Chapter One Hundred-Forty Two

Aidan returned to his office and, in a fit of frustration, swept some files off his desk with his hands. Papers scattered everywhere as he clenched his fists, feeling like he had lost a rare opportunity again.

"Dammit," he muttered under his breath, his voice filled with regret. "If only I had listened to my instinct and made Amira leave some minutes earlier before Karina came, she wouldn't have forcefully kissed me."

He cursed himself for losing control of the situation earlier. The thought of Karina's hurt expression haunted him. "I was so close," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "So close to making things right."

He paced back and forth, his mind racing. "Why did I let her get to me? Why did I let this happen?"

Slumping into his chair, he buried his face in his hands, feeling the weight of his mistakes. "I have to fix this," he resolved, his voice barely audible. "I can't lose her. Not like this."

The office was silent except for the sound of his ragged breathing. The