Mirror Crown
The dinner was set in an upscale, quiet corner of the city, the kind of place where the air was thick with sophistication and the lighting was low enough to keep the world outside from creeping in. Christian didn't speak much during the drive, but I could feel the weight of his presence beside me, almost like a force that I had no choice but to acknowledge.
When the car finally stopped, he stepped out first, his long legs carrying him with ease. He opened the door for me, his hand warm against mine as I stepped out of the vehicle. There was a moment where I considered asking him what had changed. But I didn't. I couldn't. Not yet.
We entered the restaurant, and immediately, I felt the shift. It wasn't just about the opulence surrounding us—it was about him. He moved with purpose, his every step deliberate, his eyes scanning the room, seemingly aware of everything and everyone at once. There was power in that—undeniable, magnetic power. And that was the version of him that had always captivated me. The heir, the future, the untouchable Christian Black. But tonight? It felt like I was seeing glimpses of a different side of him.
We were seated at a private table, far from prying eyes. The waiter came and went, offering wine, and for a few moments, we fell into an easy silence. But then, as the first course was served, Christian leaned forward, eyes locked on mine.
"You don't trust me," he said, his voice soft but sharp, like a blade hidden beneath velvet.
I froze, my fork halfway to my mouth. "What do you mean?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he picked up his glass of wine, swirling it absentmindedly. "You've been holding back, Tasha. I've noticed. The questions you're not asking. The things you're not saying."
The air between us suddenly felt heavier, charged with something I couldn't place. I wanted to lie, to say that I trusted him, that everything was fine. But I couldn't. I was too much of a realist for that.
"I don't know who you are anymore, Christian," I said, the words coming out before I could stop them. "You were one person when we first met. Now… now you're someone else. Someone I don't recognize."
His gaze darkened, but there was something vulnerable beneath the mask. "You think I've changed?"
"I don't think you've changed," I said, softly now. "I think you've been hiding who you really are all along."
For a long moment, he didn't say anything. He just stared at me, his eyes searching, as if looking for some kind of answer in my face.
"I didn't want this life, Tasha," he finally said, his voice quiet, almost to himself. "I didn't want the expectations, the constant weight of being Christian Black. The heir. The future. It wasn't me. But it's all anyone ever saw."
I took a deep breath, watching him carefully. This wasn't the same arrogant, untouchable man I had met. This was something different. Vulnerable, raw.
"I don't care about the name, Christian," I said softly. "I care about you. But who are you, really?"
He sighed, setting his glass down with a slight clink. "I'm still figuring that out. But I do know one thing—I'm tired of pretending. Tired of living for everyone else's expectations."
My heart ached, a sudden rush of emotion rising within me. I had spent so much time seeing the polished exterior of Christian Black—the version of him that everyone admired and envied—but this man, the one sitting before me now, was something more complex. I could see the conflict in his eyes. The struggle.
"You don't have to hide, you know," I said, reaching across the table, gently touching his hand. "You don't have to pretend for me. I'm not asking for the heir. I'm asking for you."
His hand twitched, like he was considering pulling away, but then he let it stay there, a warmth growing between us. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn't hiding behind his crown. He was just Christian.
And that was enough for me.
But as the night wore on, and the conversation shifted back to business, I couldn't shake the feeling that this—whatever this was—wasn't going to be easy. There were still secrets he hadn't told me. There were things we hadn't yet discussed. And as much as I wanted to believe in this moment, to embrace this side of him, I knew deep down that there was still more I needed to understand.
Christian had already given me a taste of his world, of his power. But I knew now that he wasn't just playing the game—he was changing it.
And that… was both thrilling and terrifying.
The night ended with Christian walking me to my car. His hand brushed mine one last time before he pulled away. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said, his voice softer than before, with an unfamiliar edge to it.
As I got into the car, I couldn't help but think of what he'd said. The man I had been falling for wasn't the same one I'd started this journey with. The question now was, could I fall for the man he was becoming? Or would the truth, the full truth, be something I couldn't handle?
Only time would tell.