Gabriella sliced the onions absentmindedly, preparing more than what was needed for dinner for her and Rachel who was spending the night at hers. "Who was Alejandro Hernandez really?" She reasoned.She had tried to convince herself after the event she first met him that it was just a random encounter with an intriguing personality. She had told allowed herself drown in the idea that there was just something about him that drew her to him but last night shifted something inside her. She couldn't ignore what she saw — the way Alejandro moved, unfazed by the happenings around him even when he was taken by the police stirred her desire to know more about him at least, just for the sake of knowing.He seemed to be not just a man who dabbled in business; he moved like a man who knew danger intimately. She'll find out everything, maybe not right now but eventually, she will. Her eyes glinted with determination as she mentally thought about her unspoken plan.Rachel walked into Gabriella's ki
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
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
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 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
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
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
Not for the first time in about ten years, the thirty-year-old Alejandro Hernández, Consigliere of the Hernández family, wished humans could have the opportunity to choose which family they were born into. At first, he had been proud of the power, wealth and connections that his family held, and was determined to be the next head of the family after his father. His determination had been unshakable until a couple of years back when an event that was going to be impossible for him to ever forget, occurred. It made him question a lot of things and wonder if the future he had always imagined for himself was what he really wanted. There was one thing that he was very certain about though. He didn't want to be in this particular meeting he was currently in. The familiar smell of Cuban cigars mixed with the scent of expensive whiskey, which hung in the air of the room and had not bothered him in the past, had somehow started to irritate the hell out of him. He w
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
Gabriella sliced the onions absentmindedly, preparing more than what was needed for dinner for her and Rachel who was spending the night at hers. "Who was Alejandro Hernandez really?" She reasoned.She had tried to convince herself after the event she first met him that it was just a random encounter with an intriguing personality. She had told allowed herself drown in the idea that there was just something about him that drew her to him but last night shifted something inside her. She couldn't ignore what she saw — the way Alejandro moved, unfazed by the happenings around him even when he was taken by the police stirred her desire to know more about him at least, just for the sake of knowing.He seemed to be not just a man who dabbled in business; he moved like a man who knew danger intimately. She'll find out everything, maybe not right now but eventually, she will. Her eyes glinted with determination as she mentally thought about her unspoken plan.Rachel walked into Gabriella's ki
Gabriella's eyes looked at Alejandro, overwhelmed by surprise. What was he doing? And who was the guy he was holding? She took a step closer, her curiosity getting the better of her. Alejandro's eyes flicked to hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.The scene around them came back into focus, and Gabriella took in the shaken waiter, the broken bottle, and the guy Alejandro was restraining. She didn't recognize him, but he looked furious.Alejandro's gaze held hers for a moment longer before he seemed to remember the situation. His eyes narrowed, and he turned his attention back to the struggling Victor.At this point, the onlookers were getting restless and some of the club's patrons had called the police. As the police arrived, Victor wiggled his way out of Alejandro's grasp and fled leaving Alejandro, the bottle and the waiter.Rachel had arrived with the drinks to see the police approaching. She quickly grabbed onto Gabriella and led her out of the club as they st
Gabriella's eyes looked at Alejandro, overwhelmed by surprise. What was he doing? And who was the guy he was holding? She took a step closer, her curiosity getting the better of her. Alejandro's eyes flicked to hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.The scene around them came back into focus, and Gabriella took in the shaken waiter, the broken bottle, and the guy Alejandro was restraining. She didn't recognize him, but he looked furious.Alejandro's gaze held hers for a moment longer before he seemed to remember the situation. His eyes narrowed, and he turned his attention back to the struggling Victor.At this point, the onlookers were getting restless and some of the club's patrons had called the police. As the police arrived, Victor wiggled his way out of Alejandro's grasp and fled leaving Alejandro, the bottle and the waiter.Rachel had arrived with the drinks to see the police approaching. She quickly grabbed onto Gabriella and led her out of the club as they st