𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇 | 𝓙𝓪𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓻 𝓟𝓮𝓷𝓪 |

~ 6 ~

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

I walked alongside Javier, trying to maintain a composed exterior despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me. We headed to a quiet, upscale restaurant a few blocks from my office. The place exuded a calm sophistication, a stark contrast to the tumultuous feelings brewing within me.

Once seated, a waiter handed us menus, but I barely glanced at mine. I wasn’t hungry, not with the tension from earlier still simmering in my veins. Instead, I ordered a simple iced tea, much to Javier’s visible concern.

"You’re not eating?," he asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

"I'm not really hungry," I replied curtly, avoiding his eyes.

Javier sighed, his expression softening. "Madison, how are you holding up? After what happened the other day, I thought you’d be doing better by now."

His concern caught me off guard. I stiffened, not wanting to delve into my feelings with him. "I'm fine, Peña," I said briskly. "Just busy with work. Now, what did you want to talk about?"

Javier gave me a long, searching look but didn’t push further. "Alright," he said, leaning back in his chair. "I've been looking into your company. I need a good law firm, and the one I’m using right now is... well, let's just say they're not up to my standards."

I raised an eyebrow, skepticism coloring my tone. "You want to hire my firm?"

"Why not?" he replied smoothly, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "You're one of the best law company I've ever seen, as I've been investigating, and I saw I can trust you to handle my business interests with the same tenacity you showed in that meeting."

Despite myself, I felt a flicker of pride at his words. But I wasn’t about to let him see that. "This isn’t just a game to me, Peña. If we take you on as a client, it's strictly business. No personal nonsense."

He chuckled, a low, warm sound that sent an unexpected thrill through me. "Strictly business. Got it. But you can"t blame a guy for trying to mix a little pleasure with business, can you?"

I narrowed my eyes, determined to keep my composure. "I can, and I do. So let's keep this professional."

Javier's expression turned serious, though the playful spark in his eyes remained. "Understood, Madison. On a serious note, I believe we could work well together. Your firm's reputation is impeccable, and I need someone I can rely on."

I studied him for a moment, weighing his words. "What exactly are you looking for in a legal team?"

"Competence, integrity, and someone who won't back down when things get tough," he said, his gaze locking onto mine. "I think you fit that bill perfectly."

His sincerity took me by surprise, and I found myself nodding slowly. "Alright, Peña. We'll consider taking you on as a client. But I need to discuss this with my partners and boss first."

"Of course," he said, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "I appreciate your consideration, Ms. Rose."

"Miss Rose," I corrected him.

This made him smile. He leaned his back in the chair and looked me. "Good to know that you are not married, I'll remove that from my 'why doesn't she love me' list."

I rolled my eyes. "You are so annoying."

"That's how you talk to future clients?," he asked trying to look mad, but I just couldn't take him seriously.

As the waiter returned with our drinks, Javier’s hand brushed against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I pulled my hand back quickly, pretending to adjust my napkin. Javier’s eyes twinkled with amusement, but he said nothing.

He looked at me asking with his eyes if I changed my mind, but I still didn't want to eat anything, so he just ordered a salad for himself.

"So, what’s your next move?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation back to business.

"Expanding," he replied, taking a sip of his beer. "I have several projects lined up that require top-notch legal expertise. It's a big opportunity for your firm."

I nodded, my mind already racing with possibilities. "We'll need to review the specifics, but it sounds promising."

Javier leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "You know, Madison, I admire your dedication. It's one of the things that drew me to you."

I met his gaze, refusing to let his words fluster me. "Thank you, Peña. But let's keep this focused on the business at hand."

His smile widened, a hint of challenge in his eyes. "As you wish, Miss Rose. But remember, business and pleasure aren't always mutually exclusive. And you can call me just Javi."

Ignoring his flirtation, I drinked from my tea. "As a professional myself, I'll keep Peña," I assured. "When do you want to start the process?"

"As soon as possible," he urged.

The waiter came again with his food interrupting us. "Enjoy sir," the waiter said and then left.

I looked over my phone to check my boss availability. "Can you have a meeting tomorrow at ten in the morning?," he nodded his head his his mouth full of food. "Great, I'll give a call to my boss to confirm it and give him all the details."

I finished my drink. "Are you leaving?," he asked when he saw me taking my things.

"If you don't mind, I have personal things to do," I forced a smile.

His hand took my wrist making me feel a sudden electricity gowing up my skin. "I actually mind," he frowned. "Are those things more important than me?"

I removed my hand from his. "For me, yes, for you, I know it won't, as you see yourself as the most important person in the world."

He nodded. "In fact I am one of the most important in the world," he winked an eye on me.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll text you Peña, enjoy your food," I took my purse.

"Thank you, take care of yourself Madison," he said as I left the place.

I couldn’t help but wonder what I had gotten myself into. Javier Peña was a force to be reckoned with, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for the storm he brought into my life. But one thing was certain: things were about to get very interesting.

[To be continued...]