The Line Between Us - Alejandro Balde Love Story

Chapter 3: First Impressions

The event buzzed with energy, the lights from the city twinkling beyond the terrace of the exclusive venue. My first night in Barcelona as an official model, and I already found myself navigating the chaotic world of fashion and fame. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves simmering beneath my skin. This is what you wanted, Isabella. Own it.

I moved through the crowd, smiling politely when necessary, though I couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place. Everyone seemed to know each other already, laughing and chatting as if they'd been best friends for years. I, on the other hand, was still getting used to being "the new girl."

"Enjoying the view?" a voice interrupted from behind me, cutting through the noise of the crowd.

I turned to find a guy leaning casually against the railing, his dark eyes flicking up to meet mine. He had a smirk that screamed arrogance, the kind of look that made me instinctively put my guard up.

"I guess," I replied, already feeling the urge to move away. I didn't come here to flirt with random strangers.

He straightened, stepping closer, clearly not picking up on—or ignoring—my disinterest. "First time at an event like this?"

I glanced at him, half amused by his attempt at small talk. "Is it that obvious?"

He shrugged. "You've got the look. Like you're not sure if you're supposed to be enjoying yourself or running for the door."

I let out a soft laugh, despite myself. "I guess you could say that."

"I'm Alejandro, by the way." He extended his hand, and I noticed the confidence in his movement, like he expected me to be impressed by his introduction.

"Isabella," I replied curtly, shaking his hand out of politeness.

His eyes lingered on mine a second too long before he let go. "So, what brings you to Barcelona? Career move?"

I raised an eyebrow, unsure why he was so interested. "Yeah, something like that."

"Let me guess—model?"

I sighed internally. Here we go. "Yes, actually."

Alejandro smirked, leaning against the railing again. "Figured. The way you carry yourself, it's kind of obvious."

I wasn't sure if that was meant to be a compliment or just another jab at my profession, but either way, it felt like he was trying to push my buttons. "And what about you?" I asked, changing the subject. "What's your role in all this?"

He paused for a second, as if debating whether or not to answer seriously. "Football," he said with a shrug. "I play for Barça."

Ah. Of course. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "I guess that explains the confidence."

Alejandro chuckled, clearly not offended. "Confidence is just knowing what you bring to the table. You'll get used to that soon enough."

"Right." I couldn't help but feel like he was testing me, waiting to see if I'd crack under the weight of his cocky attitude. But if he thought I was going to fall for the typical footballer charm, he was sorely mistaken.

The conversation shifted, moving between light jabs and sarcastic remarks. Alejandro had a knack for pushing just enough to keep the banter going, but I refused to let him get the upper hand.

"So, are you always this charming, or is it just reserved for new girls?" I asked with a playful smile, hoping to match his energy.

"Only when they can keep up," he shot back, a glint in his eye.

I rolled my eyes, though part of me couldn't deny there was something intriguing about him. Not that I was going to let him know that.

As the night went on, Alejandro kept popping up, somehow always managing to slide into whatever conversation I was having. It was almost annoying how often he appeared, though I couldn't tell if he was doing it on purpose or if this was just his usual routine. Either way, I was determined not to let him think he had any effect on me.

At one point, we found ourselves standing side by side near the bar, the chatter of the crowd buzzing around us. I took a sip of my drink, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye.

"So, is this how you spend your nights? Teasing newcomers and acting like you own the place?"

Alejandro laughed softly. "Only the fun ones."

I rolled my eyes again, though a smile tugged at the corner of my lips. "Well, enjoy the rest of your night. I've got to mingle."

"Sure you don't need a guide?" he asked, leaning a little closer, his voice dropping into a teasing tone.

"I think I can handle myself," I said, stepping away before he could say anything else.

The night wore on, and while Alejandro's presence lingered in the back of my mind, I focused on meeting more people, making connections, and trying to feel like I belonged in this glamorous world. But as the event began to wind down, I found myself back near the terrace, where a few guests were still chatting.

I spotted Alejandro again, this time deep in conversation with a few of his teammates. They were laughing, their voices carrying over the noise of the party. Something about their body language caught my attention, and I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should keep my distance.

But curiosity got the better of me. I moved closer, not enough to be obvious, but just close enough to hear snippets of their conversation.

"Models, man. They're all the same," one of his friends said, chuckling. "So high maintenance."

Alejandro's voice joined in, low and amused. "Yeah, it's all about the look. They've got to keep up the act, right? Pretending they're better than the rest of us." [Cliffhanger 🫢]