Page 19 of Stronger Than Fate

“At midnight”

Me:

I got home and went straight to bed to try to rest a bit. The night before, with everything that had happened with Henry, I hadn't slept a wink, and if I was going to stay up late, I needed to try to sleep. Besides, my head hurt a little and I knew it was from lack of sleep.

I woke up at five in the afternoon and was amazed at how long I'd slept, but I was glad to notice that my headache had disappeared. I made myself a coffee and drank it leisurely on the balcony. At six, I went to the hotel's hair salon and asked them to fix my hair a bit. They gave me some natural waves that gave me a casual look, and I took the opportunity to have them do my makeup. The girls went crazy because they loved my eyes and highlighted them with a beautiful smoky effect, and they enhanced my lips with a natural color. When I got back to the suite, I went straight to the closet to choose what to wear and, after much deliberation and trying things on, I decided on a black leather skirt and a tank top also in that color. Even though I was going out at night and the place would surely be dark, I was convinced that black was always an option. To contrast it, I paired it with black and silver strappy sandals. I looked at myself in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction. It was almost eight when I checked the clock again. At that moment, I remembered Henry's call, but I assumed that with what I had told him, he would have dismissed the invitation.

Once again, I assumed wrong.

At eight o'clock sharp, there was a knock at my door. I headed there convinced that this man always did whatever he pleased.

“Who is it?”

“Henry Woollardy.”

I rolled my eyes and opened the door determined to tell him what he deserved, but when I saw him, the words got stuck in my throat. His cologne reached my nostrils and my body shuddered. He was dressed casually in black jeans and a white shirt, and he was quite a sight to behold. He observed me without blinking and didn't say anything that would help my intellect wake up. When our eyes met, I felt that connection I always felt with him again; I don't know what it was, but it was palpable.

“Henry, what are you doing here? I told you I wasn't going out with you. I have other plans,” I said, feigning a calmness I didn't feel.

Before answering me, he looked me over again.

“You look beautiful.”

“That's not the answer to my question.”

“I came for you. I told you I don't take 'no' for an answer. May I come in?”

“No.”

“Don't be funny.”

“I'm not being funny at all, and I don't have time because I need to finish getting ready to leave.”

“It seems to me you don't need anything else, except my hand or my arm to take and go to dinner, unless you want to have dinner here, which is fine by me.”

“Henry, I don't want to keep arguing, really. I also don't want to go out with you.”

“I'm going to stay right here until you let me in, and I assure you I will. We need to talk.”

“Ok, come in,” I said, defeated, and moved aside to let him enter.

When I turned to look at him, he was standing in the middle of the living room, observing everything very carefully.

“I always thought this hotel was spectacular, what I didn't know was that you lived in it, my sister told me. I congratulate you because this place is also impressive. Do you like living here?” he asked, and looked into my eyes with that gaze that managed to make me tremble.

“I wouldn't change it. Have a seat,” I indicated, pointing to the long sofa.

“Do your brothers live here too?” he asked, as he sat down.

“No; they don't like the bustle of the hotel, each one has their own apartment.”

“So, you live alone,” he stated.

“I live alone, although saying that when you live in a hotel isn't very accurate.”

He smiled and I can assure you that the room lit up with his smile.

“Dalina, I was very wrong about you and I won't get tired of apologizing.”