“Uh… I’m having lunch. Well… Lunch break is almost over. Um… Okay… All right. I guess you’ll call me when you get here, right…?” she murmurs.
Her hesitation makes me pause.
“Yeah, yeah… Of course. I’ll call you as soon as I know more.”
We end the call, and my phone goes next to me before I push to my feet, walk to the stretch of windows and peer outside.
A few people swim in the pool. Farther away, people jog.
I plan to have a nice walk before heading downstairs for lunch. I no longer want to eat by myself in the room.
Kai must be gone, and his father and his people are in a meeting room in the hotel.
I’ll try to avoid running into people I don’t want to see.
I follow my plan, spend an hour outside, come back, take a shower, change my clothes, and head downstairs.
I go straight to the terrace and have a light lunch––salad, shrimp ceviche, fruit, and coffee.
I am merely out of my seat, walking toward the entrance, when my phone rings.
It’s Bryce, Em’s cousin.
He didn’t expect me to answer, and he was wondering if I was still here.
Talking to him, I enter the lobby and find a comfortable armchair to sit in and continue my conversation when a man grabs my attention.
I give him a double look.
He exits a black Ferrari in front of the hotel and walks through the main door.
Without stopping, he makes a beeline for the concierge desk.
A couple of people greet him, and they exchange words when I excuse myself, end my conversation with Bryce, and saunter to him.
It’s him.
Roman Cardenas.
I freeze in place, not knowing what to do. I’m not sure if I want to talk to him. On the other hand, I’m curious and want to find out why he’s here.
He was supposed to leave, wasn’t he?
He spins around and catches sight of me just as I’m about to retreat.
Shit. I smile.
Awkward.
He, um…
He has a little smile on his lips, like a crumb of cake you want to brush off. Only I can’t brush it off.
He doesn’t move in my direction.
Why would he?
I square my shoulders and walk to him. I wear my black dress, the one I wore when I met Alejandro on Saturday morning.