Chapter 7

Saturday arrived sooner than Meera expected.

She stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the wrinkles from a simple cream blouse tucked into a pair of dark jeans.

She turned to Rosa.

"Is this too plain?"

Rosa looked up from the bed and smiled.

"My dear, if you ask me one more time, I'll tell you to wear your apron."

Meera laughed nervously.

"I've never been invited to something like this."

"And that's exactly why you should go."

Rosa walked over and adjusted a loose strand of Meera's hair.

"You don't have to dress like them."

"Them?"

"The rich people."

Meera sighed.

"I just don't want to look out of place."

"You won't."

Rosa cupped her face.

"Your kindness will always look more expensive than designer clothes."

---

The GONAS Food and Culture Festival occupied an entire waterfront park.

White tents stretched across the venue.

Chefs from famous restaurants prepared gourmet dishes while musicians performed on a large outdoor stage.

Luxury cars lined the entrance.

Meera stopped walking.

"This place is..."

"Huge," Rosa finished.

A young event coordinator greeted them.

"Good morning! Vendor registration?"

Meera nodded.

The woman checked a tablet before smiling brightly.

"Welcome, Ms. Andrews. Your booth is this way."

As they wheeled the taco cart into place, Meera couldn't stop staring.

Everything was organized.

Elegant.

Professional.

She had never imagined her little taco stand would be surrounded by businesses with names she'd only seen on television.

---

Meanwhile...

Grant adjusted the cuffs of his charcoal suit as he stepped out of a black limousine.

Unlike his previous visits to San Diego, he wasn't hiding today.

This was his event.

Employees straightened immediately.

"Good morning, Mr. Gonas."

"Morning, sir."

"Welcome, Mr. Gonas."

Grant acknowledged them with a nod before entering the venue.

His presence changed the atmosphere instantly.

Conversations became quieter.

Managers hurried to ensure everything was perfect.

No one wanted to disappoint the CEO.

Damien fell into step beside him.

"The investors will arrive in an hour."

Grant nodded.

"And security?"

"In position."

Grant scanned the festival grounds.

Families.

Children.

Business partners.

Nothing unusual.

Until...

His eyes landed on a small taco booth near the center of the park.

Meera stood behind the counter, laughing as Rosa struggled to tie an apron.

Grant stopped walking.

Damien followed his gaze.

"So she came."

Grant said nothing.

"Should I introduce you properly this time?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I'd rather she didn't know."

Damien frowned.

"Eventually she'll find out."

"Eventually."

"But not today."

---

Meera was arranging fresh salsa when she sensed someone watching her.

She looked up.

There he was.

The man from the SUV.

Standing several meters away.

Except...

Today he looked completely different.

The simple clothes were gone.

Instead, he wore an impeccably tailored suit that fit him as though it had been made by hand.

People greeted him as he walked.

Employees stepped aside to let him pass.

Even security guards straightened when he looked in their direction.

"Why is everyone staring at him?" Meera whispered.

Before Rosa could answer, the event coordinator hurried over.

"Mr. Gonas!"

Meera's hands froze.

Mr...

Gonas?

She watched as the coordinator shook his hand respectfully.

"Everything is ready for your inspection, sir."

Grant nodded once.

"Carry on."

The world around Meera seemed to slow.

GONAS.

The invitation.

The company.

The man.

It was him.

"No way..." she breathed.

She looked back at the invitation tucked beneath the counter.

The logo.

The name.

Everything suddenly made sense.

"He's..."

"The owner?" Rosa guessed.

Meera nodded slowly.

"I've been yelling at the owner of this entire event."

Rosa couldn't help but laugh.

"I suppose you have."

Meera groaned, covering her face with both hands.

"Oh, this is embarrassing."

---

Grant finally walked toward the taco booth.

He stopped in front of the counter.

"Good morning."

Meera folded her arms.

"So..."

Grant waited.

"You're Grant Gonas."

"I am."

"You own all this?"

"Yes."

She looked around at the massive festival before looking back at him.

"And you let me spend three days thinking you were just some random guy?"

Grant's lips twitched.

"You never asked."

Meera opened her mouth to argue.

Then closed it again.

Technically...

He was right.

"You could've told me."

"I could have."

"Why didn't you?"

Grant held her gaze.

"Because I wanted you to treat me like everyone else."

For the first time since meeting him, Meera saw something unexpected in his eyes.

Loneliness.

It vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.

"I'm still angry about the taco stand," she muttered.

"I know."

"But..."

She sighed.

"Thank you for inviting us."

Grant glanced at the freshly prepared tacos.

"I didn't invite you because I felt sorry for you."

"No?"

"I invited you because your food deserves to be here."

Meera stared at him.

It was the nicest thing anyone outside her neighborhood had ever said about her cooking.

Before she could respond, Damien approached.

"Boss, the investors have arrived."

Grant nodded.

"I'll be there."

He looked back at Meera.

"I'll stop by later."

This time, she smiled.

A real one.

"I'll charge you for the tacos."

Grant's eyes softened.

"I'd expect nothing less."

As he walked away, neither of them noticed a man standing near the entrance, watching through the lens of a camera.

He snapped a photograph of Grant smiling at Meera.

Then another.

He pulled out his phone.

"Mr. Romano," he said quietly.

"I've confirmed it."

A pause.

"The girl means something to Grant Gonas."

Victor Romano's voice was calm.

"Good."

Another pause.

"Don't touch her."

The spy frowned.

"Not yet."

Victor smiled to himself.

"Some pawns are more valuable alive than dead."