Sparks And Spills

Chapter Four: Tangled Heart And Blind Date

Seth stormed into his room at the sprawling Garcia mansion, his jaw clenched, his mind a whirlwind of frustration. He’d never met anyone with the audacity to challenge him the way Elena Parker had—her sharp tongue and fearless defiance had left him reeling. Worse, she was seeking his approval for a contract that was undeniably impressive, one he couldn’t reject out of pettiness. But what infuriated him most wasn’t her boldness or the contract—it was the inexplicable pull he felt toward her. Every time her fiery green eyes flashed in his mind, a strange warmth stirred in his chest, one he couldn’t name or shake.

“Why am I feeling this?” he growled, punching the air in exasperation. “What is it about her?”

A knock at the door snapped him back to reality. “Mr. Garcia,” came the measured voice of a middle-aged woman, one of the mansion’s staff. “Old Mr. Garcia requests your presence in his office.”

Seth’s brow furrowed. “Why?”

“I’m sorry, sir, I don’t know,” she replied.

With a sigh, Seth rose from the leather couch and descended the grand staircase of the Garcia mansion—a labyrinthine estate so vast that newcomers needed a map to navigate its halls. It was said that a lost guest could wander for fifteen hours before being found. Seth, however, knew every corner of his childhood home, where he still lived with his grandfather, Henry Garcia.

In Henry’s office, the strains of an old vinyl record filled the air, the elderly man swaying in his chair to the nostalgic beat. The moment Seth entered, Henry’s expression shifted dramatically—his shoulders slumped, his voice quavered, and he clutched his chest as if on the brink of collapse. “My dear grandson,” he wheezed, “please, don’t let me die without meeting my great-grandchildren. I’ve lived so long, and my time is running out. Don’t let our ancestors mock me for failing to see the next generation.”

Seth rolled his eyes, unfazed. He knew this performance all too well—Henry’s favorite tactic to guilt him into another blind date. Normally, Seth would argue, but today, his patience was thin. “What do you want this time, Grandpa? Another blind date? With who?”

Henry blinked, caught off guard, but Seth didn’t let him finish. “Don’t worry, I’ll cooperate. Whatever you’re planning, just send me the details.” With that, he turned and left, leaving Henry stunned.

The old man’s face broke into a gleeful grin. “My plan is working!” he chuckled, cranking up the music and dancing with renewed vigor. Usually, their debates over blind dates dragged on, but Seth’s swift surrender was a victory. Henry laughed, delighted at the thought of his grandson finally falling for his schemes.

Later, Seth wandered the city streets, his sleek car gliding through the evening glow. His mind churned, Elena’s defiant smirk haunting him. “Maybe it’s time I just give in to Grandpa,” he muttered to himself. “He’s never going to let this go.”

His phone buzzed, interrupting his thoughts. It was John, his personal assistant, his voice tinged with amusement. “Mr. Garcia, your grandfather just called. He wants me to clear your schedule tomorrow for an ‘important meeting.’ Another blind date, huh?”

Seth sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “Yeah, looks like it. Just do as he says, John. I don’t think I can escape this one.”

John’s laughter crackled through the line. “Seems like you’re hooked this time, boss. I hope this one isn’t a psycho like the last girl. Remember her? Obsessed, stalking you for weeks?”

Seth groaned, the memory of that disastrous date flooding back. Henry had sworn off meddling after that fiasco, but his promise lasted a mere three months before the matchmaking resumed. “Don’t remind me,” Seth snapped.

“Alright, alright,” John chuckled. “I’ll pick you up at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow. Have fun!” The call ended with another laugh, leaving Seth in heavy silence.

He drove back to the mansion, the weight of the day pressing down on him. In his room, he collapsed onto the bed, willing sleep to drown out the chaos in his mind—Elena’s piercing gaze, his grandfather’s schemes, and the unsettling feeling that something was shifting inside him, something he wasn’t ready to face.