Chapter 9 - Unconditional Safe Harbor
He took me to the Navy Pier gardens, far from the prying eyes of the press. We walked side by side along the frozen harbor, the sun bouncing off the icy blue waters of the lake.
""I bought an art gallery in Lincoln Park this morning,"" Matteo said casually, as if talking about buying a loaf of bread.
I stopped in my tracks, looking at him in utter disbelief. ""You what?""
""You studied art curation before you met Derek,"" he stated, turning to face me. ""You worked at the modern institute for three years until he convinced you to resign. The building was under foreclosure. It needed an owner who appreciates value.""
He reached into his leather coat and pulled out a heavy brass key, placing it gently into my open palm.
""I am not giving you a job, Clara,"" Matteo said firmly, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand. ""And I am certainly not giving you a gift with strings attached. The deed is registered under your name. If you want to curate it, curate it. If you want to sell it and buy a cottage in Vermont, sell it. It belongs to you.""
Tears pricked my eyes, blurring the golden sunlight reflecting off his handsome face. ""Matteo... why are you being so generous to me? You barely know me.""
Matteo took a step closer, closing the distance between us until I could feel the steady warmth radiating from his chest. ""When I opened that bathroom door six days ago, I expected to find an assassin, a spy, or a burglar. Instead, I found a woman who had broken through a locked window with a piece of broken ceramic just to reclaim her dignity.""
He lifted his hand, his knuckles gently grazing along my cheekbone, tracing the faint yellow fade of the bruise Derek had left behind.
""I have spent my whole life surrounded by men who pretend to be brave while hiding behind armies of lawyers and bodyguards,"" Matteo whispered, his voice thick with raw emotion. ""You are the bravest person I have ever met, Clara Voss. And for the first time in my life, I don't want to conquer anything. I just want to stand beside you.""
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My heart hammered against my ribs, but for the first time in six years, it wasn't beating from fear. It was beating from hope. From desire. From the electric, exhilarating realization that I was entirely, undeniably alive.
I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch, resting my forehead against his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me firmly against the winter wind, creating an impenetrable fortress of warmth and steel.
