Catalina's POV
I changed outfits four times.
The yellow sundress was too cheerful. The black one too formal. The pink too obvious.
At 6:55 PM, I settled on a simple green dress and sandals. Casual. Like I hadn't spent an hour obsessing.
Like my heart wasn't racing.
Like I wasn't about to see Dominic again.
The Castellano estate was lit up like a dream when I arrived. Candles lined the terrace. Flowers everywhere. String lights glowing in the garden.
It looked magical.
It felt like a trap.
"CAT!" Sofia ran down the steps and threw her arms around me. "You look gorgeous! Come on, everyone's already eating!"
She dragged me through the house to the back terrace.
Both families sat around the long outdoor table. My parents. The Castellanos. Sofia's fiancé David.
And Dominic.
He stood by the railing, staring out at the dark ocean. He wore jeans and a white shirt, sleeves rolled up. Casual. Relaxed.
Nothing like the ice-cold CEO from this afternoon.
"Dom!" Sofia called. "Cat's here!"
He turned.
Our eyes met.
And for one heartbeat—one perfect, terrible heartbeat—his mask slipped.
I saw everything. Longing. Pain. Want. Need.
Raw and real and so intense it stole my breath.
Then Sofia ran over to him, and it vanished. His face went carefully blank again.
"Hello, Cat," he said politely. Like we were acquaintances.
"Dominic," I managed.
"Sit, sit!" Elena gestured to an empty chair. "We've been waiting for you!"
I sat between my mom and Sofia. Directly across from Dominic.
Perfect.
Dinner started. Pasta and salad and garlic bread. Wine flowing freely. Everyone talking and laughing.
I couldn't eat. Couldn't focus.
Every time I looked up, Dominic was watching me. Then he'd look away fast.
"Catalina." Elena's voice cut through my thoughts. "Your mother tells me Marcus Whitfield is back from London?"
I nearly choked on my water.
Across the table, Dominic's jaw tightened. His hand clenched around his fork.
"Um, yes," I said carefully. "He's back."
"Such a lovely young man," Elena continued, smiling that tight smile. "You two dated in college, didn't you?"
"For a while. We broke up when he moved."
"That's a shame. Though I suppose you're focused on your career now." She glanced meaningfully at Dominic. "Working closely with successful people can be quite... inspiring."
Was she trying to set us up? Or warn me off?
I couldn't tell.
"I'm sure Miss Harper will find the work educational," Dominic said coldly, still not looking at me.
"Don't be so formal, Dom!" Sofia laughed. "You've known Cat forever. Just call her Cat like a normal person!"
"Professional boundaries are important," Dominic replied. "Especially in business partnerships."
The words stung.
"Speaking of partnerships," my dad said, "Thomas and I were discussing expansion plans. The merger could double our revenue within two years!"
The conversation shifted to business. Numbers and projections and marketing strategies.
I tuned it out.
All I could think about was Dominic's hands clenched on the table. The tension in his shoulders. The way he kept glancing at me when he thought I wasn't looking.
"Excuse me," I said suddenly. "I need some air."
I walked inside before anyone could respond.
The house was quiet. Empty. I wandered through familiar halls, not sure where I was going.
My feet carried me upstairs. Down the hallway. To a door I remembered.
The stargazing balcony.
I pushed it open.
The small platform overlooked the ocean. Stars scattered across the dark sky. Waves crashed against the cliffs below.
We used to come here as kids. Me, Sofia, and Dominic. He'd point out constellations while Sofia got bored and left.
Then it would be just us.
Just me and Dominic and a million stars.
I leaned against the railing, breathing in salt air.
"You always loved this view."
I spun around.
Dominic stood in the doorway. His face was shadowed, but I could feel his eyes on me.
"I thought you didn't remember," I whispered.
He stepped onto the balcony, closing the door behind him.
"I lied."
My breath caught.
He moved closer. Close enough that I could smell his cologne. See the tension in his jaw.
"I remember everything, Catalina." My name sounded like a prayer. "Every summer. Every conversation. Every moment you smiled at me like I was your whole world."
"Then why—"
"Because you grew up." His voice was rough. Strained. "You're not a little girl anymore. And I notice things I shouldn't notice."
My heart pounded. "Like what?"
"Like how you still bite your lip when you're nervous." He stepped closer. "How you tuck your hair behind your ear when you're thinking. How you wore green today because you remember I said it was your color."
"You noticed."
"I notice everything about you. That's the problem."
"Why is that a problem?"
He was close now. So close I could feel the heat of him.
"Because you're Sofia's best friend. You're twenty-four. I'm thirty-two with more baggage than you can imagine. I'm your boss. There are a hundred reasons why we can't—"
"Can't what?"
His eyes dropped to my lips.
"Can't do what I'm thinking about right now."
The air between us crackled.
"What are you thinking about?" I barely breathed.
"Things I have no right to think." His hand lifted, almost touching my face, then dropped. "I feel something when I look at you. Something I shouldn't feel. Something dangerous."
"Dominic—"
"No." He stepped back, conflict written all over his face. "This is inappropriate. You're too young. Too innocent. You deserve someone uncomplicated. Someone like Marcus."
"I don't want Marcus."
"You should. He's the kind of man who can give you a normal life. Marriage. Kids. Stability." His voice cracked. "I can't give you any of that. I'm broken, Catalina. Lauren's death destroyed something in me that I don't think I can get back."
"You're not broken—"
"I am. And I won't drag you down with me." He turned toward the door. "Go back downstairs. Pretend this conversation never happened. Tomorrow we'll be professional. Colleagues. Nothing more."
"Is that really what you want?"
He stopped, his hand on the doorknob.
"What I want doesn't matter. What matters is protecting you. From me. From scandal. From Sofia's heartbreak when she finds out I'm—"
"You're what?"
Silence.
Then, so quietly I almost missed it:
"That I'm falling for my little sister's best friend."
My heart stopped.
"Go inside, Catalina." His voice was stronger now. Controlled. "Before I do something we'll both regret."
"What if I don't want to go?"
He turned then. Looked at me with such raw need it made my knees weak.
"Then I'm a weaker man than I thought."
We stared at each other. The balcony felt too small. Too charged. Too dangerous.
"I should go," I whispered.
"Yes."
But neither of us moved.
"Dominic—"
"Don't." He closed his eyes. "Don't say my name like that. Not when I'm trying so hard to do the right thing."
"What if the right thing is—"
The balcony door burst open.
"There you are!" Sofia bounced in, oblivious. "I've been looking everywhere! David and I want to tell everyone our news!"
Dominic and I sprang apart.
"What news?" I asked, my voice shaky.
"We set a wedding date! Six months from now! And Cat—" Sofia grabbed my hands. "I want you as my maid of honor! And Dom as man of honor! You two will plan everything together!"
My stomach dropped.
"That's... wonderful," I managed.
Dominic's face had gone carefully blank again.
"We should go tell everyone," he said. "They're waiting."
Sofia dragged me back downstairs, chattering excitedly about venues and dresses and flowers.
I glanced back once.
Dominic stood in the shadows at the top of the stairs.
Watching me.
And the look on his face wasn't professional.
Wasn't appropriate.
It was pure, desperate longing.
Dinner ended with champagne toasts and excited planning. Sofia wanted a destination wedding at the Castellano Resort. A showcase for the new merger.
Which meant Cat and Dominic working together daily.
Planning. Coordinating. Constantly in each other's presence.
"This is perfect!" Sofia gushed as we walked to our cars. "My two favorite people collaborating! It'll be just like old times!"
Except it was nothing like old times.
Old times didn't include this electric tension. This dangerous attraction. This need that felt like it might consume us both.
I drove home in a daze.
Parked in my driveway. Sat in the dark.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
My heart stopped.
I opened it.
Unknown: I shouldn't text you. But I can't help myself. -D
Dominic.
My hands shook as I typed back.
Me: How did you get my number?
Unknown: I've had it for years. I just never had the courage to use it. Until now.
Me: Why now?
Unknown: Because seeing you tonight, on that balcony, looking at the stars like you used to... I can't pretend anymore. I can't act like you don't affect me.
Me: You said this was inappropriate.
Unknown: It is. But knowing something's wrong doesn't make me want it less.
I stared at the screen, my heart racing.
This was dangerous. So dangerous.
But I was tired of being safe.
Me: What do you want, Dominic?
The three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
Finally:
Unknown: You. I want you. And I have no right.