A game of chance

Chapter 2

Maria sleeps late last night but she wants to spend time with her friend so her plans today nothing would ruin her plans.

Maria loved her coffee black. While she read her book and sipped her drink, she texted her friend to ask where she was. Meanwhile, Daniela was having a problem with Carlos because he would not leave her alone. She sent a text to Maria saying she would be late.

On the other side of the world there was a guy sleeping on couch. When he wakes up , he glanced at the time and ran as fast as he could to change his clothes and head to the airport.

Two hours later he arrived at Maria's home and knocked on the door. She opened it and said, "Hello. You finally remembered I existed."

He smiled." I'm sorry,darling. Forgive me ;I promise I will not do it again." He held her hands and kissed her cheeks."you know I really love you."

"Okay, just this once. Don't do it again,promise. And here is a gift - the new book I bought for you."

She hugged him. "Thanks, love! I've been waiting for this book for so long." She walked to the kitchen to cook, and an hour later, they sat down to eat lunch while watching a movie.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Daniela was angry at Lucas. He smirked and said, "Stop that. You know our mother thinks we should start dating."

She laughed. "Date you? Never! I don't even like you. I don't want to spend any time together. I hate you! I'd rather date anyone else; I will never agree to this. Can I leave now?"

"Of course you can't—not until you agree. You know Maria and her man got married, so why not us? I really love you." He held her hand, and she blushed.

"I will never love you; you aren't my type."

He laughed. "It doesn't matter if I'm your type or not. What matters is that I love you." He looked into her eyes and kissed her cheeks.

He smirked because he knew she enjoyed it even if she wouldn't admit it. He hoped that one day she would, because in his mind, she could only be his. He felt jealous whenever she smiled or talked with anyone else.

"Okay, let's talk later. I'm not giving up on you," he said firmly. "Goodbye for now. Take care of yourself."

She turned away without a word, walking back toward the house. Once inside, she sank into the cushions of the couch, seeking comfort in her favorite book and the company of her cat, Leo. She took a quick selfie for i********:, a small smile playing on her lips as she thought about the encounter. Despite knowing how he felt about her, she chose to keep her own feelings locked away. She wasn't ready to be vulnerable; she didn't want to risk a broken heart, so she wore her silence like a shield.

The next morning, the two friends opened the bookstore. They were barely settled when a familiar voice broke the silence. "Hello, darling. You look radiant today."

Daniela's expression soured instantly. "What are you doing here, Carlos? I told you I didn't want to see you. I'm at work, I'm busy, and I don't want any drama."

Carlos just smirked, leaning against the counter. "I'm just a customer, I promise. I actually started that series you're always talking about, and now I need a recommendation for what's next. Can you help a guy out, beautiful?" He offered a playful wink.

Sighing, she adjusted her glasses. "Fine. I'll do my job. What exactly are you looking for?"

"Something classic," he said, his eyes lingering on hers. "And romantic."

"Then you should look at Jane Austen's collection," she replied professionally, pointing toward the classics section. "They're perfect with a cup of coffee. You might want to grab a bookmark on your way out, too."

Once the door finally clicked shut behind him, she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She closed up the shop for the evening and headed home. After a long shower and her nightly skincare routine, she curled up in bed. She needed the rest; tomorrow was the start of a two-day road trip with her best friend, and she wanted to leave all this boy drama behind her.

"A pair of headlights had been following them since they left the city. When they finally reached the hotel, the driver stepped out. It was Carlos. He looked frantic, holding his phone. 'You didn't answer my texts,' he said, his voice a mix of relief and anger. 'Did you really think I'd let you go two days without checking in?'"

The girls were two hours into their drive, the city skyline replaced by open roads and green trees. Maria was driving while Daniela sang along to the radio, finally feeling the stress of the bookstore melt away. They decided to pull over at a quiet rest stop to stretch their legs and grab some snacks.

As Daniela stepped out of the car, she heard the screech of tires. A black sedan swung into the parking lot and skidded to a halt just inches from their bumper. The door flung open, and Carlos stepped out, looking breathless and frantic.

"Daniela! Thank God I found you," he exclaimed, rushing toward her.

Daniela froze, her keys still in her hand. "Carlos? What on earth are you doing here? Were you following us?"

"I saw your i********: post," he said, ignoring her frustration. He reached out to grab her shoulders, checking her over as if she had been in an accident. "You're out here in the middle of nowhere! Anything could happen. Your car could break down, or you could get lost. I couldn't just sit at home knowing you were unprotected."

Daniela pushed his hands away, her face flushing with anger. "We aren't 'unprotected,' Carlos! We're on a road trip. It's 2026—we have GPS and a spare tire. You aren't being a hero; you're being a stalker!"

Carlos held up his hands, his expression hurt. "I'm just trying to keep you safe because I care about you. Is it a crime to want to protect the woman I love?"

On the other side of the car, Maria watched the scene unfold, hiding a smirk behind her hand. She knew this was exactly the kind of "hero" drama Daniela hated.

"Wait, Daniela," Maria said softly, though her eyes were dancing with mischief. "Think about it. The weather report said there might be a heavy storm later tonight. If the roads get slippery or if we get a flat tire in the dark, it might actually be useful to have an extra set of hands."

Daniela turned to her friend, her jaw dropping. "You've got to be kidding me! You want him to trail us like a lost puppy for two days?"

Maria shrugged, leaning against the car door. "I'm just being practical. He's already here, and he clearly isn't going to turn around just because you ask nicely. Let him follow in his car. We get our privacy in here, and he gets to play bodyguard out there. It's a win-win."

Carlos beamed, his "hero" ego inflating instantly. "See? Maria understands. I'll stay exactly three car lengths behind you. You won't even know I'm there, but I'll be ready to jump in the second you need me."

Daniela groaned, throwing her hands up in defeat. "Fine! But if you honk that horn even once or try to join us for dinner, I'm driving into the woods to lose you. Do you understand?"

"Crystal clear, beautiful lady," Carlos said with a triumphant wink. He hurried back to his sedan, looking like he had just won a gold medal.

As they got back into their car, Daniela glared at Maria. "I hate you a little bit right now."

Maria just laughed and started the engine. "You'll thank me when he's the one carrying our heavy suitcases into the hotel!"

The sun was beginning to set as Maria and Daniela pulled into the parking lot of a cozy, secluded hotel near the mountains. As promised, Carlos pulled in right behind them, jumping out of his car to grab their luggage before they could even reach for the trunk.

"I've got it, I've got it!" Carlos announced, puffing out his chest. "A lady shouldn't have to carry her own bags after such a long drive."

Daniela rolled her eyes so hard it hurt. "Carlos, it's a backpack, not a piano."

Suddenly, the roar of a powerful engine echoed through the quiet valley. A sleek, silver sports car drifted around the corner and screeched to a stop, blocking Carlos's sedan. The door swung open, and Lucas stepped out, looking effortlessly cool in a leather jacket. He didn't look like he had been racing; he looked like he was arriving at a red carpet.

"Am I late for the party?" Lucas asked, his voice low and dangerous. He leaned against his car door, his eyes fixed entirely on Daniela.

Carlos turned red, dropping one of the suitcases. "Lucas? What are you doing here? This is a private trip!"

Lucas let out a cold, sharp laugh. "Private? I saw your car following theirs on the highway miles ago, Carlos. I figured Daniela might need actual protection from her 'protector.' Besides," he turned his gaze to Daniela, a smirk tugging at his lips, "I heard there was a storm coming. I wouldn't want you getting cold."

Daniela looked from Carlos, who was fuming, to Lucas, who was smirking. She turned to Maria, who was currently filming the whole thing on her phone.

"Maria," Daniela whispered, "please tell me there's a third room in this hotel, or I'm sleeping in the car."

Just as Lucas finished his sentence, a deafening c***k of thunder shook the hotel's foundation. The sky, which had been a bruised purple, suddenly turned pitch black. Rain began to lash down in sheets, blurring the mountains into a grey haze.

"Everyone inside! Now!" the hotel manager shouted from the doorway.

The four of them scrambled into the lobby just as the wind slammed the heavy oak doors shut. Seconds later, the lights flickered and died, leaving the room bathed in the eerie, flickering glow of the fireplace.

"Great," Daniela muttered, crossing her arms. "The power is out, and I'm stuck in a dark lobby with two men who can't stand each other."

Carlos immediately jumped into action, trying to find a flashlight. "Don't worry, Daniela! I'll find a way to get the lights back on. I'm prepared for emergencies."

Lucas leaned back against a velvet armchair, looking completely unbothered by the darkness. "The main line is likely down, Carlos. Put the flashlight away and stop pacing; you're making the room smaller." He looked over at Daniela and smirked. "Since we aren't going anywhere, maybe we should finally finish that conversation about our mothers' wedding plans."

Daniela felt her face heat up—partly from anger and partly from that annoying blush she couldn't control. "There is no conversation, Lucas. The only thing I'm planning is how to survive this night without losing my mind."

Maria, meanwhile, had found a comfortable spot by the fire. She pulled out her new book—the one her husband had gifted her—and opened a bag of snacks. She looked at the three of them and sighed happily. "You guys can argue all you want. I have a book, a fire, and a front-row seat to the best drama of the year."