A Second Chance At Love

CHAPTER FOUR

MAYA

As we drove to the restaurant, the city lights painted stripes of gold against the night canvas. The hum of the car's engine seemed to blend with the soft melodies playing on the radio, creating a cocoon of comfort.

As we arrived at the restaurant, it's grand entrance welcomed us with a symphony of soft jazz and the inviting aroma of dishesyet to be discovered. It was such a sight. I had never been to such a wonderful place in my life.

An usher greeted us with a welcoming smile, leading us to a table adorned with elegant white linens and delicate candlelight. He handed us the menu to go through the options and place our orders.

As we perused the menu, our eyes met in silent agreement, and a shared smile conveyed our choice. The waiter arrived, ready to take our orders.

“I would like the creamy pasta with some champagne,” Miguel said to the waiter as he closed the menu. The waiter looked at me as he waited for me to also say my order.

“Uhm, I’ll have what he has,” I said after perusing through the menu with a confused look.

“Alright ma’am” the waiter said as he took a bow and walked away from us to get our food.

With the order placed, we leaned back in our chairs, surrounded in the restaurant's ambiance and each other's company.

“So tell me about yourself Maya,” Miguel asked me as he put his elbow on the table and rested his chin there smiling.

“Well, there’s nothing much to know about me sir,” I replied shyly.

He looked at me with his brows arched. “Sir again? I thought I told you to call me by my name, Miguel,” he corrected me.

“I’m sorry Miguel. It’s just that it would be hard calling you by your name since you’re my boss at work,” I said as I tried to look away to break our eye contact.

“Well you have to get used to it. How about we enjoy our dinner for the rest of the night?” he said to me with a smile as I looked back at him.

The waiter brought our food and we both thanked him.

“Shall we?” he asked.

“Yes we shall,” I chuckled.

We began to dig in and in no time we were done eating. As the night wound down, Miguel requested the bill and paid. As we left the restaurant, the cool air embraced us, and I settled into the passenger seat of his car as the car's engine came to life.

The journey back was filled with easy chatter and comfortable silences.

As we arrived at my doorstep, I turned to him with a smile, “Thanks for tonight, I really appreciate it.”

“Nah, it’s nothing. You know what? I have a party tomorrow night at my place. How about I send my driver to come pick you up?” he asked.

“Yeah, that would be fine,” I said with a smile.

“Alright then, there’s no work tomorrow so don’t bother coming, okay?” he asked with a smirk on his face and his brows arched.

There was this silence between us which made me get lost in his facial features. His blue eyes gleamed under the car’s orange light as we got lost in each other’s gaze.

We drew closer to each other slowly and I tried holding myself back from doing anything I’d regret later. It seemed Miguel also wanted this as he held me by my chin and leaned towards me and gave me a kiss and pulled away while smiling at me.

“See you tomorrow, Maya,” he said as he unlocked the doors of his car.

“Right, see you tomorrow, Miguel,” I said as I opened the car door and stepped out. I watched him drive away, and it was such a fitting end to this enchanting evening.

As I got in, I met a note Whitney left on the counter top which read:

“Went to Andrew’s place tonight, be back by weekend, xoxo- Whitney.”

“Wow, so Whitney really left me all alone in this house. Typical Whitney,” I said to myself, laughing. “Well time to go to bed.”

I went to my room and took off the gown and slipped into my pjs. I jumped on my bed and sank into it relaxing myself from the long day I had just had. I kept on turning from side to side thinking about what had happened between Miguel and I, smiling like a teenager till I fell asleep.

The next day came by swiftly and in no time under the twilight sky, a sleek black sedan rolled to a gracea grand stop by my doorstep, its presence emitting an air of sophistication.

The chauffeur's hospitable nod invited me into the car. We journeyed through streets that transformed from urban hustle to opulent grandeur with each passing turn.

The destination unveiled itself as we arrived at Miguel's mansion, a sprawling oasis of gardens and dancing water fountains. The outdoors came alive with a symphony of sights and sounds as the party unfolded.

The gardens were adorned with a constellation of sparkling lights, radiating a dreamy glow over the gathering. Elegantly dressed attendees mingled in an open-air courtyard.

Miguel stood by the entrance and welcomed me in after I got out of the car. Getting into the party, I saw all my colleagues also present it in the party. They all looked at me in a judgemental look after seeing me go arm in arm with Miguel

It turned out that the party was Miguel’s birthday party. I found out through the birthday cake.

“How come you didn’t tell me today was your birthday, I could have gotten you something,” I said as I gave him a slight punch on his shoulder.

“Nah, it’s fine. Although there is a gift you could give me,” he said, with his brow arched and a smirk formed on his face.

“And what is it?” I asked him curiously wondering what I could possibly give him

“Would you be my girlfriend?” he blurted out as if he hadn’t thought his question through. “I know it’s too soon but I really want you to be my girlfriend,” he continued.

I stood there shocked by the question but it didn’t dismiss the fact that I also wanted him too. “Yes, I would be your girlfriend Miguel,”

With a soft smile that carried a whole lot of emotions, he reached out, gently holding my cheek in his hand and leaned in with his lips brushing against mine in a soft embrace.

The crowd behind us began to clap and cheer us on. Everything felt so rushed but magical at that moment.

The night continued and we all partied joyfully together.

“I’m sure you’re enjoying the night,” a woman who walked up to me said.

“Yes I am,” I said with a half smile after taking a sip from my drink.

“Congratulations on your relationship with Miguel,” she said as she stretched out her hand for a handshake.

“Oh thank you,” I said, joining my hand with hers.

“By the way, where is he?” she said as she didn’t see him beside me.

I looked around scanning the environment with my eyes for Miguel since he mysteriously disappeared.

“Seems you don’t know where he is, why don’t you check upstairs, he’s probably there,” she suggested.

“Alright then, I’ll search for him there. Thank you,” I said and shook her for the last time then took my leave to wander the mansion.

My footsteps echoed through the mansion's corridors as I embarked in search of Miguel. I got to the upper floor where a slightly ajar door caught my attention. Pushing it open, I found myself in what seemed to look like a shrine.

At the room's center, a handmade portrait of myself was encircled by a ring of candles that burned with an intensity which made my stomach churn. The atmosphere seemed to twist around me, leaving me feeling sickened.

Questions stirred in my mind like a storm, and an uncomfortable unease crept over me as I struggled to make sense of the surreal scene.

I walked closer to the portrait and noticed that although the painting looked like me, it wasn’t actually me. The girl in the picture didn’t have my birth mark that was below my left eye. Everything got more confusing as I made this discovery.

I looked at the painting again and saw a title below written in cursive writing named ‘Celine’.

I began to feel dizzy as I couldn’t make sense of the whole situation before me. “Who is Celine? Why does she look like me? And why does Miguel have a room like this in his house?”

These questions lingered in my mind as I stood still looking at the portrait.