Amara sat on the couch, phone in hand, texting her best friends, Alexis and Dwayne, who had invited her to hang out. She couldn't help but frown as she read through their messages. They were a couple—inseparable and perfect for each other—and Amara couldn't remember the last time she hung out with them without feeling like a third wheel. Tonight was no exception.
Alexis: "Come on, Amara, join us tonight!
Amara sighed, typing a response. "Thanks, but I can't. I have to go with my family to this... business party."
The truth was, Amara didn't want to spend her evening feeling out of place while Alexis and Dwayne exchanged affectionate glances across the table. She didn't have a problem with them being together; it was just that she had always felt like the odd one out.
Dwayne: "A business party? Are you serious? You know we'll be at the same one, right?"
Amara paused. "Wait. What do you mean?"
Dwayne: "I work for Lorenzo Garcia's company. We're attending the same party tonight. You'll see us there."
Amara stared at the phone screen, blinking a few times. "Lorenzo Garcia?"
Alexis: "Yeah, don't you remember? Dwayne told you about the business partnership deal he's working on. He's been raving about that event for weeks!"
Amara felt a pang of curiosity. Lorenzo Garcia was the name her father had been mentioning often over the past few weeks—someone they were considering for a potential collaboration with their family's beach hotels. But this was all just business for her. The name still carried an air of familiarity to her.
"Alright," she finally typed back, "guess I'll see you both there then."
The decision made, Amara stood up, grabbing her coat as she left her house. She wasn't thrilled about the party, but it was an obligation, one that her family was counting on her to attend. As she drove to the event location, the elegant hotel owned by the Garcia family, she tried to shake off the uneasy feeling that had settled in her stomach.
The venue was grand—everything about it screamed luxury and power. The event was being held in one of the hotel's massive banquet halls, its walls adorned with crystal chandeliers and gleaming marble floors. As Amara stepped out of her car and made her way toward the entrance, she couldn't help but feel slightly out of place in her modest dress. The other guests seemed to float around her, dressed in designer outfits and chatting amongst themselves like they owned the world.
Amara's family had already arrived, and she quickly spotted her parents standing near the entrance, talking to two men. One of the men looked older, perhaps in his fifties, with salt-and-pepper hair and an authoritative air. She made her way toward them, smiling when she noticed her parents' warm expressions.
But as she approached, her heart skipped a beat. The younger man standing next to her father was none other than the guy from the club the other night—the man whose eyes she couldn't forget.
Lorenzo Garcia.
He was tall, sharply dressed, and seemed to exude an aura of control. His dark eyes scanned the crowd, but when they landed on her, there was a flicker of recognition. She almost felt embarrassed to be standing there, realizing that the last time they met was under less-than-ideal circumstances.
"Amara, mija," her father said, his voice booming slightly as he noticed her approaching. "Ven, ven aquí. Meet Lorenzo Garcia. Soon to be the CEO of the Garcia Group. You two will be seeing a lot more of each other soon."
Amara's heart raced a little as she gave a polite smile, offering her hand to Lorenzo. "It's a pleasure," she said, her voice smooth, but internally, she was tense. She wasn't sure what to expect from him after their last encounter. The whole situation felt like it was spiraling out of her control.
Lorenzo took her hand, his grip firm, but his eyes—those dark eyes—remained unreadable. "The pleasure's mine, Amara," he replied, his Spanish accent smooth and velvety, though his words were clipped, as if he was already lost in his own thoughts.
Amara nodded politely, her attention shifting to the older man beside Lorenzo. "And you are?" she asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
"This is my father, Don Manuelo Garcia," Lorenzo explained. "He's the one you'll want to impress if you plan on working with the Garcia Group in the future." There was an edge to his voice, a subtle undercurrent of something she couldn't quite place.
Don Manuelo extended his hand with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Mucho gusto, Amara. Your family has a fine reputation. We've been discussing some exciting opportunities."
Amara nodded, though her mind wasn't entirely focused on the conversation. Lorenzo, as expected, was already distracted, looking around the room at the other guests. Amara tried to ignore the growing discomfort she felt in her chest as she noticed him briefly eyeing a few of the women in the crowd. His gaze was calculating, as if sizing them up.
She didn't want to be part of this. She was here because her family expected her to be, but she wasn't about to entertain any more shallow conversations with a man who had already made it clear he wasn't interested in getting to know her.
"Um," she interrupted politely, breaking her gaze from Lorenzo, "I think I see my friends. I'll be back in a little while."
Her father gave her a quick nod, his attention already back on the business conversation at hand.
Amara excused herself and turned toward the side of the room, searching for Alexis and Dwayne. She spotted them almost immediately, standing by the bar and chatting animatedly. As she made her way over, she couldn't shake the feeling that Lorenzo's eyes were still on her, his gaze following her every move.
"Amara!" Alexis exclaimed, pulling her into a hug. "I didn't know you'd be here! You look stunning!"
Amara smiled, trying to put on a brave face. "Thanks, I didn't expect to run into... well, him," she said, nodding toward Lorenzo in the distance, where he was deep in conversation with some other guests.
Dwayne, standing next to Alexis, chuckled. "You mean the infamous Lorenzo Garcia? You'll get used to him. He's... how should I put this? Always on."
Amara rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her lips. "I think I'd rather not get used to him at all."
The night wore on, and Amara found herself growing more and more uncomfortable with every passing minute. Lorenzo was everywhere—greeting people, chatting, but always keeping a careful distance from her. It was clear he had no interest in making small talk with her. She couldn't help but feel out of place.
As her family's business deal wrapped up, Amara said her goodbyes, exchanging pleasantries and thanking the hosts. She didn't stay much longer. Tonight, despite the promises of a great partnership and business success, she had no desire to stick around.
As she exited the venue, she felt the weight of the night lift off her shoulders. One thing was certain: she had no plans to cross paths with Lorenzo Garcia again anytime soon.