Her feet followed him on the narrow path across the garden away from the party. But her mind insisted that she saw him again on the other side of the room before they disappeared out of view.
Luisa swore that he was looking at her or maybe at Cole. Well, it was his party, so the Prince was probably his guest. Therefore, she could conclude that he might not be an illusion. She was not going crazy.
"Where are we going this time?" She asked her friend again as they treaded a narrower path beyond the bushes.
These rich people had so much space compared to ordinary folks like her. Suddenly, she remembered her Uncle's house. It was probably as big as this or more.
The backyard alone and the garden was already as big as the park she frequented to jog when she had time. She could not even describe the size of the mansion behind her.
"It is a surprise, just beyond those hedges," Cole answered her. "If I remember right, you used to love looking at these babies."
Babies?
She tried to think of the things she shared with him when they were still friends during their teens. She could think of a few things, but it could be anything. It was such a long time ago.
Then, they stopped at a big separate building from his house. In front of the door was a keypad. He immediately keyed in a six-digit code. Soon, the entire wall panel opened, revealing a large spacious room.
"Here it is..." Cole shouted as the door opened wide. Then, lights flooded the room as he pointed to the content of the brightened room. "My babies. I think you will like them."
Her eyes widened once she saw what he was keeping in there. Her feet moved in their accordance, stepping inside the line separating the outside from the inside.
"I do." She finally answered him as her hands glided on the silver metallic, shiny hood. Her fingers felt the cold surface as the metal sheet made contact with her skin.
It was just the first car, and she was already ecstatic about it. She could see several more lining up the expansive garage from different colors, brands, and various models. They all looked fantastic and in great shape.
"I knew it. I remember how much you enjoyed watching cars pass by. How your eyes lighted up when you saw a particular car you like." Cole enthusiastically said as she continued to inspect one car after another.
Then, she stopped on one of the fastest ones. She particularly liked this one since it was one of the most stable cars in the market that was good for drifting.
"Do you race?" She finally asked as she moved to the side of the car, only dreaming of having something like this.
All she had at the moment was a sedan, while her mom only used a hatchback. At least her Uncle Evan occasionally allowed her to drive his sports car.
"I wish, but I can only go as high as 120 kilometers per hour," Cole admitted as he opened the door for her. "Would you like to take it for a spin?"
"Of course, I like to." She answered immediately, excited to have her hand on the beast of a machine. "Are you going to let me drive this?" She allowed her fingers to glide on the steering wheel before gripping it firmly in her hands.
"Well, I will if you agree with one condition," Cole said as he moved to the other side and settled on the passenger seat.
She thought about it but decided she had nothing to worry about this man. "Ok. What is it?" She could always decline his offer if she disagreed with him anyway.
"Well, you have to go out to dinner with me." Then, he suddenly grabbed a piece of paper from his pocket and gave it to her. "My number is there. So, I will be expecting your call."
Then, he dangled the keys in his hand in front of her, like a carrot to a donkey. Before passing it to her without waiting for her answer.
"What if I do not call you?" She asked as she held the keys in her hand.
"Then, I will call it my bad since I allowed a beautiful woman to dupe me." Cole playfully said, smiling at her with his boyish charm, making her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
Suddenly, she remembered why she used to have a crush on him back in the day. He always knew how to make her smile. He always had his way with words.
It had been a while since a boy complimented her looks. It was mostly her mother, Uncle Evan, and some elderly folks around her neighborhood. And not an attractive boy like Cole.
"What if I crash this car on a pole?" She tried to stir the conversation away from personal topics.
Although she was confident in her ability, accidents could still happen even with the best ones.
She had seen many people who found themselves in car accidents, not through their faults. But with the other drivers who were careless and reckless.
"Then, I can finally test these safety features they kept bragging about and the latest airbag they installed in this car." He cooly leaned on the seat as he buckled his seatbelt and stretched his long legs under the dashboard, making himself comfortable.
"How do you even know I can drive this thing?" Luisa could not help but wonder why he trusted her with a very, very, very expensive car.
"Because I always knew that I could trust you." Cole casually said, genuinely smiling this time. "Now, would you drive, or do you want to return to the party inside?" He was not teasing her this time.
"Fine." She pushed the button on. Then the machine came to life. There was nothing more calming than hearing an engine roaring in the silence. She put the car in neutral and revved the motors, testing its power.
Shifting her hand on the gear, turning the wheel, then stepping on the pedals, the car finally moved out of its confinement. Soon, they were out the gates and running on the open and empty road.
"Why did you buy this if you don't like driving fast?" She finally asked as she tested the car, maintaining a maximum speed of a hundred in a few minutes. Then, increasing its speed slowly.
"Because it looks cool to have one," Cole said as if it was no big deal. Then, after a few more minutes, he turned to her. "But honestly, it is not mine." He casually admitted like it was no big deal.
"What?" She suddenly hit the brakes, almost launching them to the front side. Luckily, the seatbelt worked. But she could already smell some burned rubbers.
"Whose car is this?"