𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇 | ᴊᴀᴠɪᴇʀ ᴘᴇɴᴀ |

~ 3 ~

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:

The morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room as I lay in bed, my mind still foggy from a night of restless sleep. Thoughts of yesterday's events swirled in my mind like a tempest, pulling me deeper into the abyss of uncertainty.

I had called in sick to work, unable to face the world outside my door, yet somehow feeling a faint glimmer of relief at the prospect of a day spent in solitude. But even as I lay there, cocooned in the warmth of my blankets, the specter of depression loomed over me, a constant companion that refused to be ignored.

What if I had succeeded yesterday? The thought whispered through my mind like a venomous serpent, its words laced with the seductive promise of oblivion. Would I be feeling this crushing weight of despair, this suffocating emptiness that threatened to consume me whole?

And then there was Javier. His face haunted my thoughts, a puzzle I couldn't unravel. Why had he been so kind to me, a stranger in the throes of despair? What drove him to intervene, to save me from myself?

I reached for the card he had given me, the smooth surface cool against my fingertips. Javier Peña, Sky Realtors Agency CEO. The title held a certain weight, a sense of power and authority that intrigued me.

With a sigh, I grabbed my phone and began to search for information about his company. My fingers trembled slightly as I scrolled through the results, my heart pounding in my chest with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

Los Angeles. The words jumped out at me from the screen, a tantalizing invitation to unravel the mystery that was Javier Peña. Should I go? Was it a foolish impulse driven by desperation, or a chance to uncover the truth behind his enigmatic facade?

Before I could second-guess myself, I hailed a cab and made my way to the address listed for Sky Realtors Agency. The journey was a blur of thoughts and emotions, each passing moment bringing me closer to the answers I sought.

As I stepped into the towering building, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the grandeur that surrounded me.

The receptionist greeted me with a polite smile. "Welcome to Sky Realtor's, how can I help you?"

In a matter of seconds I thought a quick response. "I am a client of Javier Peña, I have a meeting with him."

The girl nodded without wiping off her smile. "Take that elevator up to the eighth floor, on the right you will find Mr. Peña's office," she indicated pointing to my right. "Please wait outside for him to attend to you, as he is in a meeting right now."

I thanked her and proceeded to follow the directions she had given me.

The elevator ride to the top floor seemed to stretch on for an eternity, my nerves fraying with each passing second. But finally, I arrived at Javier's office, my heart pounding in my chest as I stood outside the door, unsure of what to expect.

Minutes passed in silence, the weight of anticipation pressing down on me like a leaden cloak. Just as I was about to give up and leave, the door swung open, and there he was.

A girl came out of the office laughing, while Javier leaned against the door in amusement. "I'll call you to close the deal, as soon as I talk to my agents."

Peña did nothing but wink at the girl, and watch her up and down until she disappeared behind the elevator door.

And then Javier's eyes met mine, a flicker of surprise passing across his features before he schooled his expression into one of warmth and welcome. He beckoned me inside, his demeanor relaxed yet somehow commanding.

The office was spacious and elegant, with a breathtaking view of the California coastline stretching out beyond the window. I took a seat as Javier closed the door behind us, his gaze never leaving mine.

He stood in front of me, resting his hip on the table with his arms crossed. "Why did you come here, Madison?," his voice was gentle yet probing, his eyes searching mine for some hint of understanding.

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I... I don't know," I confessed, feeling the weight of his scrutiny like a physical presence. "I guess I just wanted to... to thank you for yesterday."

Javier's lips quirked into a half-smile, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Is that all?"

I shook my head, my heart pounding in my chest. "No," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I wanted to know why you stopped me. Why you were so kind to me, when you didn't even know me."

Javier's expression softened, his eyes holding mine with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat. "Because you're worth saving, Madison," he said simply, his voice tinged with sincerity. "I couldn't let a beautiful woman like you make that kind of mistake."

His words sent a shiver down my spine, a flutter of excitement mingled with uncertainty. What did he want from me? And why did the thought of seeing him again fill me with both dread and anticipation?

''Stop being so nice to me, I'm pretty sure you are like this with every woman that cross your path.''

Before I could voice my questions, Javier reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, his fingers dancing across the screen with practiced ease.

"Give me your number," he comanded, his voice low and husky. "And your address. I will pick you up tonight for dinner. We can get to know each other better."

An inexplicable feeling of anger invaded my body for a moment. "Are you like this with everyone?"

He let out an inevitable slight chuckle, as if he found the situation amusing. "Are you jealous?," he leaned in close enough to get close enough to me to make me nervous. "That woman was an important client, sometimes I have to use my charms to close good deals."

I hesitated, the gravity of his offer sinking in. But then, with a sense of reckless abandon, I complied, typing my information into his phone with trembling fingers.

As I handed it back to him, our eyes met, a silent understanding passing between us. Javier smiled, his gaze holding mine with a warmth that made my heart flutter.

He handed me his hand to help me get up, and took the chance to leave a kiss the palm of it. "Be ready by nine tonight, don't make me wait," he said softly, his voice a promise lingering in the air.

And with that, I left his office, my mind reeling with the possibilities of what the evening might bring.

[To be continued...]