**Chapter 13: More Than Business**
Lía sat across from Diego at their usual table in the small but elegant restaurant, her hands wrapped around a warm cup of tea. The dim lights above cast a soft glow over the polished wood of the table, creating an intimate ambiance. Diego was speaking about his latest project, his voice low but passionate, the words flowing effortlessly.
For the past week, their dinners had become a routine—business at first, but gradually evolving into something more personal. Diego had begun to open up, telling her stories of his youth, of the struggles he had faced growing up in a family that had not always been supportive of his ambition. Lía listened, fascinated. She had never met someone so driven, yet so genuine in his desire to connect with others.
But despite the growing comfort between them, Lía knew better than to mistake these moments for anything more than what they were. Diego was kind, attentive, and clearly interested in her, but she wasn't ready to open her heart again. Not after everything that had happened with Alejandro.
"I never asked you about your family," Diego said, his gaze fixed on her. "I'm sure you have an interesting story to tell."
Lía hesitated, the words hanging in the air. Her past was complicated—too complicated to explain over dinner. She had learned the hard way that some parts of her life were better left unsaid.
"My family's… complicated," she said softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "But that's not something I want to focus on right now."
Diego raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing her reluctance. "Fair enough," he said, his tone understanding but still laced with curiosity. "But you know, sometimes it's good to talk about these things. Especially when you're dealing with a lot."
Lía smiled again, but this time it didn't reach her eyes. "Maybe. But I've learned to keep some things to myself. It's easier that way."
She could feel the shift in the air—the understanding that came from the unspoken acknowledgment that they weren't talking about work anymore. But despite the intimacy of the moment, Lía was careful to keep her distance. Diego's kindness was refreshing, but she wasn't ready to let anyone in.
As Diego continued to talk, Lía's thoughts wandered. She couldn't deny the way his presence made her feel, the way he seemed to take an interest in her beyond the professional façade. But deep down, she knew she wasn't looking for another relationship. Not yet, anyway. She had too much to figure out, too much healing to do.
The next morning, Lía returned to the office, her mind still occupied with the conversation from last night. Diego was becoming more than just her employer—he was someone she could talk to, someone who made her feel seen. But that didn't mean she was ready to complicate things. She had learned the hard way that mixing business with personal feelings was never a good idea.
As she settled into her desk, a small, timid voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Excuse me, are you… Lía?"
Lía looked up, surprised to see a young boy standing in front of her desk. He was no older than twelve, his clothes neat but slightly worn, and his glasses were too large for his face, giving him a perpetually nervous look.
"Yes, that's me," Lía said, her voice soft. "How can I help you?"
The boy fidgeted with his hands, clearly nervous. "I'm Nicolás. I'm here to see Mr. Diego… I mean, Mr. Diego, the boss."
Lía raised an eyebrow. Diego didn't mention anything about a child visiting the office. Her curiosity piqued, she smiled gently at Nicolás. "Are you here for a meeting?"
Nicolás nodded, his gaze darting nervously around the office. "I guess so. Mr. Diego asked me to come."
Lía studied him for a moment, noticing how out of place the boy seemed in the otherwise polished corporate environment. She couldn't help but feel a little protective. Something about Nicolás didn't sit right with her—there was a secretiveness about the situation, a hidden layer to this encounter that Diego hadn't shared with her.
"Alright," Lía said, standing up. "I'll take you to him."
As they made their way down the hallway, Lía couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right. Why hadn't Diego mentioned Nicolás before? She had worked closely with him for weeks now, and yet, this was the first time she was meeting the boy. And there was something in Diego's demeanor when he saw Nicolás that made Lía uneasy.
Diego had been so open with her about his life, his struggles, and his dreams. But now, with Nicolás standing in front of him, she saw a different side of him—a side that was guarded, distant, as if he were hiding something.
She shook the thought from her mind. There had to be an explanation. After all, Diego had been nothing but kind to her. He wouldn't keep secrets from her, would he?
When they arrived at Diego's office, the tension in the air seemed to dissipate slightly. Diego stood up from his desk and smiled warmly at Nicolás, a stark contrast to the coldness he had shown moments earlier.
"Nicolás, my boy! I'm glad you could make it," Diego said, his voice warm and inviting.
Nicolás smiled shyly, stepping into the office. "I didn't want to make you wait."
Diego laughed softly, ruffling the boy's hair. "No need to apologize. You're doing just fine."
Lía watched the exchange, her instincts telling her that there was more to this boy and his relationship with Diego than met the eye. But for now, she decided not to press the issue. She stepped back, excusing herself from the room.
Later that day, as Lía sat at her desk, trying to focus on the mountain of work in front of her, her phone buzzed. She looked at the screen, expecting another message from Camila, but instead, it was a notification from the building's security system.
Alejandro's name flashed across the screen. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt a lump form in her throat. She hadn't heard from him in days—ever since he had sent her that cold message.
She quickly opened the message, her breath catching in her chest.
_"Lía, I need to see you. I'm here, in the building."_
Her mind raced. Alejandro was here? At Diego's office?
Lía's first instinct was to ignore the message, to pretend she hadn't seen it. But there was a part of her—despite everything that had happened—that still cared for him. Still wanted answers.
Taking a deep breath, she stood up and walked toward the door, her heart pounding in her chest.
When Lía entered the lobby, her eyes immediately locked onto Alejandro, who stood by the elevator, his posture tense, his face etched with frustration.
"You didn't think I would find out, did you?" Alejandro's voice was low but filled with anger. "I've had enough of this, Lía. I need to talk to you."
Lía took a step back, her stomach twisting with anxiety. She had no idea how this conversation would go, but one thing was certain—this was no longer about business. This was about unfinished emotions, about the past that neither of them had been able to move on from.
"I don't want to talk right now, Alejandro," she said softly, her voice shaking. "Not here, not like this."
But Alejandro stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "No, Lía, we are going to talk. Right now."