'Finally… I'm free,' thought Sheila as she let out a sigh.
Despite having made a deal with the old lady in which she promised not to say anything about their encounter, somehow, and before she realized it, she had been given a business card.
'Margaret Grey…' Sheila read the name silently as she looked at the card.
Putting it away in her purse, Sheila headed towards the elevator.
Upon reaching the ground floor, she saw that the staff was busy attending to some people dressed in suits.
After waiting a few seconds, those men headed to the elevator, completely ignoring Sheila's presence.
Approaching the counter, Sheila asked to be directed to the restaurant.
A friendly employee nodded and escorted her through the hotel's spacious and luxurious lobby.
They passed by a series of sofas and armchairs elegantly arranged around low tables, where some guests were chatting quietly or reading.
The soft ceiling lights cast a warm glow that contrasted with the polished marble floor.
As they walked, the sound of a nearby fountain filled the air with a soothing murmur.
Turning a corner, Sheila noticed an art gallery with modern paintings hanging on the walls.
Each piece was carefully illuminated, adding a cultural touch to the refined ambiance of the hotel.
The restaurant was on the same floor, at the end of a corridor adorned with large ceramic potted plants and discreet light fixtures guiding the way.
As they approached, the murmur of conversations and the gentle clinking of cutlery became clearer.
The people inside the restaurant were few, but very well-dressed.
Near the entrance, the doorman asked:
"Do you have a reservation?"
"Excuse me, she is a guest of our hotel," replied one of the employees accompanying her, and within seconds, they let Sheila through.
"If you need anything else, please feel free to come to the reception. We'll be waiting there," said one of the employees before leaving.
Sheila entered the restaurant accompanied by a waiter who noticed her immediately.
"Are you alone?"
"Yes."
"Please, follow me."
The waiter led her to a table near a large window offering an impressive view of the city illuminated by night lights. Sheila settled into her seat, enjoying the view.
"Would you like to start with a drink?"
"A glass of water, please," Sheila responded as she grabbed the menu and opened it to examine the options.
The truth was she didn't want to drink more, as tomorrow was the day she would meet with her family, but seeing the wine options…
◇◆◇
"Excellent move, Ethan!" said a female voice, clapping to congratulate her friend's victory.
"Damn it, Ethan! How dare you do this to me?" shouted an angry man as he threw some cards and stood up in fury.
"Ha, ha, ha… Mr. Grey, good move, but… could you stop betting like that?"
"True… Ethan is betting more than usual. Did something happen on your trip?" the girl asked Leo.
Despite having won a good amount of money from his friend, Ethan didn't feel anything.
"Double or nothing, you bastard!" shouted the furious man, pointing at Ethan.
"Benjamin, enough. You've humiliated yourself enough today. You'll never beat Ethan at poker."
"Lily, shut up! Leo… what are my chances of beating Ethan?"
"I'm not your assistant, but if we talk about probabilities… I'd say it's less than 1%," Leo explained calmly.
"See, Lily? It's not zero!"
"This brainless idiot," said Lily, letting out a sigh.
"Shut up, coward. You always fold in the first round. Are you here to play or to run?" Benjamin retorted, thinking about how to beat Ethan.
"Coward? It's common sense, you moron!"
As those two began arguing, Leo leaned closer to Ethan, who seemed thoughtful.
"Sir… did something bad happen?"
"No…"
Ethan stood up, and all his friends fixed their eyes on him.
"What? Is it time to drink?" asked Benjamin, starting to smile.
"What's wrong, Ethan?" asked Lily, worried.
"I'm hungry. Want to go get something to eat? My treat," declared Ethan in a serious tone.
For some reason, he couldn't get that girl out of his head.
Her innocence, her look, how distracted she was…
"That would be justice, man!" said Benjamin as he threw his cards on the table.
"Benjamin… scoundrel."
Everyone left the game room and took an elevator to go to a restaurant.
On their way, they encountered a doorman who didn't hesitate to let them in upon recognizing Ethan's face.
Soon, a waiter attended to them and began guiding them upstairs.
Everything seemed to be going as usual. Ethan returning from another business trip, meeting up with his friends to have a good time together, celebrating Ethan's achievements.
Although, of course, sometimes they also gathered to celebrate Benjamin's good news or Lily's victories at work. They were an odd group of friends, but they made Ethan happy.
But today, something was different…
Ethan felt something different, but he didn't understand what it was.
Benjamin and Lily kept arguing while Leo tried to calm them, knowing today was not a good day for his boss.
Before finishing climbing the stairs, Ethan's gaze met a girl he quickly recognized, but…
Was it her?
For a moment, he rubbed his eyes, thinking it was a joke.
Ethan didn't believe in destiny.
Maybe it was just a girl very similar to the one he met at the airport!
'No, it can't be her,' Ethan repeated to himself over and over, looking at his friends and then back at the woman.
Treit was alone!
She looked happy, her face flushed while drinking alcohol and devouring all the food in front of her.
Whether it was really her or not, he would only know if he approached to talk to her again.
'Should I try?'