Chapter 39 - Days Without Dante
Days passed.
Then a week.
Then almost two.
And Auri didn't see Dante—not even once.
No calls.
No texts.
No unexpected knocks on her door.
No presence lingering near her like a familiar shadow.
Nothing.
Yet she knew he was alive and moving, because his name kept flashing across business headlines and social media posts.
DANTE MORETTI RETURNS FROM TOKYO MEETINGS
MORETTI ENTERPRISES SECURES NEW GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
CEOs SPOTTED IN SHANGHAI — Possible Expansion in Asia Market
It seemed like the entire world was seeing him except her.
Auri stared at her phone more times than she wanted to admit—pretending she wasn't hoping for a message, a call, a sign that he remembered she existed.
But her screen stayed silent.
She told herself she could handle it.
She told herself this was normal.
He was busy. He was important. He had responsibilities.
But the ache in her chest grew heavier each day.
Auri's Work Routine
Her new work-from-home job as a virtual assistant kept her busy, but not busy enough to stop her mind from drifting.
She sat at her small desk by the window, laptop open, calendar tabs organized, schedules arranged, emails responded to within seconds.
But every time she typed the name "Dante Moretti" for a client scheduling request—
her hands paused.
her heart stumbled.
her breath caught for just a moment.
He wasn't calling.
He wasn't checking.
He wasn't even appearing out of nowhere like he always did.
Her apartment felt too quiet without his footsteps.
Her mornings felt too ordinary without his teasing voice.
Her evenings felt too empty without his intense eyes watching her, studying her, wanting her.
She tried not to think about it.
But nights were the worst.
When she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, she couldn't help replaying the last moment she saw him—the morning she woke up in his arms, the heavy silence between them, the tension he hid but she felt.
Maybe he was distancing himself on purpose.
Maybe he regretted how close they became.
Maybe she scared him away.
Maybe… he didn't want her anymore.
She shook her head hard, pushing the thoughts away, but they returned every night, stronger.
Dante's Side of the Silence
Even though Auri never saw him, Dante was everywhere—
in airports, boardrooms, private conferences, hotel rooftops overlooking foreign cities he hardly noticed.
He buried himself in work.
Buried himself in meetings.
Buried himself in anything that kept him from thinking of her.
But the truth?
He thought of her constantly.
During long flights, he caught himself staring at the empty seat beside him, imagining her curled up with a blanket, sleeping on his shoulder.
In meetings, whenever someone said her name—or a name that sounded like hers—his eyes twitched.
At night, no matter what country he was in, he always slept on just one side of the bed… leaving the other side untouched.
He wanted to call her.
He wanted to see her.
He wanted to open her door and pull her into his arms like always.
But he didn't.
Because he knew that if he saw her again—
if he heard her voice—
if he touched her even once—
He wouldn't be able to hold back anymore.
And Dante Moretti was a man who controlled everything.
Every decision.
Every emotion.
Every need.
Except her.
She was the one thing he was losing control over.
Auri Feels the Distance
One afternoon, Auri stood by her window, sipping coffee while the city moved below.
She should've been used to silence.
She should've been comfortable with distance.
She should've been focused on her new work.
But her heart felt heavy in a new way.
It felt like Dante was drifting far away from her.
Like she was losing him without ever having him fully.
She whispered softly to herself, as if the walls could give her answers:
"Why does it hurt like this…?"
She closed her eyes, gripping her cup tightly.
She didn't know Dante was feeling the same way—
hurting in silence, wanting her but afraid of wanting too much.
They were both waiting.
Both missing.
Both denying.
Both aching.
But neither of them knew how to reach out first.