"So, I want us to be more than just friends and business partners. I want to build a real, serious relationship with you." Julian paused, his eyes burning with a lifetime of unspoken devotion as he held her gaze. "What do you say? Will you give me a chance?"
Phoebe found herself momentarily paralyzed, completely at a loss for words. It wasn't that she was confused about her answer. She already knew it, but rather, she was terrified of how to deliver it. Slowly, her hand reached for her glass, taking a long sip to suppress the sudden knot of nervousness tightening in her throat.
"I … I don't even know how to answer that," she murmured.
"Why do you hesitate?" Julian asked, his eyes tracking her every micro-expression. "Is there something weighing on your mind?"
Phoebe offered a slow, reluctant nod. The gesture made his brow furrow in deep confusion.
