One night in Barcelona

Chapter 2

Enjoy reading, lovieess!<3

CHAPTER 2

STARA woke up at exactly five in the morning. She lay in bed for a few moments, staring at the ceiling as a wave of mixed emotions hit her. Sad—her friends couldn’t join her on this trip. She had envisioned late-night chats with them in Spain, laughing over glasses of wine. But it wasn’t meant to be. Excited, on the other hand, because she was finally returning to her favorite place in the world—Barcelona.

With a sigh, Stara forced herself to get up and head to the shower. The cold water jolted her senses awake, and as she scrubbed away the last remnants of sleep, her mind shifted from the melancholy of her friends’ absence to the thrill of the adventure awaiting her. Barcelona. The thought of walking through the city’s cobblestone streets, eating tapas in hidden cafes, and finally seeing La Sagrada Familia again, brought a smile to her face. She hadn’t been back in years, and the city held a special place in her heart.

After her shower, she stood in front of the mirror and ran her fingers through her damp hair. Okay, time to look presentable, she thought to herself. She picked out a fitted scarlet dress, the one that hugged her curves just right, falling just below her knees. She paired it with sleek stiletto heels—something that made her feel both powerful and elegant. The combination was perfect: bold, yet understated.

As soon as she was ready, Stara grabbed her suitcase, its wheels softly clicking against the wooden floor as she made her way downstairs. The house was quiet except for the faint hum of the early morning news coming from the living room. Her father was already awake, sipping his morning coffee, his usual routine.

“Dad,” she greeted softly, walking up to him. He glanced up from his newspaper, a slight smile on his lips.

“Alis ka na?” he asked, his voice carrying a hint of reluctance. Despite knowing she was grown up and capable, her father’s protective nature always shone through.

“Mmhm,” she nodded, leaning in to kiss his cheek. “I’ll be fine, Dad. Don’t worry.”

Her father simply nodded, but she could see the worry in his eyes as he returned to his coffee. She gave him one last smile before turning to leave.

Outside, Karsen, was already waiting by the car. The cool morning air nipped at her skin, and she watched as Karsen quickly came to her side, taking the suitcase from her hands and placing it in the trunk.

“Good morning, Miss Stara,” he greeted with a smile as he opened the backseat door for her.

“Good morning, Karsen,” she replied, climbing into the backseat. Once inside, Karsen got behind the wheel and started the engine. The soft purr of the car was comforting as they pulled away from the house and headed toward the airport.

Stara stared out of the window, her thoughts drifting. Halfway through the drive, her phone beeped. Glancing at the screen, she saw an unknown number calling. With a sigh, she answered it, but the line immediately cut off.

“Argh, bullshit,” she muttered under her breath, annoyed by the abrupt end. A second later, her phone beeped again. This time, the caller ID flashed the name Chris. Her mood darkened.

Chris. Her so-called lover from last week. They had met at a bar; he was charming, confident, and undeniably attractive. They danced, flirted, and exchanged numbers. But the more she got to know him, the less interested she became. And now, here he was, calling her this early in the morning.