The next day.
"Sorry, I'm late," Belinda announced as soon as she arrived at the venue. Dropping her tote bag inside their catering van and grabbing the next available tray that was filled.
"Where have you been?" Molly whisper yelled. Poking out her head from the catering van. "I can't believe you're late."
"I know, I know, and I'm sorry. And I promise I have a very good reason."
Her friend gave her a stern look.
"Sorry," Belinda winced as she drew past Molly. And she could swear she saw her friend's lips slowly curve to the side.
No matter how hard, Molly tried to appear stern or angry at Belinda. She could never be truly master the expression.
Technically, Molly was Belinda's boss, and the owner of the catering business where she worked part-time, but the woman was also her best friend, and had been so for the last seven years.
Against her will, Belinda let out a chuckle as when remembered Molly's attempt at a stern expression. Her beautiful face stretching into a smile as she stepped into the party, which was taking place a good five kilometers away from where they had packed their van.
It was an exclusive outdoor party in the home of Billionaire tycoon Greyson Rodriguez.
Lights shimmered from all angles. Giving off a romantic setting.
Soft, soothing music played in the background. While the guests stood around in groups, munching on fancy appetizers, and drinking expensive wines and champagne. Conversations in the air.
Belinda felt out of place and at the same time as though she belonged there. It still felt like it was only yesterday that she had been attending parties likes this.
She could easily imagine herself in a Louis Vuitton gown, and perhaps she'd be wearing her Jimmy Choo heels and curled up in one corner, casually sipping her champagne.
Blinking to take that memory out of focus, Belinda cursed herself instantly for going down that memory lane. She should quit thinking like this. About that life. It was over.
White teeth sank into her bottom lips, and Belinda looked down at her black waiter's uniform. At how unflattering it was on her body. And a heavy expression came upon her face. She may be as poor as a church mouse, but she was happy, and that was all that mattered.
With that in mind, Belinda focused on her task. Refilling glasses. Bringing appetizers. Serving drinks and going back and forth, simply catering to the needs of the guests.
Twenty minutes into her job, Belinda was carrying a fresh set of filled glasses when a hand lifted and signaled for her to come.
This group was sitting behind a table, and they were about five or six men on it. All in Tuxedos, and dripping of money, judging by the cut of their tuxes. And simply by that arrogant way, rich men carried themselves. After asking her the type of drink she had to offer on her tray.
One of the men, a scowling bearded man, grabbed a glass and lifted it to his lips. The others took a glass too, except for one of them.
The Blondie who was sitting directly opposite Belinda who couldn't reach the tray without Belinda coming over to the other side where he was sitting to serve him, but the space was cramped.
The blond man must have known this because he said to his friend, "Don't be such an asshole, Hugo, and pass me a glass."
Without appearing that he might have heard, Hugo muttered, "Take it yourself if you want one."
A scowl appeared on the Blondie face, and his green eyes rested helplessly on her.
Belinda sighed. "Don't worry, I will bring it to you."
"Thank you."
Belinda finished handing him a glass and was about to go when she heard, in the most detached voice ever.
"Have you seen Stavros anywhere?"
Belinda froze, and turned to the man whose name was Hugo, but he wasn't talking to her.
The blond man took a look at his watch and sipped his drink casually. "He should be here any moment from now. You know how he gets with functions like this? But he wouldn't miss my sister's birthday party for anything in the world. She'd chew him raw." He chuckled.
From what Belinda understood. This man they were talking about was somehow related to the blonde guy. Heck, he could even be the blonde guy's sister's boyfriend for all she knows.
How could she have thought, for one second, that the two men were the same just because they bore the same name?
This was ridiculous. Seriously, she needs to stop freezing or reacting anytime she heard that name! She could understand they hadn't parted well.
The last she saw Stavros was that day at the pool, he had come to talk to her, but Belinda hadn't wanted to listen.
She must admit she had been pretty hurt Stavros had taken her love for granted, and played her for a fool the way he did with the bet and all that. As a result, she hadn't wanted to see or talk to him, and had tried everything humanly possible to forget him, but she had been unsuccessful.
Her feelings where Stavros was concerned were like a paper clip in a tangled mess. She couldn't pick up one without the rest coming with it. She didn't understand what she had been feeling and was confused. Furthermore, she didn't know if she loved him or if she hated him, or if it was somewhere in between.
So, Belinda had gone to his cottage. She didn't know what she had hoped to achieve by doing that. If she was going to forgive him, forget what he had done or listen to him. But somehow, she knew seeing him would put a name to what she was feeling, would help her clear the mess in her head.
However, to her greatest surprise, when she had reached the little cottage. Stavros was nowhere to be found. He was gone with the wind.
Though she hadn't wanted to admit then, but she had been hurt, he would leave without saying a word to her.
And she was left with her buried, unresolved feelings.
Maybe that was why she was having all these thoughts and behaving the way she had been doing at the sound of his name.
Regardless, how could she have thought even for one minute they were referring to the Stavros she knew?
These men were rich. And now she thought about it. She thought she recognized one of them. The bearded guy, Hugo Gonzalez. He was from one of the richest families in Los Angeles. The man was a business genius and, when his father had died, had elevated his family's fortune single-handedly in more ways than one.
And the blonde man that his family was hosting this party said a lot.
Inwardly, Belinda sighed. Perhaps she was having all these irrational thoughts. Remembering someone who she has refused to think about in years because secretly, somewhere in her mind, she wanted to see him again. Belinda gave her self a firm shake and then turned to go.
"Missed me?"
Belinda whirled around, shocked by the voice that had spoken. It was one she knew very well, despite the fact she hadn't heard it in many years.
Stavros was walking towards them. A grin plastered to his face, which he directed towards his friends. Belinda felt as if someone had knocked her breath out of her body.
His friends were saying something to him, but somehow Belinda couldn't hear a word because all her attention, her eyes, were focused on him. She wasn't sure she knew how to breathe anymore.
Stavros had gotten refined with age. His hair trimmed low to his skull. Giving him a polished look. His face was rugged with scruff. And his eyes — Oh, if she had thought he was handsome before now, he was just... Belinda didn't know how to explain it, but he looked so damn handsome in a black tuxedo, which accentuated his broad shoulders. And with one look, Belinda could tell he was well-built in all the right places underneath.
She wasn't prepared for how that made her feel.
He did always have a striking feature, but age and maturity had made it more refined.
He looked so good, like an eye candy, a far contrast from how he used to look before, or how Belinda used to look before.
The difference was glaring, and enormous. Like they were from different sides of the world. Belinda felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment. Not wanting him to see her like this.
Quickly, Belinda turned to make a hasty escape.
And that was her biggest mistake because somehow the movement caught his attention and he turned and met her gaze.
Everything faded into silence as he pinned her with those piercing eyes.