Hidden Tracks | ✓

27 | pining and anticipation

The atmosphere was tense when we returned to our Madrid hotel.

We'd planned to stay the night here, and return to London the following morning. As we went back to our hotel rooms to change into our regular clothes, I kept on pondering over what we'd found out at the gala.

So Caldwell and Rubio used to be friends, but then they had a falling out? Did that mean Caldwell knew about Rubio's drug-related activities? Was that why they fell out, when Caldwell got to know Rubio was actually a druglord?

This had happened a few months ago, according to the man I danced with. Caldwell had reportedly witnessed Rubio and his waiters at Bon Appétit only about a month back.

This meant they already had bad blood when Caldwell witnessed Rubio there. But I still didn't understand why he and Amélie had to go so far as to seek out witness protection for this matter.

I mean, he was a politician and restaurateur. She was a prominent designer. Together, they could've arranged for enough security and resources to protect themselves.

Sighing, I came out of the shower and changed into a sweatshirt and trousers. I was feeling incredibly tired and jet lagged.

Just then, I got a message from Miranda, asking me to meet at her room to discuss the incidents at the gala.

I let out a groan and trudged up to her room. She let me in and I flopped down on her bed.

A few seconds later, Soler came in too. I didn't bother greeting him.

Miranda began. "So, we found out some vital things today. Number 1, we confirmed Caldwell and Rubio were friends, and 2, we found out that they're, well, not friends anymore."

Soler nodded. "Yeah, and apparently they had a really bad falling out, otherwise Rubio wouldn't have reacted that way when I brought up Caldwell's name."

"The man I danced with mentioned that they haven't been friends for a few months now. And Caldwell apparently saw Rubio at his restaurant a month back. So that means their relationship had already turned sour by that time. But I still don't get why Caldwell and Beaumont would be so scared that they'd go for witness protection," I said.

"Maybe since Caldwell already knew Rubio as a friend before, he knew what Rubio was capable of. He knew Rubio could easily carry out any death threat he issued. Maybe that's why he and Amélie went for witness protection when they saw the drug smuggling and got Rubio's threats at the restaurant," Miranda offered.

I nodded. "That could be true. But I still don't have a right feeling about this in my gut, I don't know why."

After that, we discussed the case for some more time until we decided enough was enough and we desperately needed a good night's sleep.

Wishing Miranda goodnight, I headed out of her room with Soler.

Once we were out in the corridor, I tried to step past him to go back to my room, but he put a hand on the wall to block my path.

I glared at him. "What do you think you're doing?"

He glared back. "Trying to ask you why the hell you decided to suddenly snap at me back at the gala."

I scoffed. "Why, is it so wrong for a teammate to call out another teammate for not doing their work?"

"Really? You think I wasn't doing my work?"

"Yes! What did you do besides chatting up Rubio and dancing with Miranda all night?"

His green eyes flashed. "Are you dense? And you think you did so much? All I saw you do was flirt with random men and dance with freaking creeps out there! Some of them were drunk! What if they'd laid their hands on you?"

I gaped at him. "Don't tell me you're actually worried, you jerk! And I got the most important information we found tonight from the man I was dancing with, you know? Something which you're so conveniently forgetting."

I didn't realise our faces had come a bit too close during our war of words, but I refused to back down. Our breaths came out laboured, both of us exhausted but angry.

Soler's eyes were this intense shade of forest green. I'd always secretly liked the colour, but I'd never admit that to him. Now, in the dimly lit corridor, they seemed even darker and, well, greener.

After a few seconds of this sudden tension, Soler looked away. "You know what? I don't have the energy to do this right now."

"Then why did you start this in the first place?" I snapped at him.

"Because--! God, you're really, really stupid, you know that right?"

I scoffed. "How am I stupid?! You're the one who started this entire pointless conversation! If it weren't for you I'd be sleeping in my bed right now."

Suddenly, he leaned in close to me, our noses almost touching. My back was against the wall, and I had no way of escaping. My agent instincts threatened to kick in, but I reminded myself this was Soler, and not a murderer on the run.

He rested his hand on the wall beside me as he leaned in, and I panicked. "What do you think you're doing--"

"I'm telling you, Winter, that you're stupid, because you really don't understand what's right in front of your eyes," he whispered, his voice low and eyes blazing.

My heart rate had gone up. What was happening?

"What the hell do you mean?" I whispered back.

After a long, tense moment, he sighed, stepping back and running a hand through his hair. Suddenly, the air around me felt very empty, devoid of any warmth.

"Nothing, forget what I said. I wasn't thinking straight," he finally said.

"No," I pressed, "Obviously you were trying to say something."

He turned away from me and began walking towards his room. "I think I had too much champagne tonight. Go to sleep, Winter."

I stared after him as he walked back to his room. What the hell was that?

Did the alcohol really affect his brains, or was he actually trying to say something? I could never understand this man. Ugh.  Complicated, useless moron.

Confused, sleepy and extremely flustered, I went to bed.

a/n: man, i wish i had this much sexual tension with a guy in my life. huh.