Chapter 43 - Chapter 43 - The Meeting at the Restaurant

The long-awaited day when Gustavo will meet Kendall's friends finally arrives. The meeting was scheduled at a renowned restaurant in Los Angeles, and everyone was eager to meet the man who had brought so much happiness to Kendall in the last few days.Kendall and her friends are already seated at a spacious table, waiting for Gustavo to arrive. Gigi, Bella, Hailey, Justin and Fai are curious and exchanging comments while they wait. When Gustavo arrives, he parks his car calmly and safely. He wears a casual jacket, but with impeccable style that highlights his confident posture. Under the jacket, he discreetly carries his gun on his waist, something common for someone with his military background and international permission to carry and possess weapons.Upon entering the restaurant, Gustavo immediately draws everyone's attention, not only for his appearance, but for the air of confidence and leadership he exudes. The girls, in particular, cannot hide their surprise. Bella, always observant, whispers to Hailey:"Wow, he really is everything Kendall said... and more!" —Hailey agrees, smiling:"He's impressive. Look at how confident he is. Definitely an ex-military man."Gustavo walks to the table, smiling when he sees Kendall, who immediately stands up to greet him. They exchange a warm hug, and Kendall smiles from ear to ear, feeling safe by his side. Gustavo then greets Kendall's friends politely and firmly."Gustavo, these are my friends: Gigi, Bella, Hailey, Justin and Fai" — introduces Kendall."It's a pleasure to finally meet you all" — says Gustavo, with his deep and calm voice, shaking each one's hand, looking into their eyes genuinely.The girls, especially Gigi and Bella, are visibly enchanted by Gustavo's imposingness. Internally, they congratulate Kendall for being with such an impressive man. Justin, who is also paying attention, recognizes the kind of presence Gustavo exudes and thinks to himself:"This guy has a strong leadership energy. I can see why Kendall is so happy."During the first few moments, Kendall looks around with pride. She knew her friends would be impressed with Gustavo, but she didn't expect the connection to be so instant. The group quickly engages in a relaxed conversation, with Gustavo sharing light stories of his travels around the world, his past missions, but always in a subtle way and without revealing too much.