Chapter Four
1014 Words
Alejandro
There was a reason I never mixed business with my personal life.
It complicated good decisions.
Feelings blurred judgment.
And judgment was something I’d spent fifteen years sharpening.
Yet, for the second time in less than twenty-four hours…
I found myself thinking about Maria Bellington.
Not because she was beautiful.
London was full of beautiful women.
It was because she’d thanked the waiter for refilling her coffee before she’d taken her first sip.
Kindness couldn’t be rehearsed.
It simply existed.
Javier knocked once before walking into my office.
“You’ve been unusually quiet.”
“I’ve been working.”
“You’ve been staring out the window.”
I smiled.
“You notice too much.”
“It’s my job.”
He placed another folder on my desk.
“The Barcelona board has approved the campaign. Congratulations.”
“Congratulations belong to Maria and her team.”
Javier folded his arms.
“You’ve said her name six times since yesterday.”
“I wasn’t counting.”
“I was.”
I laughed, shaking my head.
“You need a hobby.”
“I have one.”
“Oh?”
“Watching you pretend you aren’t interested in her.”
Before I could answer, my assistant buzzed through the intercom.
“Mr. Lopez, Miss Bellington is here with the revised branding samples.”
I looked at Javier.
He grinned.
“My timing is impeccable.”
…
A gentle knock sounded at the office door.
“Come in.”
Maria stepped inside carrying a large leather portfolio.
Today she wore a fitted black dress beneath a cream blazer. Her hair fell in soft waves over one shoulder, and those tiny freckles I’d noticed the night before were more visible in the afternoon light.
She smiled politely.
“I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Never.”
The word left my mouth before I could reconsider it.
A flicker of surprise crossed her face.
I stood, walking around the desk.
“You brought the samples yourself.”
“I don’t usually trust couriers with weeks of work.”
“A perfectionist.”
“Guilty.”
I motioned toward the sofa instead of the conference table.
“It’ll be more comfortable.”
She hesitated for only a second before sitting.
As she spread fabric swatches, branding mock-ups and colour palettes across the coffee table, she became completely absorbed in her work.
Her eyes lit up.
Her hands moved animatedly as she explained why one design would resonate better with European travellers than another.
She wasn’t trying to impress me.
She was simply passionate.
And somehow…
That impressed me more.
“This one,” she said, sliding a brochure towards me, “feels warmer.”
I studied it briefly before looking back at her.
“I agree.”
“You haven’t even looked properly.”
“I was watching you.”
The words slipped out naturally.
She froze.
“So…”
I corrected myself with a smile.
“I’ll look properly.”
She laughed, though her cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink.
“You almost got yourself into trouble.”
“I have a feeling you’ll tell me when I do.”
“Oh, I definitely will.”
For the next half hour we worked through every page together.
She challenged my opinions.
I challenged hers.
Neither of us tried to win.
We simply… understood each other.
It had been a long time since a conversation had felt this effortless.
When we finally finished, she closed the portfolio with a satisfied smile.
“I think we’re done.”
“I think we are.”
She stood.
“So, I’ll let you get back to work.”
I walked her to the office door.
Just as she reached for the handle, she frowned.
“My earring.”
She touched one ear.
“It’s gone.”
We both looked down.
The small gold hoop lay near my desk.
She bent to pick it up.
At the exact same moment…
So did I.
Our heads nearly collided.
She laughed.
“So much for graceful.”
I picked up the earring before she could.
“Allow me.”
She turned slightly, lifting her hair away from her neck.
The sweet scent of vanilla drifted towards me.
Slowly, carefully, I fastened the tiny clasp behind her ear.
My fingertips brushed her skin for the briefest moment.
She inhaled softly.
Neither of us moved.
The office suddenly felt much smaller.
Much quieter.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“My pleasure.”
She turned.
For one suspended heartbeat…
We simply looked at each other.
Then her phone vibrated.
The sound shattered the moment.
She glanced at the screen.
Daniel.
A shadow crossed her face.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologise.”
She answered the call.
“Hi.”
I looked away, giving her the privacy she deserved, but I couldn’t help hearing the frustration in her voice.
“What do you mean you’ve forgotten?”
…
“No, it’s fine.”
…
“I’ll figure something out.”
She ended the call with a sigh.
Everything about her had changed.
The warmth.
The smile.
The light in her eyes.
“Bad news?” I asked gently.
She forced a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Our wedding cake tasting.”
She looked embarrassed.
“He forgot.”
I said nothing.
Because there was nothing I could say that wouldn’t cross a line.
She slipped her phone back into her handbag.
“I should go.”
I opened the door for her.
As she stepped into the corridor, she paused.
“Alejandro?”
“Yes?”
She looked at me for a long moment before smiling sadly.
“Thank you…”
“For what?”
She searched for the words.
“…for making today feel easy.”
Before I could answer…
She walked away.
I watched her until the elevator doors closed.
Only then did I allow myself to admit the truth.
I wasn’t looking forward to the Barcelona campaign anymore.
I was looking forward to seeing Maria again.
- Writer
