Irresistible Intentions**On Hold**

Chapter 5: Burned

As I walked side by side along Lorenzo in Central Park sipping on my hot chocolate, I could see why he was recently dubbed one of New York City's hottest bachelors. Yes, I quickly googled him in the bathroom as I showered and got ready for our day out. Even dressed simply in dark jeans tan boots and a white henley; he caused women's heads to turn and eyes to gravitate towards him.

Hell, I couldn't resist keeping my eyes off him. The confidence he exhuberated was downright sexy. The weird part of it all was that he seemed to have no idea women were practically foaming at the mouth with drool at his very existence. Either that or he was extremely oblivious.

I was so grateful that we stopped by my room so that I could shower and change. Something told me I wouldn't last thirty minutes touring the Big Apple in heels. "Make sure you wear something comfortable on your feet." Lorenzo said as he knocked on the bathroom door with a chuckle.

The only comfortable clothes I brought were my pajamas, a couple pair of tights, and a pair of skinny jeans. The only sensible shoes I thought to bring were my black ballerina flats. So I paired them with the jeans and a tight white cami with a black blazer. My hair was thrown haphazardly into a low bun. I didn't have time to doll myself up, nor did I want to make Lorenzo wait around for me to do so.

"So how do you like New York so far compared to home?" Lorenzo asked stopping at an empty bench to sit down. We'd been walking for the better part of an hour.

"It's a beautiful place, but it seems too...crowded." I answered after a moment of trying to find the right word. What do you expect for the city that never sleeps? I'm more of a west coast, sunshine and beaches type girl.

My cell phone ringing caused me to curse under my breath and excuse myself for a moment. Standing up to walk away from the bench, I answered my phone in a hushed tone. Why I was whispering was beyond me, it's not like Lorenzo would be able to hear the person on the other line.

"Hi papi, how are you feeling?"

"Hello Ava. I'm much better." My father's gruff voice came through the receiver, I could hear my mother in the background yelling at him to get back in bed. "I reviewed the contract changes that you emailed to me yesterday." His voice began rising in anger. "You can tell that son of a thirsty blood sucking leech that the merger is a no go. What do they take me for some sort of an idiot?"

My eyes widened as I heard a few muffled voices, obviously my mother snatched the phone from his hands because next thing I knew she was speaking to me. "Honey, you handle the contract however you see fit. Your father will be out of work for at least the rest of this week. We trust your decisions."

I begged to differ with the way my father was cursing in spanish telling Star Corporations exactly where they could shove it. As I hung up with my mother, I spun around and my eyes instantly narrowed at the sight before me.

I have no idea why disappointment washed over me or why I even thought someone like Lorenzo Alvarez didn't have a long list of women at his beck and call. I should have followed my first insticts about not mixing business with pleasure.

Lorenzo was standing with his back towards me speaking very intimately to a tall brunette dressed in a sports bra and some tights. The way her eyes sparkled as she laughed at whatever he was saying and the playful way she would smack her hand against his chest led me to believe they were more than mere acquaintances with one another.

Not wanting to interrupt their flirt fest, I considered leaving and hailing myself a taxi back to my hotel. My parents didn't raise me to be rude and walking off without telling Lorenzo where I was going would just be downright inconsiderate. I felt as though I at least owed him that much after he allowed me to stay at his place last night and took the day off work to show me around.

Dropping my cellphone into my crossbody bag, I made my way back over to Lorenzo's side. The brunette did a quick double take as I stopped next to him. If I had to be honest with myself, she was gorgeous even standing there with her hair in a messy ponytail and her face make-up free.

"Hey, um listen sorry to interrupt, but I need to get going." I admitted with a small smile. There was absolutely no reason for me to hang around New York any longer since there would be no merger. "I wanted thank you for dinner, uh everything from last night, and today. I also wanted to let you know someone from MKG will be in touch."

"Is eveything ok?" A look of confusion overcame Lorenzo's face at my abrupt announcement, but my swift head nod told him I was fine. "Ok then...at least let me see you back to your hotel."

"NO!" My cheeks flushed red at the way I threw my hands out to somehow stop him from getting any closer to me. "I mean no, that won't be necessary. I can find my way back. Thank you again for everything."

A dainty but obvious cough meant to interrupt our moment caused Lorenzo and I to turn towards the brunette. She thrust her hand forward with confidence. "Hi, I'm Sophia, Lorenzo's girlfriend...and you are?"

"Just leaving." I responded with an arched eyebrow. I usually didn't have an ignorant bone in my body, but something about this woman rubbed me the wrong way. With that said, I spun around and began making my way towards the street in search of a taxi.

I can't believe he asked me out to dinner and I actually thought he was interested in getting to know me. Bravo to Lorenzo for a strategic move on the business chess board. Thank goodness he didn't take my drunken serenade seriously, otherwise running into his girlfriend would've be extremely awkward.

I could hear Sophia giving Lorenzo a hard time about my comment that we had dinner and spent the night together. Good, he deserves it. I wondered what his response was. Did he tell her it was strictly business? OMG, I kissed him and he has a girlfriend. I'm an awful person!

Sitting in the taxi on the way back to the hotel, I mentally chided myself for falling for Lorenzo's tricks. You should've known better than to trust that he was a good guy. I thought as I booked the next flight back home. This was the main reason why I didn't do relationships. I didn't trust men. I've been burned one too many times in the past that I learned to stay far away from the flames.