The night felt quintessential. Outside the big hotel's dance hall, flashy lights covered the smooth floors, and multiple luxurious cars were parked out front. Nadia paused before going in, clenching on to her small purse. She was nervous. She hadn't been this nervous in a long time.
She considered turning back twice on the way. She felt like pretending to be sick or making excuses, but she was curious.
Now, standing at the entrance to the party, she felt like she didn't belong. The dress she had on, a gentle dark blue color, fit her nicely, simple but pretty. Her hair, usually tied up for work, was in soft curls down her shoulders.
The guards at the door froze in shock when she showed them the special invitation card that Ambrose had given her earlier that week.
As soon as they saw the mark, a stylish bird under his name, they stood upright.
"Miss Reyes," one of them said politely, opening the velvet rope. "Come this way."
Nadia was surprised. "Oh, thank you."
They walked her in, past the long line of people still waiting. She heard of whispers behind her: Who is she?
Inside, the dance hall was breathtaking. The massive chandeliers sparkled like stars. Gorgeous curtains covered the windows, and every table filled with champagne glasses and flowers. The air smelled like roses and expensive perfumes.
At that moment, Nadia forgot how to breathe.
This is a different world, she felt amazed but a little doubtful.
She saw Ambrose near the middle of the room, surrounded by people who seemed completely attentive to everything he said. His dark suit looked perfect, he stood out amongst everyone at the event, like a man who was comfortable being powerful.
He turned as she came closer, looking her up and down in a way that made her heart skip a beat.
"Nadia," he said, his voice deep and smooth.
"You came."
"I, yes," she said, suddenly aware of every part of her dress.
Ambrose smiled slightly, with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You look…" He stopped, as if trying to find the right word. "Surprisingly beautiful."
Her face got warm even though she didn't want it to. "You make it sound like you didn't think I could look good."
He smiled more. "Not at all. I didn't realize you could look this good."
Before she could answer, a tall man came up, with gray hair and a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He shook hands with Ambrose firmly, like men who only trusted each other as much as they could make money together.
"Romero," the man stated. "You didn't say you'd be bringing someone along."
Ambrose spoke in a calm manner. "My assistant. This is Miss Reyes."
The man faced her and put out his hand. "Nice to meet you."
When Nadia reached out to shake his hand, she noticed something under his sleeve, a bit of dark ink on his skin, barely peeking out from his cuff. A tattoo. It wasn't just a pretty picture, but something that seemed… planned. Like a mark.
The shape disappeared when he let go of her hand, but she still felt uneasy.
The man excused himself shortly after, disappearing into the crowd, leaving Nadia alone with Ambrose once more.
He looked at her face, raising one eyebrow. "Is something the matter?"
She quickly shook her head. "No, it's just, I wasn't expecting all this." Her eyes glanced across the bright ballroom.
"Why did you ask me to come, Mr. Romero? There must have been other people who would be better for… this event."
Ambrose tilted his head a little, with a mischievous look in his eyes. "Maybe I wanted to show my coworkers that skill and beauty can go hand in hand."
"That's not a real answer," she said quietly.
He smiled, that charming but unsettling smile she knew well, and moved closer.
"Maybe I don't have an answer that you'd believe."
Before she could speak, the lights went down. The dramatic music of the orchestra changed to a gentler, slower tune. Then the moderator announced the start of the first dance.
Ambrose turned to her. held out his hand. And said…
"Dance with me."
"I… I can't. I haven't danced in a long time."
"I'll guide you," he said said.
And for some reason, that was enough.
Nadia placed her hand in his, and his warm touch made her feel secure. He took her to the dance floor, where other couples were already dancing.
As soon as he put his hand on her waist, her body stiffened.
Because she felt a strange new sensation.
He carried himself with confidence, and she followed him without thinking.
The music became louder. The world around them didn't seem to matter.
When she finally looked up, she saw his eyes, dark and dreamy.
Ambrose Romero. The man she couldn't read, couldn't fully trust, but also… I couldn't stop staring at him.
Something sparked between the both of them, she didn't know if it was danger or desire, or maybe even both.
For the first time in a long time, Nadia felt her heart beat faster for someone.
The dance ended, and the room filled with applause. Ambrose's hand remained on her waist a little longer than it needed to before he stepped back, his emotions difficult to decipher.
"See?"
"It wasn't that hard, was it?"
Nadia giggled, but her voice was quieter than she wanted it to be. "You make it look so easy."
He guided her away from the dancing area, said quick goodbyes to some people, and before she realized, the night had ended.
The ride back was silent. The lights of the city moved by the car windows like shooting stars, their light shining on Ambrose's face. He didn't say anything, and she didn't either, but the quiet between them felt more intense than talking.
When the car pulled up to her building, Nadia paused, her hand on the car door lever. "Thank you for… the night," she said, unsure how else to describe it.
Ambrose looked at her, his face gentler than she'd previously seen. "You surprised me, Miss Reyes."
"In what way?"
He gave a small smile. "You're not part of my life, but somehow, you managed to capture everyone's attention in the room."
She caught her breath, but before she could answer, he nodded to the driver. "Goodnight, Nadia."
The door was opened, and the cool night air met her as she got out of the car.
While Nadia laid in her bed, looking up at the ceiling, her mind crowded with thoughts.
She went to the party as his helper and nothing else, but her heart wouldn't listen to reasoning, his look, hard to read.
This is silly, she thought to herself.
"I shouldn't be doing this."
A man who has secrets you really know about.
But the memory of what he said stuck with her, making it difficult for her to think of anything else.
And for the first time since she made a new life for herself, Nadia wondered if her heart, the same one she thought was completely shattered, had begun to love again.