Why Don't You STAY

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

As we sauntered into the bar, the bartender's eyes landed on Olivia, and he flashed her a charming smile. "Hey ladies, what can I get ya?" he asked, his gaze lingering on Olivia. She giggled and playfully rolled her eyes. "Ummm, I'll have a Virgin Mojito, please," she said with a sly smirk, clearly enjoying the attention.

The bartender's eyes shifted to me, and his expression turned slightly more serious. "And for you, miss?" he asked, his tone polite but with a hint of curiosity. I smiled sweetly. "I'm not allowed to have alcohol, so yeah, I'll have a Shirley Temple, please." The bartender nodded and gave Olivia a side-eye before turning back to mix our drinks. "Coming right up," he said with a hint of sarcasm, clearly amused by Olivia's flirtatious nature.

As we chatted and laughed, our drinks arrived, and I took a sip of my sweet, fruity concoction. Just then, a voice chimed in from behind me. "Heyy!" Ace's familiar voice made me turn around, and I smiled as I caught his eye. Olivia was still engrossed in conversation with the bartender, so I focused on Ace.

As I turned towards him, I noticed Victoria's eyes locked onto us from across the room, her gaze flicking between Ace and me with interest. I tried to brush it off, focusing on Ace instead. He leaned in close, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Your dad said he's going to call you up soon, so don't go anywhere," he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. As he pulled back, he gave me a thumbs-up and a mischievous grin before disappearing into the crowd.

I nodded, my eyes inadvertently meeting Victoria's again. She was chatting with a group of guests, but her attention seemed divided, and I could've sworn she was listening in on our conversation. I pushed the thought aside and turned towards Olivia, who was practically bouncing with excitement.

"What's got you so pumped up?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. Olivia grabbed my arm and pulled me aside, her eyes sparkling. "He gave me his number! He wants to meet me!" she squealed, her voice barely above a whisper.

I laughed and playfully rolled my eyes. "Well, that's great! You're definitely making an impression," I teased, grinning at her enthusiasm. Olivia beamed, her face lighting up with excitement. "If you need me, I'm right here, you know," I said, smiling reassuringly.

The party went on, and we mingled with a few more people, chatting and laughing into the night. The music pulsed around us, and the atmosphere was lively and carefree. As I glanced around the room, I caught Victoria's eye again, and for a moment, our gazes locked, the connection between us palpable. But I pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the music and the laughter, letting the night carry me away.

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The dimly lit room was abuzz with excitement as Dad stepped onto the small stage, his charismatic presence commanding attention from the crowd. The sound system crackled to life, and the mic feedback squealed briefly before Dad's smooth voice filled the room. "Attention, please!" he said, tapping the mic to ensure everyone's focus was on him. The crowd quieted down, anticipation hanging in the air like a palpable mist. The room was filled with familiar faces, all smiling and chatting, but with a hint of curiosity in their eyes. Olivia stood beside me, her eyes shining with excitement, while her parents chatted with a group of friends a few feet away. I felt a sense of pride watching Dad work the room, his confidence and charm infectious.

"I welcome you all to this party, and I'm sure you're all wondering why I've gathered you here tonight," Dad said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Hernandez's never keeps a party without a reason, and I've been itching to reveal this one for a while now." The crowd chuckled, intrigued by the hint of excitement in Dad's voice. As Dad continued, his words painted a picture of growth and expansion. "As you all know, I own one of the biggest entrepreneurial businesses, and I've been busy growing it over the years. Recently, I've decided to partner up with my branch in Spain with a very special person. Not my whole business, mind you, just the Spain branch - I'm not always there, after all."