Mara sent Maria a quick text from the airport, hoping for one last reply. Nothing. She tried again, but Maria's phone was off.
She let out a soft chuckle of disappointment. "Fine, Maria-Isabel."
With a quiet sigh, she slipped her phone back into her bag, took a deep breath, and dragged her suitcase toward check-in. She was ready to leave everything behind. Maria had been her only family in Eldorado, and now, she had no one.
Boarding the plane to Salvador, Mara settled into her window seat. She stared outside for a moment, taking in the city she had called home for the past ten years. It no longer felt like home.
Plugging in her earpiece, she pulled out her favorite book, Forever in a Moment, and flipped to the last page she had read.
A man took the seat beside her, offering a polite smile before striking up a conversation. Mara nodded, forcing a small smile in return, but she barely heard a word he said. Her heart was too heavy for small talk.
Instead, she turned back to her book, letting the words pull her into a world far from the one she was leaving behind.
Mara's plane touched down in Salvador at 9:00 p.m. She had arrived earlier than expected, and nothing was in place her apartment wasn't ready, she had no plans, and now, she felt completely stranded.
As she stepped out of the airport, pulling her suitcase behind her, a sleek black Rolls-Royce rolled up beside her. The side window lowered slightly.
"Hey, need a ride?" a familiar voice asked.
Mara turned and saw the man from the plane sitting in the passenger seat. She couldn't make out who was in the back, but she wasn't interested.
She forced a polite smile. "I'm waiting for my boyfriend," she lied, hoping to avoid any further conversation. Keeping her eyes on her phone, she quickly searched for a hotel and a cab at the same time. After a few minutes, she managed to book a room at one of the city's premium hotels.
The cab arrived, and she slid into the backseat, exhaling softly. As they pulled away from the airport, the driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
"First time here?" he asked while unloading her suitcase at the hotel entrance. Mara simply nodded.
"Enjoy your stay, miss."
"Thank you," she replied, handing him the fare before turning to face the magnificent hotel towering before her.
She walked in, immediately greeted by the warm smiles of the hotel staff. Once her reservation was confirmed, she was escorted to her room, a luxurious space with soft lighting and an incredible view of the city skyline.
But despite the comfort, sleep refused to come. Her mind was restless, replaying everything she had left behind.
Sighing, she picked up the hotel brochures from the bedside table, flipping through them absentmindedly. Then, deciding she needed a distraction, she changed into something more relaxed and headed downstairs.
She needed a drink.
The hotel bar seemed like the perfect place to start.
"Vodka, please. Or something strong. The stronger, the better," Mara said, sinking into a seat at the bar.
The bartender glanced at her, raising a brow. "Sorry, miss, can I see an ID?"
Mara shot her Are you serious? look. The bartender, unfazed, returned an I'm dead
serious stare.
Mara scoffed. "I'm old enough to be here. I'm a lawyer, for God's sake." She pulled out
her card and slid it across the counter.
The bartender leaned in for a look, then smirked. "And yet, not 21 years old."
Mara blinked, feeling both insulted and defeated. "For real?" she muttered, more to herself than to him. Could this night get any worse?
The bartender sighed. "Sorry, miss." Whether he actually meant it or just felt bad for her, she couldn't tell.
Before she could figure out her next move, a deep, smooth voice cut through the low hum of the bar.
"Hey, little missy."
Mara turned toward the voice, her eyes landing on a man seated in a leather chair at the far end of the room.
He was dangerously good-looking. Dressed in a black shirt with the top buttons undone, revealing a sculpted chest, and fitted black pants. His posture was relaxed, one leg crossed over the other, holding a glass of whiskey in his hand. His dark, piercing gaze studied her, his expression unreadable.
Mara's eyes traveled downward, Italian leather shoes. Expensive. He wasn't just someone who dressed well. He was someone important. Someone powerful.
With an effortless motion, he tipped his glass back, finishing his drink in one go. Then, without a word, he picked up his suit jacket from the chair beside him and strode toward her.
"Are you going to buy me a drink?" Mara asked, cutting straight to the point. If he wasn't, there was no reason to keep talking.
The man stared at her, expression unreadable. "No."
Mara scoffed, disappointed. She grabbed her bag, ready to leave.
"You shouldn't be out here alone," his voice followed her just as she turned. "Where's your boyfriend?"
Mara paused, giving him another once-over before deciding he wasn't worth the conversation. Without a word, she walked out of the bar.
The night air was crisp against her skin. Maybe a walk would clear her mind. She wandered down the quiet, empty street, the city lights flickering above. For the first time in a while, she felt completely alone.
"You seriously shouldn't be out here all by yourself."
The deep voice made her stop in her tracks. She turned and there he was again. The mysterious man from the bar, now standing a few steps away.
Mara folded her arms. "What do you care? Are you stalking me? Stalking is a crime," He stepped closer, his gaze locked onto hers. "No, I wasn't, you were gawking at me earlier,"
"I think you need to check your eyesight," Mara stares right back at him. "I think you need to control your eyes, which are gorgeous by the way. You have beautiful eyes. Come with me. I'll buy you the drink. I can see you need it."
Mara hesitated. She wanted that drink. Badly. But she also wanted to be alive to see tomorrow. "You're not some serial killer, are you?"
The man smirked, then reached into his pocket and pulled out an ID.
She took it, squinting under the dim streetlight. "Ethan Anderson," she read aloud.
The name rolled off her tongue, unfamiliar yet intriguing. She glanced back at him, debating whether to take the risk. She finally decided to risk it.
Ethan took Mara to the Night Tower, a hidden gem in the center of Salvador. It wasn't completely deserted, a few couples lingered around, lost in their own little worlds.
Mara looked around, her eyes widening in quiet awe. The city lights shimmered below, casting a golden glow over the streets. The cool night breeze brushed against her skin, and for the first time in a long while, she felt... at peace.
"I figured this would do the trick better than a drink would," Ethan said, watching her reaction with a knowing smile.
Mara turned to him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Well, it's not so bad," she admitted.
Ethan chuckled. "Not bad? You wound me."
He took a step closer, then extended his hand toward her. "Want to see something even more magical?"
Mara hesitated. A small part of her warned against trusting a stranger, but another part, the part that craved adventure was intrigued. Besides, he didn't seem like a bad person. And if he was, well... she wasn't exactly helpless.
Slowly, she slipped her hand into his.
Ethan led her to the very top of the Night Tower. When they reached the highest platform, Mara gasped.
From up here, the entire city stretched before them a breathtaking view of glowing streets, the ocean glistening under the moonlight, and the faint hum of music drifting through the air.
"Wow," she whispered, lost for words. Ethan grinned. "Here comes the best part."
Before she could ask what he meant, he took a deep breath and screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing into the night.
Mara laughed, surprised, then joined him screaming, letting go, feeling lighter than she had in weeks.
As their laughter faded into the night, they turned to each other, breathless, smiling. For the first time in a long time, Mara felt something she hadn't expected. Freedom.
"I hope you feel better now?" Ethan asked, leading Mara to a nearby bench.
Mara exhaled softly, feeling lighter than she had in hours. "Much better," she admitted, a small smile playing on her lips.
Ethan leaned back, studying her. "A lawyer at 20? That's impressive." Mara smirked. "Yes, I'm smart."
He chuckled. "So, Miss Little Smart, have I not earned the right to know your name yet?" His gaze locked onto hers, his voice smooth and teasing. "Your eyes... they're alluring, like a deep ocean. I find myself drowning in them."
Mara raised an eyebrow. She had heard plenty of compliments before, but something about the way he said it made her heart skip just for a second. But she wasn't the type to be easily flattered.
"Mara. Mara Duncan. Pleased to meet you, Ethan." She extended her hand for a handshake.
Ethan smirked as he took it. "Pleased to meet you too, Miss Duncan."
Mara tilted her head, studying him. There was something strangely familiar about him, something she couldn't quite place.
"There's something about you that makes me feel like I've known you before," she admitted, surprised by her own words. The short time she had spent with him felt... natural, as if they had some unspoken connection.
Ethan's smirk deepened. "Maybe fate just works in strange ways."
Then, his expression shifted slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Are you visiting your boyfriend?"
Mara frowned. "What?"
"Earlier, my assistant offered you a ride, and you said you were waiting for your boyfriend," Ethan reminded her. He leaned forward slightly. "Why did he leave you stranded?"
Mara hesitated, gripping the edge of the bench. She had lied about the boyfriend. But something in Ethan's tone half amused, half genuinely intrigued made her wonder if he had seen right through it.
"Oh, so it was you," Mara said, realizing he was the man from the black Rolls-Royce earlier. "I'm here for work. I was supposed to arrive next week, but my best friend decided to get married, and well... the rest is history. So here I am, trying to start a life for myself."
She avoided his gaze, but her mind drifted back to Maria. She hoped, at the very least, that her best friend was enjoying her wedding night.
Ethan studied her for a moment, then smirked. "You speak with bitterness. Is it so wrong to want to get married and have kids?" His voice carried a teasing yet provocative tone.
Mara exhaled. "Don't get me wrong I'm not against it. But she's giving up everything for a guy who..." She stopped herself, shaking her head. "Never mind. Believe me, I'm happy for her... as long as she's happy."
But she didn't sound happy. And Ethan noticed.
"It's okay, I'm not attacking you," he said, his voice softer this time. Then, out of nowhere, he added, "You are everything I want and more. And if you say yes, I'll marry you right now."
Mara blinked, caught off guard.
He wasn't laughing. His voice held a strange intensity, like he wasn't just throwing words into the wind but actually meant them. There was something in his eyes something secret, something deep.
Mara let out a short laugh, assuming it was a joke. "You barely know me."
Ethan smirked. "I don't need to. Some things... you just know." His words lingered in the air between them, carrying an unspoken weight that Mara wasn't ready to unpack. Not tonight.
Mara's breath hitched slightly as Ethan took her hand, his grip firm yet gentle.
"I'm serious, Mara. Tell me you don't feel it." His deep voice carried a weight that sent a shiver down her spine.
She swallowed, suddenly aware of how intensely he was looking at her. His gaze dark, piercing, and unreadable made her feel exposed, as if he could see straight into her soul.
What was this? This strange pull between them?
Mara wanted to dismiss it, to call it absurd, but something about Ethan intrigued her. He was confident, almost too confident. Like a man who had never needed to chase anything in his life. Yet, here he was, chasing her.
What she didn't know was that Ethan Anderson wasn't just a man he was a legend. The youngest billionaire in the country. CEO of Anderson Corporation. A prodigy in the courtroom, never having lost a case. His ruthless tactics had earned him the nickname The Little Devil, and in the business world, his word was law.
But despite his success, Ethan had never been in a real relationship. He had never needed to be.
Until now.
Because a few weeks ago, he received the kind of news that shattered his perfect world he had a rare illness, one that would soon make it nearly impossible for him to have children.
For the first time in his life, Ethan needed something he couldn't control.
An heir. A legacy.
And then, fate placed Mara in front of him.
Beautiful. Brilliant. Unshaken by his presence. She was unlike anyone he had ever met. And he wasn't about to let her slip away.
Mara, of course, had no idea about any of this. To her, he was just an intense, ridiculously good-looking stranger who was suddenly talking about marriage as if they weren't two people who had met just hours ago.
She let out a small laugh, trying to shake off the strange tension between them. "You're insane."
Ethan smirked, still holding her hand.
"Maybe. But that doesn't make me wrong."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The city stretched before them, quiet and endless.
And Mara, for the first time, wondered if meeting Ethan Anderson was truly a coincidence...
Or something far more dangerous.