<b>Chapter </b><b>74 </b>
The afternoon sunlight filteredzily through the curtains, as Nisera sat en
ross lepted on the couch, mindlessly scrolling through <b>her </b>phone<b>. </b>
Her juice sat untouched on the table beside her, condensation dipping down the ss
She was still burring from the excitement of the job offer earlier that morning, the memory of Alejandro’s quiet pride and his kiss to her hair making her cheeks flush without permission
Why did he have to do something like that, as she was unable to get it out of her head!
No. She shook the thought away, shifting deeper into the couch cushions. That was when her phone bored again..
A message, and it was from an unknown number. Apart from Mejandro and, well, her family, no one had this number. So who the hell tested
Her brow furrowed as she clicked it open.
Unknown number: Hi, It’s your brother. Let’s meet up for lunch.
Her breath caught in her throat and for a moment, her mind nked out, as her heart took off like a drum.
Her brother?
It had been months–no, almost a year–since she’d heard anything from her brother. Not a call. Not a message. Nothing When they threw her out, it was as if he’d decided she didn’t exist.
She blinked rapidly, her heart stuttering
And now, just like that, he reached out?
Her fingers trembled <b>as </b>she stared at the message. What were the chances that this happened now?
“Why now?” she whispered aloud.
She didn’t need to wonder
Of course, 5
Everything led back to one man.
Alejandro.
After everything that had gone wrong, and just when her life was finally starting to feel like it had some direction again?
She was ready to ignore it, to toss her phone away and pretend she hadn’t seen anything when another message came through.
“know you probably don’t want to hear from me. But I’m hoping you’ll meet me. One hour, Mistral Lounge.
A part of her wanted to block the number. Ignore the message. Pretend she never saw it. But the more she tried to convince herself not to go, the stronger the ache grew.
She <b>closed </b>her eyes, allowing herself to picture him. Her <b>brother </b><b>was </b>quiet by nature, private like the rest of their family.
You wouldn’t see his name in the press, nor wouldn’t you catch him posting pictures online
They existed behindyers. Controlled and silent. And that <b>silence </b>had swallowed her whole when she was thrown out.
“Fine. I’ll meet <b>you </b><b>there</b>.” She sent a response back to him.
She stared into nothing for a long moment before setting her phone down and standing.
She headed toward her ropin to change, mind still clouded with thoughts.
When she emerged some minutester in a sage green wrap dress and a pair of heels because she had to look ‘presentable before her family, her <b>phone </b>
buzzed with the restaurant’s location.
She made it outside, heart already pounding, only to stop short at the realization that froze her,
Alejandro
He controlled the drivers. They wouldn’t take her anywhere unless he gave the go ahead.
Every single one of them reported to him. Which meant if she tried to leave, he’d be alerted immediately.
Maybe she could order a ride. But even that would feel… wrong, Dangerous,
However, she wasn’t running away; <b>this </b>should be different, right?
She sighed. He’d probably have questions, or worse- he’d try to stop her.
As she stared at the clouds, trying to figure out her options, she spotted a familiar face approaching her.
The same driver who had taken her to the mall
Etton,” he greeted with a slight nod. “Do you need to go somewhere?”
She blinked in surprise. “Uh, yes. Actually.”
“Alright, ma’am. I’ll have the car ready in two minutes.”
She opened her mouth to question it–surely he was supposed to call Alejandro first. But she stopped. Maybe Alejandro had said something in advance. Or maybe…maybe he was testing her.
Nah, she highly doubted that. What was there to test her on?
Exactly 1
y two minutes <bter</b>, the car pulled up, and she stepped in, only to find a second man already in the front seat.
He turned slightly, offering her a polite nod. “I’m Darren, your security detail, and I was assigned by Mr. Garcia.”
She nodded, her stomach twisting. Of course, he’d assign someon
was to protect her or to send a message that he would always have eyes on her, she wasn’t sure, and she’d think about thatter.
Whether it was <i>to </i>
She then gave them the address of the restaurant her brother had sent to her. The drive was quiet, smooth, and filled with questions she didn’t have
answers to
The restaurant was just <b>as </b>private as she expected. Elegant. Discreet. A
Pace where secrets could breathe without fear of being exposed
Her heels clicked softly against the marble as she walked in, eyes scanning until they found him…
He was already seated His expression was unreadable, posture stiff <b>in </b><b>a </b>navy zer, a ss of untouched water in front of him
He looked up and saw her. His brows lifted slightly, the closest thing to a smile he would allow
She approached and took her seat opposite high.
“he said quietly, and she offered him a curt nod
“Let’s skip the greetings, shall we? Why did you call me here, <b>Liam</b>?” She got straight down to the point.
“What do you want to eat?”
“How about you just get to the pt?” She repeated:
He didn’t argue, but that didn’t stop him from ignoring her and ordering two dishes, and to her surprise, favourites.
duh he chose for her was one of het
Coincidence?
No way he remembered what she liked. He never noticed her growing up that enough to know that
He was
is about to speak when he paused, as he seemed to have noticed something,
His <b>eyes </b>shifted to her cheek, and he leaned forward slightly.
“Did Alejandro do that to you?” He hissed in annoyance, and if Nivera dide’t know better, she’d think he was actually upset
Her brows drew together until she realized what he meant. Her hand went up, brushing the faint discolouration from the p days ago.
“It was some woman at a
the woman at a store, and no, it was not Alejandro. You can ask Mom; she was there.”
<b>He </b>pondered upon her words for a few moments before he leaned back, his eyes still watching her.
“How have you been?” Liam then asked.
She raised a brow, “You care now?”
“I always cared, Nivera.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
“You look happier,” hemented. “I mean recently. You seem… better.”
“Because I finally have one person who didn’t treat me like garbage? Shocker.
y, as if her words had hurt him. <b>Well</b>, he deserved it.
Liam exhaled slowly<b>, </b><b>as </b>
“I <b>saw </b>you online. With Alejandro”
Ah. There it was
She didn’t say anything but just stared at him, waiting for him to finally get to the goddamn reason he had called her.
wy him?” he finally asked. “Why Alejandro Garcia?”
Why
“Is that why you called me
“Nivera… he’s not someone you get involved with.”
“He changes women ke shoes. You think you’re different? You think he won’t get bored?”
“Maybe he will,” she said coldly. “But being thrown out by your family without a cent to your name, <b>made </b>to rot in silence while the world thinks you’re a liar and <b>a </b>slut–that already tops anything he could do.”
Liam flinched once again.
“At least he stood by me when no one else did. You want to talk <b>about </b>being tossed out? At least Alejandro helped clear my name Made Nathaniel
confess, got me my career <b>back</b><b>. </b>What did y
I you do? What did anyone in our perfect family dor”
She waited for a response and when he didn’t give on, the continued. “That’s right, you didn’t do shit
“You don’t understand
“No. You don’t understand. You all let me. You all treated me like an embarrassment. So don’te here pretending to care now”
A long silence stretched between them.
Then she stood.
“I appreciate the lunch. But I don’t need advice from someone who looked the other way when I was drowning
<b>She </b>turned to leave, but the moment she did, she froze.
Walking into the restaurant was none other than the devil himself.
However, he wasn’t alone. Beside him <b>was </b>a woman–tall, elegant, beautiful. She wore confidence like a second skin, and her smile gramed.
Another man trailed them, talking business, but Nivera barely registered him. All she could see was her.
Her heart twisted violently.
Was this the important business Alejandro needed to take care of?
The
e woman reached to adjust something on Alejandro’s shirt,ughing lightly. Toofortably.
She hated the emotion that surged inside her. Her eyes dropped to her in wrap dress and her unstyled curls. She looked… small
Alejandro looked up then. He hadn’t seen her yet. But when he did, his face lit up in <b>a </b>way that made her heart twist
“Nivera,” he <b>said</b>, making his way over. His presence <b>swallowed </b>the space between them in seconds.
And then, without warning, he leaned in and kissed her, Softly. On the lips, which made her freese
Her heart mmed into her chest.
He pulled back and ced a light hand on her back, after which he turned to the people with him.
“Cabezota, these are some
e investors from work.” He then turned to them and said, “This is Nivera, My girlfriend.”
She caught the moment the other woman’s smile faltered. Only for a second. But it was enough.
Victory immediately coursed through her veins. It was a stupid thing to feel happy about, but she had no regrets
Alejandro then turned back to her. “What are you doing here?”
She found her voice. “Thad a meeting.”
He followed her nce and immediately spotted her brother. His expression darkened, as he didn’t have to be a genius <b>to </b>figure out what their litt meeting was all about.
Her brother stood. “It was nice seeing you again, <b>Nivera</b>. Think about what i said.”
And just like that, he walked away
ay without sparing Alejandro even a nod
Nivera turned to leave, but Alejandro caught her wrist, keeping her rooted in her ce.
20:49 Wed, 23 Jul
“Stay, Cabez. The meeting won’t take long ”
It was worded
led like a request, but she knew it was an order.
And with the way his hand rested lightly on her lower back, guiding her to the table, the knew better than to argue, especially not when there were people watching.