As Gabriella slept, Rachel kept watch, making sure her friend was comfortable and safe. The next morning, Gabriella woke up feeling a bit sore but relieved that the night had passed without any further incidents. Rachel was already up, making breakfast in the kitchen."Good morning sunshine!" Rachel chimed, as Gabriella entered the kitchen. "How are you feeling today?"Gabriella smiled, taking a seat at the table. "I'm doing alright. Thanks for taking care of me last night."Rachel smiled, serving Gabriella a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. "Anytime, Gab. That's why you have me."As they ate, Gabriella filled Rachel in on the details of the attack, and Rachel listened intently with a look of concern etched on her face."For the first time in my life, I was grateful to my mom for forcing me to take those Taekwondo classes. I was able to hold my ground before the event's security arrived" Gabriella chuckled as she tried to make light of the situation to calm her friend down."I'm so
Gabriella's eyes widened as she took in Alejandro's features. His broad chest, handsome face and his eyes, oh! that gaze that drew her in so well always making her wonder what was running through his mind made her froze for a moment. His eyes were piercing right through her soul making her feel like he could read her mind. She quivered as she tried to process her emotions. He was the one person she wasn't expecting to run into, at least, not yet.For a moment, they just stood that way, his eyes boring holes in her, his expression unreadable. Gabriella's hands were still brushing against Alejandro's chest, and she could feel the warmth of his body through his clothes. Her chest fluttered, and her face grew warm.She jolted as her senses came back and she removed her hands from his chest in a manner that an onlooker would think something pricked her.Gabriella's eyes dropped to the ground, and she took a step back, trying to create some distance between them. She felt like she was drow
Alejandro Hernandez stood at the window of his high-rise office, gazing out at the city below. His mind, however, was elsewhere, lost in the tangled web of his family's past.Growing up as the son of Don Alessandro Hernandez, the notorious Mafia Lord, had been a double-edged sword. On one hand, Alejandro had been afforded every luxury and opportunity imaginable, treated as a king from a very young age. On the other, he had been conditioned to prioritize the family's business above all else, including his own happiness.Alejandro's thoughts drifted back to his childhood, remembering the countless times his father had lectured him on the importance of loyalty and duty. Don Alessandro had been a hard man to please, always pushing him to be more ruthless, more cunning, and more calculating. Somehow, his father always wanted him to be more. He wanted no stain on the family's reputation. In his much younger years, his father considered him too weak, and had gone extreme measures to toughen
Don Alessandro Hernandez sat behind his massive desk, his eyes fixed on the file in front of him. The file contained information on Gabriella Maria Lorca, the charity event organizer who had somehow managed to capture his son's attention. "Lorca" He didn't like the fact that she shared names with their longest standing revival. He really hoped she was nothing like them. He dismissed the thought of her last name casually.He had first heard about Gabriella from Rafael, one of his most trusted associates. Rafael had been tasked with keeping an eye on Alejandro, making sure he didn't stray too far from the family's interests. Fascinatingly, Victor had reported back to him about Alejandro's encounter with Gabriella at the charity event.At first, Don Alessandro hadn't thought much of it. His son was known to have a string of fleeting relationships with women from all walks of life. Despite this, Alejandro had never glanced at a lady twice except it was for business communication. Alejan
Alejandro stood outside his father's office, taking a deep breath to prepare himself for the conversation that was about to ensue. He had been summoned by Don Alessandro, and he knew that it couldn't be good. Especially with his father's awareness of his involvement with Gabriella.He pushed open the door and stepped inside, his eyes locking onto his father's imposing figure behind the desk. Don Alessandro's expression was stern, his eyes narrowing as he gestured for Alejandro to take a seat.He couldn't remember the last time he or anyone else was asked to sit when summoned by the Don. Somehow, he father liked to assert dominance in weird ways. He preferred his subordinates not being at eye level distance when they were summoned. Except they were in a meeting, they stood. So, the Don asking him to sit, sent a feedback that he needed to be alert for whatever was to come."Alejandro, I've been hearing some disturbing reports," Don Alessandro began, his voice low and menacing. "Reports
Gabriella's eyes remained fastened on the black SUV. Her mind was racing endlessly with worst-case scenarios. She tried to shake off the feeling of unease, telling herself it was just her imagination playing tricks on her but, the memory of the attack at the charity event was still fresh in her mind, and she couldn't help but wonder if she was in danger again.She took a deep breath and tried to focus on her work, but her eyes kept drifting back to the window. The SUV was still there, parked across the street.Finally, Gabriella couldn't take it anymore. She picked up the phone and dialed the number of the police station, asking to speak to the detective who was handling her case. When her call was answered, she was told that the detective in charge of her case had just stepped out, and was asked to call back in ten minutes.As Gabriella waited for Detective James to respond, she kept glancing out the window at the black SUV. As she watched, a well-dressed woman stepped out of the bui
Sofia sat at her desk, staring at the business card Alejandro had handed her that evening. It was a simple, elegant design, with his name and contact information engraved on it. She turned the card over in her hand, her mind wandering back to their brief conversation.Alejandro had seemed polite, but distant, and Sofia couldn't help but wonder if she had misread the situation entirely. He was in haste as he tried to leave the event but he still found time to exchange business cards with her. That could mean something right? She smiled sheepishly as she reasoned.It had been almost three weeks since the charity event, and Sofia had yet to hear from Alejandro. She had tried to brush it off, telling herself she was being silly, but a part of her couldn't shake the feeling that she had been dismissed.Sofia's eyes narrowed slightly as she thought about Alejandro's behavior. There was something about him that didn't quite add up, something that made her curious, and she intended to get to
Victor was released after one week of his supposed vacation. He took two weeks to refresh himself until he started looking human again, with his bandages removed, and his bruises less of a eye sore. He had been behind closed doors for almost three weeks and he decided to step out this evening to get fresh air.His subordinates had not seen him since he came back so, he decided not to visit the club he manages under the Lorca group. His driver made a final turn as he arrived one of the most popular clubs in the city. As he alighted from his car, he adjusted his cane to carry his weight before he started moving. The cane has been his third leg since he returned, helping him to support his movement until he could walk fine without an external aid. He looked up at the club's sign, the neon lights reflecting off his face: "Club Eclipse". His gaze lingered for a moment before his cane slipped as he was about to move forward. He bent over to pick it up when he winced. As he stood up after
A black SUV parked a block away from the gala venue. Its windows were tinted just enough to keep the occupants unseen but not suspicious. Inside, two men sat watching the entrance of the building, their posture seemed casual, but they appeared to be men on a mission.“I thought you said he would show up with her,” muttered the younger one, tapping his fingers on the dash. “They haven’t so much as looked at each other since the event began.” He continued as he peeped into the gala room through his binoculars “Shut up and keep watching,” the older one snapped. Victor voice came through from the speakerphone resting between them. “The girl's presence is enough for now. Even if they didn't show up together or converse with each other, or even leave together, the fact that they are in the same space yet again, gives us something to work with. I need to know if there’s still something there. Keep observing.”From the line, Victor’s voice carried more than the weight of order, it carried re
The gala was now in full swing. The ballroom glowed with the golden light, from the chandeliers and it's fixtures. People moved about, sipping champagne and chatting over the soft hum of a piece being played on the violin. The energetic presentation from earlier had faded into something more calm. Waiters went in and out with trays of tiny appetizers, smiling politely as they moved between clusters of guests.From the outside, the Urban Renaissance Gala looked like a perfect success.Gabriella stood by one of the tall windows, her eyes drifting toward the courtyard beyond. She had just finished giving her speech and she felt like she needed to get out. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate events like this,she understood their value, this was her world after all, but her thoughts kept pulling her somewhere else. Or rather, to someone else.Alejandro stood near the bar, which had turned out to be his favourite spot for the night looking like he belonged on the cover of some high-end mag
Sofia moved through the room with a practiced grace. One that came from years of going through galas, fundraising, and board meetings. The man who had fetched her was Marcus, one of the newer board members. He kept going on and on about the museum’s latest exhibit, but she barely registered half of it. She offered polite smiles, exchanged nods, but her mind wasn’t on the donors she was heading toward. Her mind was stuck replaying the exchange she had just witnessed. Gabriella's composed exterior had barely hidden the flicker in her eyes as she glanced at Alejandro. Sofia held her glass a little tighter as she tried to steady her pace. She couldn’t say she knew Alejandro well, not even close. After he handed her his card at Gabriella's charity event and vanished before she could ask why, they had only spoken once, when she reached out to propose a potential partnership.He had been polite, but distant, almost detached, like he was trying to tolerate her. He said he’d think about it b
Sofia was still saying something when Gabriella glanced at the bar again. She hadn't meant to look again but she had already turned before she could catch herself this time, Alejandro turned around, and their eyes met for a brief moment. It was only a few seconds but it felt like an eternity. His expression didn't change, but something in his gaze made her feel stuck. There was no smile, no frown or nod of acknowledgement, just a plain old sense of recognition. They were some distance away from each other yet, his gaze seemed to make her freeze, as of the lively chatter all around the room had paused. Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned back to the person he was talking to. Gabriella let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, causing the tightness in her chest to loosen a little. Besides her, Sofia caught the moment. She stopped mid sentence, raised an eyebrow and spoke. "I guess that's not just someone you barely know," she said casually, observing Gabriella as s
Sofia Winston adjusted the cuff of her gloves as the car came to a stop in front of the Metropolitan Grand Hall. She was dressed to reflect elegance and poise. This night for her was more than another cultural event for her to mingle in. It was about her being outstanding, showing her influence in a casual way, and if luck was on her side, finally, it would be about reconnecting with a man who had left more questions than answers when they had met.She stepped out of the car in her wine-colored dress. She stood for a few minutes trying to allow the cool evening breeze drown the heat her anticipation was beginning to stir up. As a curator, she was no stranger to galas, but this one was personal. Ever since Gabriella Lorca's charity event, she had been thinking about Alejandro Hernandez.Their interaction had been brief, yet peculiar. She had been introduced to him by a business associate just before the event began. He had looked distant and a bit distracted. She couldn't figure out wh
Alejandro stood before the mirror, adjusting the cuffs of his black suit. His expression was calm but unreadable. The jacket was tailored to suit him perfectly, emphasizing his broad shoulders and his tall frame. Behind him, Lorenzo leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “You sure you want to do this tonight?” he asked, studying Alejandro’s reflection.Alejandro didn’t look at him. “It’s the way you're always around whenever I have an event to attend. It's almost like you're my mother who has to check to make sure that I'm well dressed and I have my emotions in check before you let me leave the house."Lorenzo scoffed, before replying "At this point I really have to assume the mother role. The last time I left you, you ended up in a police station after a scuffle with Victor.""Don't worry about me princess. Tonight, it's strictly business.” Alejandro responded simply.Lorenzo snorted as he muttered under his breath. "He really doesn't lose a moment to feel smug." He scoffed lightly
Two weeks ago, Gabriella was in the middle of sorting out logistics for an upcoming shelter outreach when Rachel poked her head through the office door with a sparkle in her eyes. Gabriella smiled as she looked at Rachel. "You have some sort of good news to share. Don't you Rach?" "You really do enjoy being a know it all, don't you Gab?" Rachel rolled her eyes dramatically and responded. "If you don't want me bursting your bubbles all the time, you should do a better job in hiding the sparkle in your eyes when you have something good to talk about" Gabriella smiled some more looking at the frustrated Rachel. "Sure. Whatever" Rachel responded interestedly. "Anyways I won't let you spoil my joy and enthusiasm in bearing this news." Rachel continued. "You’ve been invited to the Urban Renaissance Initiative Gala" Rachel said holding out a sleek envelope. Gabriella raised an eyebrow, taking the cream-colored envelope from Rachel. The logo crafted on it read Metropolitan Civic Alliance
Alejandro stepped out from his office feeling the need for caffeine. As one who was not a die hard fan of coffee, he seemed to be needing one this morning. His nightmares seems to be coming hard at him these days, giving him room for little or no sleep most nights. His head pounded a bit and he needed something to help him stay focused and active for the day.As he made his way through the streets searching for a cafe, his thoughts wandered to Gabriella. He has been trying so hard not to think about her since their last encounter. The last they met, he was a total douchebag. Then there was the night at the club. He sighed as he wandered why they had to keep crossing paths, why the universe had blatantly refused to respect his wishes and have her stay away from him, why things had to keep getting weirder and complicated between them.Stepping out, his plans was to get coffee to get him focused for the day but now that his thoughts keep drifting, it seemed the walk was really needed to
A couple of days passed, and Sofia was already putting her plan into motion. Her assistant had gotten her the info she needed, and now Sofia was ready to take a more calculated approach. This time, she wasn’t just going to ask for a business meeting—she was going to make it essential for Alejandro’s reputation.Sofia arrived at a high-class restaurant, wearing a black dress sharp enough to match her mood. She had secured a reservation for dinner, not for herself, but for someone who could make a difference. She was about to meet a key client who could potentially partner with both her museum and Alejandro’s company, someone influential enough to catch his attention.Sofia’s plan was simple: use this client to create a new non-dismissive, compelling opportunity. If Alejandro wouldn’t listen to her proposal, then she would force his hand by offering something that would make him regret not taking her seriously.As she sat at the table, waiting for the guest of honor to arrive, Sofia cou