wasn't that naive.
But I needed to say it. I needed him to know. I needed to finally stop carrying this weight alone.
The elevator doors opened.
Nathan's assistant greeted me warmly. "Miss Reyes, he's expecting you. Go right in."
I walked to his office door and knocked.
"Come in."
I pushed it open.
Nathan stood behind his desk, looking at something on his computer. When he saw me, his face broke into a genuine smile.
"Isabelle? What are you doing here?"
That smile. That warm, beautiful smile.
It was going to break my heart all over again.
"I needed to talk to you," I said, closing the door behind me. "Do you have time?"
"Of course. Always." He gestured to the chairs across from his desk. "Sit. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Water?"
"No, I'm fine."
I sat down, setting my purse in my lap, my fingers gripping it like a lifeline.
Nathan sat across from me, his expression open and kind. "Is everything okay? You look... worried."
"I'm fine," I lied. "I just... I wanted to see you."
He leaned back in his chair, still smiling. "Well, I'm glad you came. It's been a while since we've really talked. How have you been?"
"Good. Busy."
"How's the family?"
"They're fine. Alex is... Alex." I tried to keep my voice light. "You know how he is."
Something flickered across Nathan's face at the mention of my brother. Something I couldn't quite read.
"How's work?" I asked. "Blake Modeling doing well?"
"Yeah, it's going well." He paused. "Actually, I heard Elena is working there now."
My stomach tightened. "She mentioned it to me. She was excited about getting the job."
Nathan's expression softened. Just slightly. But I caught it.
"She's doing really well," he said. "She's a hard worker. Dedicated."
There it was.
That tone. That look.
The way he said her name.
Elena.
"How is she doing?" I asked carefully. "Really? Alex has been tense lately. I worry about her."
"She's adjusting. The training is tough, but she's improving every day."
"You've seen her there?"
"Once. Just briefly."
He was being careful. Too careful.
Like he was protecting something.
"Does Alex know she's working for you?" I asked.
Nathan's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "I assume so. She said she'd tell him."
Liar.
He knew something. I could see it in his eyes.
But I didn't push. That wasn't why I was here.
"Nathan," I said quietly. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why do you care so much? About Elena?"
He blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean?"
"You just... You talk about her differently. There's something in your voice when you say her name."
"She's a friend," he said quickly. "She needed help."
"Is that all?"
Silence.
He looked uncomfortable now. Guarded.
"Isabelle, what is this really about?"
I took a breath.
This was it.
Now or never.
"I need to tell you something," I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. "Something I should have said years ago."
Nathan's expression shifted to concern. "What is it?"
"I…i…I'm in love with you."
The words hung in the air between us.
Nathan stared at me. His eyes were wide. Shocked.
"Isabelle..."
"I've been in love with you since I was fifteen, Nathan." The words came faster now, like a dam breaking. "For ten years. I've watched you date other women. Watch you be kind to everyone. Watched you be everything I've ever wanted. And I kept quiet because I thought maybe someday you'd see me. Really see me. Not as Alex's little sister. Not as a kid. But as a woman who loves you more than anything in this world."
My voice broke on the last words.
Nathan stood up, running his hand through his hair. He looked pained. Tortured almost.
"Isabelle, I... I had no idea."
"I know. I hid it well."
"You're Alex's sister. You're…"
"I'm not a child anymore, Nathan." I stood too, facing him. "I'm twenty-five years old. I know what I feel. And I needed you to know. I needed to finally say it."
He looked at me with those kind, warm eyes. The eyes I'd loved for so long.
"I care about you," he said gently. "I do. But not... not like that. You're like family to me, Isabelle."
Like family.
The words hit me like a physical blow.
My chest tightened so hard I couldn't breathe for a moment.
I felt tears burning behind my eyes, threatening to spill over.
But I wouldn't cry.
Not here.
Not in front of him.
I forced them back, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat.
"Okay," I said, my voice surprisingly steady.
"Isabelle…"
"It's okay, Nathan. Really." I forced a small smile. "I just... I finally said it out loud. And now I know how you feel. That's... that's enough."
It wasn't enough. It would never be enough.
But it was all I was going to get.
I picked up my purse, my hands shaking slightly.
Nathan moved around the desk. "Isabelle, wait…"
"I have other things to do today," I said, not meeting his eyes. "I just wanted to clear my mind. That's all."
"Please, let's talk about this…"
"There's nothing to talk about." I turned toward the door. "I said what I needed to say. You were honest with me. That's all I can ask for."
My hand gripped the door handle.
"Isabelle…"
"Take care, Nathan."
I opened the door and walked out.
Closed it gently behind me.
And kept walking.
Past his assistant who smiled at me.
Down the hallway.
To the elevator.
I pressed the button.
Waited.
People passed by. Greeted me. I smiled. Nodded.
Kept my face composed.
Professional.
Like my heart wasn't shattering into a million pieces inside my chest.
The elevator doors opened.
I stepped inside.
Pressed the button for the ground floor.
The doors closed.
And the moment I was alone, a tear slipped down my cheek.
I wiped it away quickly.
Not yet.
I couldn't break yet.
The elevator descended. I stared at my reflection in the metal doors.
Red eyes. Trembling lips.
I took a shaky breath.
Held it together.
The doors opened.
Ground floor.
I stepped out, my heels clicking against the marble.
I saw the restroom sign and walked toward it quickly.
Pushed open the door.
Empty.
Thank God.
I walked to the sink and gripped the edge.
Looked at myself in the mirror.
And finally let go.
The tears came.
Hot and fast and unstoppable.
Streaming down my face like they'd been waiting years to fall.
I covered my mouth to muffle the sob that escaped.
Ten years.
Ten years of loving him.
Ten years of watching him.
Ten years of hoping that maybe, someday, he'd look at me the way I looked at him.
And it was over.
In one conversation.
One rejection.
One sentence that destroyed everything.
"You're like family to me."
Family.
I cried harder, my shoulders shaking.
My mascara ran down my cheeks in black streaks.
I looked pathetic.
I felt pathetic.
How could I have been so stupid?
How could I have thought he'd ever see me as anything more than Alex's little sister?
I don't know how long I stood there crying.
Minutes. Maybe longer.
But eventually, the tears slowed.
My breathing steadied.
I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face.
Once. Twice. Three times.
The coldness shocked my system back to reality.
I grabbed paper towels and wiped away the ruined mascara carefully.
Then I pulled out my compact from my purse.
Fixed my makeup.
Covered the redness around my eyes with powder.
Reapplied lipstick with a steady hand.
Smoothed my hair.
When I was done, I looked almost normal.
Almost like I hadn't just had my heart ripped out.
I stared at my reflection.
"You're okay," I whispered to myself. "You're going to be okay."
It was a lie.
But I needed to hear it.
I took one last breath.
Straightened my shoulders.
Forced a small smile.
It didn't reach my eyes.
But it was enough.
I walked out of the restroom with my head high.
Through the lobby.
Past the receptionist who waved at me.
Through the revolving doors.
Into the bright afternoon sunlight that felt too cheerful for how I was feeling.
My driver was waiting by the car.
He opened the door for me.
"Where to, Miss Reyes?"
"Home, please."
My voice didn't shake.
I was proud of that.
I slid into the backseat.
The door closed.
The car pulled away from the curb.
I looked out the window at Nathan's building growing smaller behind us.
Somewhere high above, he was in his office.
Probably feeling guilty.
Probably wishing I'd never told him.
One tear escaped.
Just one.
I wiped it away quickly.
And I didn't let another fall.
Because I'd cried enough.
Because I'd said what I needed to say.
Because now, finally, I could start letting him go.
Even if it killed me.