Chapter Two
738 Words
Alejandro
I rarely remembered names.
Faces, yes.
Numbers, always.
Names?
Almost never.
Yet somehow, as I stood at the podium thanking our investors and guests, one name kept slipping into my thoughts.
Maria Bellington.
She stood near the back of the ballroom, speaking to a guest with the same effortless smile she’d worn all evening.
Anyone else would have thought she was happy.
I knew better.
“You’ve hardly looked at your notes.”
Javier’s voice pulled me back to the present as the applause died down.
“I don’t need them.”
“You’ve given this speech a hundred times.”
“Exactly.”
He smirked.
“I was talking about the woman in the champagne dress.”
I glanced at him.
“What about her?”
“You’ve looked in her direction at least six times.”
“Seven.”
His eyebrows shot up.
“So you admit it.”
I took a sip of sparkling water, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
“I admire talented people.”
“You admire women even less than you remember names.”
I smiled to myself.
“Perhaps.”
The evening slowly came to an end.
Guests filtered toward the exits while staff began clearing champagne flutes and folding away floral displays.
From across the ballroom, I watched Maria thank every member of her team.
She hugged one young coordinator who looked close to tears.
She shook hands with the chef.
She thanked the musicians.
Even the doorman received one of her warm smiles.
Interesting.
People often revealed themselves in the way they treated those who couldn’t offer them anything.
Maria treated everyone as though they mattered.
“Mr. Lopez.”
The hotel’s General Manager approached.
“Miss Bellington wanted me to thank you again for your kind words.”
“Did she?”
“She left a few moments ago.”
I looked instinctively toward the entrance.
Too late.
She was already gone.
…
The following morning…
London was grey.
Rain tapped softly against the windows of my office overlooking Hyde Park.
Javier entered carrying two coffees and a leather folder.
“You have the Barcelona branding meeting at eleven.”
“I remember.”
He placed the folder on my desk.
“The agency confirmed their attendees.”
I opened it absentmindedly.
The first page held a photograph.
Maria.
Professional.
Elegant.
Her hair tied back, red lipstick softer than the night before.
Maria Bellington
Senior Brand Director
Thirty-two.
London.
Award-winning creative strategist.
Engaged.
My eyes stopped on the last word.
Engaged.
For reasons I couldn’t explain, disappointment settled quietly in my chest.
Javier noticed.
“So…”
I closed the folder.
“So?”
“You’ve finally met a woman who interests you.”
“I met a professional.”
“You watched her all evening.”
“I watched everyone.”
He laughed.
“No, Alejandro.”
He leaned against the desk.
“You noticed everyone.”
“But you watched her.”
I didn’t answer.
Because he wasn’t entirely wrong.
…
At exactly eleven o’clock, the boardroom doors opened.
Maria walked in carrying her laptop.
She looked up.
The moment she saw me…
She smiled.
It wasn’t the polished smile she’d given guests last night.
It was smaller.
Warmer.
As though seeing me had genuinely brightened her morning.
Something inside me answered before my mind had a chance to stop it.
“Buenos días, María.”
She blinked.
Then laughed softly.
“I only know enough Spanish to know you’re saying good morning.”
“Then…”
I stepped forward, extending my hand.
“…good morning.”
Her fingers slipped into mine.
Warm.
Soft.
Professional.
Yet neither of us seemed in a hurry to let go.
Behind us, the boardroom slowly filled with executives.
Neither of us noticed.
Until someone cleared their throat.
Maria pulled her hand away first.
“I should…”
She nodded toward the presentation screen.
“…get to work.”
I smiled.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
She frowned playfully.
“Why?”
“Because I’d hate to think I was the reason you lost your concentration.”
She opened her mouth to answer.
Then stopped.
A faint blush coloured her cheeks.
“I’ll pretend you didn’t just say that.”
“I hope you don’t.”
For the first time in a very long time…
I found myself looking forward to a meeting.
- Writer
