Chapter Six
1036 Words
Alejandro
I read Maria’s email twice.
Then I smiled.
Javier looked up from across my office.
“Good news?”
“Not exactly.”
I turned my laptop so he could read the message.
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend this evening…
He laughed.
“She thought you were asking her out.”
“She did.”
“And?”
I leaned back in my chair.
“I can understand why.”
“So, what did you do?”
“I replied.”
“What did you say?”
“The truth.”
He watched me carefully.
“Which is?”
“That it wasn’t dinner for two.”
His grin widened.
“You’re disappointed.”
“I invited the entire project team.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
I didn’t answer.
Because I wasn’t disappointed she’d misunderstood.
I was disappointed she’d felt she had to say no.
…
By seven-thirty, the private dining room at Casa Valencia was alive with conversation.
The Barcelona project team had already ordered wine, appetizers were being served, and laughter bounced off the exposed brick walls.
“Mr. Lopez.”
My assistant leaned closer.
“Everyone’s here.”
“Everyone?”
He checked the list.
“…Except Miss Bellington.”
I nodded once.
“I expected as much.”
Just as the waiter began pouring another glass of Rioja, the restaurant door opened.
Every conversation around the table paused.
Maria stepped inside.
She wore a fitted emerald-green dress beneath a cream trench coat, her brunette hair falling over one shoulder.
She looked… nervous.
Our eyes met immediately.
She walked straight towards me.
“I’m so sorry.”
Her cheeks were pink.
“I completely misunderstood your invitation.”
“I gathered.”
“I thought…”
“I know what you thought.”
For a second, she looked as though she wanted the floor to swallow her whole.
“I’ve embarrassed myself, haven’t I?”
I smiled gently.
“Only if you leave.”
A laugh escaped her.
The tension in her shoulders eased.
“Then I’ll stay.”
“I’m very glad.”
I pulled out the chair beside mine.
“Your seat.”
She hesitated.
“Are you sure?”
“I planned it that way.”
She looked at the name card.
Maria Bellington
Right beside mine.
“You… planned this?”
“I wanted to discuss Barcelona with the person leading it.”
That was true.
It just wasn’t the whole truth.
…
Dinner flowed far more easily than any business dinner had a right to.
Stories replaced spreadsheets.
Laughter replaced presentations.
Maria surprised everyone by beating two senior executives at a rapid-fire travel quiz.
“I’ve never seen anyone answer that quickly,” one of them said.
She laughed.
“My father made geography games compulsory growing up.”
I listened more than I spoke.
Watching her outside the office was fascinating.
She teased Sophie.
She laughed with the junior designers.
She remembered the waiter’s name after hearing it only once.
She made people feel included without even trying.
Halfway through dessert, one of the architects raised his glass.
“Since we’re sharing embarrassing stories…”
He smiled mischievously.
“Maria, tell us how you accidentally sent the CEO that unfinished presentation.”
She groaned dramatically.
“No.”
“Oh, absolutely.”
“I’ll resign.”
Laughter erupted around the table.
Alejandro looked at her curiously.
“I’d like to hear this.”
She covered her face with one hand.
“I hate all of you.”
“You accidentally emailed our CEO a presentation,” Sophie began, barely containing her laughter, “except every placeholder image was still there.”
The architect added, “One slide literally said, ‘Insert something expensive-looking here.’”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Even Maria.
“I wanted the ground to open up.”
“And what happened?” Alejandro asked.
“Our CEO replied…”
She smiled.
“‘Looks expensive enough. Approved.’”
Alejandro laughed—a deep, genuine laugh that made several people at the table look over.
“I like him already.”
“He retired last year.”
“His timing was unfortunate.”
She smiled at him.
“I thought I’d never recover.”
“I doubt that.”
“Why?”
He looked at her steadily.
“You strike me as someone who survives mistakes.”
For a brief moment…
The noise around them disappeared.
She held his gaze.
“Maybe.”
…
By ten o’clock, people began saying their goodbyes.
Some ordered taxis.
Others walked towards the Underground together.
Maria stood outside the restaurant waiting for her cab.
The summer breeze lifted a few loose strands of hair across her face.
Alejandro walked over.
“Your taxi?”
“Five minutes.”
He nodded.
“I owe you an apology.”
She looked surprised.
“For what?”
“I put you in an awkward position.”
“You didn’t.”
“I should’ve made it clearer that everyone was invited.”
A smile tugged at her lips.
“I suppose I should’ve asked before assuming.”
“Perhaps.”
She laughed softly.
“So… we’re both guilty.”
“I can live with that.”
Headlights appeared at the end of the street.
Her taxi.
She reached for the door before turning back to him.
“Thank you.”
“For dinner?”
“For reminding me that work doesn’t always have to feel like work.”
He smiled.
“And thank you.”
“What for?”
“For coming.”
She looked at him for one quiet second.
“I almost didn’t.”
“I know.”
She opened the taxi door.
“Alejandro?”
“Yes?”
“I’m glad I came.”
Before he could answer, she slipped into the back seat.
The taxi pulled away.
He watched the taillights disappear into the London night.
His phone buzzed.
A message from Javier.
How was dinner?
Alejandro looked at the empty street before typing a reply.
More complicated than I expected.
He pressed send.
Then, for the first time in years, he found himself wondering when he would see one particular woman again.
- Writer
