Chapter 4 You Chose Not to Know the First Time

I woke to my phone buzzing at 6 a.m., already moving before the sound fully registered. Running clothes went on, teeth got brushed, and I grabbed my headphones as I stepped outside. That routine was the only thing that kept my mornings predictable.

When I got back, the clock was pushing 7:30. I had clearly pushed myself harder than usual.

Coffee came first. While it brewed, I reminded myself that today marked the start of teaching, something I never planned on doing. Thiago owed me for this.

The shower did not take long. I dressed simply in jeans, a shirt, and clean sneakers, then combed my hair back and finished with a familiar scent. It was enough to look presentable without overthinking it.

After finishing my coffee, I headed straight to the garage. The black Porsche was waiting, and I drove toward Central University without wasting time.

Pulling out of the parking lot, I caught a few curious looks from students passing by. I ignored them. I had always been clear about boundaries, and I intended to keep them that way.

Inside the building, I introduced myself to the administrative staff. The principal personally walked me to the classroom, which was still empty. It was 8 o'clock, with ten minutes to spare.

That quiet did not last. Students poured in quickly, filling every seat. As I began introducing myself, two students slipped in late. My jaw tightened. Punctuality mattered to me, especially in my classroom.

One of them drew my focus almost immediately. She had sun kissed skin, long dark hair that faded lighter at the ends, and deep brown eyes that held my attention longer than they should have. Her outfit was simple but striking. Light jeans ripped at the knees and a black tank top that fit her perfectly. The effect was distracting in a way I did not appreciate, even as my body reacted before my reason could catch up.

The other student barely registered by comparison. She was a redhead with pale brown eyes, and that was all I managed to note.

"Good morning." I greeted, continuing as if nothing had interrupted my focus. "I will be your substitute professor." Low whispers spread through the room as they took their seats. "I will be continuing your Civil Law course."

Several students paid little attention to my words. That did not concern me. They would learn soon enough who needed whom in this room.

I picked up exactly where Thiago had left off. From time to time, murmurs surfaced, and I ignored them without effort. Every so often, my gaze drifted back to her, and more than once, our eyes met. She was undeniably beautiful. Against my better judgment, a dangerous thought formed. I wanted her, and the certainty of it unsettled me.

When the lecture ended, I noticed she was still looking in my direction, though her expression suggested she was somewhere else entirely.

Her red haired friend called out to her, snapping her back to reality, but I pretended not to notice.

They headed toward the exit, and on impulse, I decided to stop them to ask their names. As I closed the distance, the brunette suddenly stumbled over nothing at all. I had no idea how she managed it. One second she was walking, the next she was on the floor.

Instinct kicked in. I stepped forward and asked if she was alright, but she just stared at me, unable to get a single word out.

I crouched down to help gather the books that had scattered across the floor, and as I stacked them, a surname caught my eye. Navarro. I did not see her first name, but it was enough to lodge itself in my mind.

Our gazes crossed for a brief moment, and that instant sent an unexpected jolt through me. I offered my hand, and after a heartbeat of hesitation, she took it. Her friend watched every move I made without blinking. Color rushed to the girl's face as she thanked me, but when I reminded her to be more careful next time, her worry snapped into irritation.

I glanced back once as I walked away. She was already hurrying off, moving so fast I half expected her to stumble again.

The next class came and went, but my focus never fully returned. Navarro stayed in my thoughts no matter how hard I tried to push them aside. By the end of the lecture, one thing was clear. I needed to know more about her.

When my schedule finally cleared, I headed to the campus cafe and ordered something light. A simple sandwich and orange juice felt sufficient after the long morning.

"Excuse me," a soft voice said. I looked up to see a slim blonde with dark eyes and hair brushing her shoulders.

"Go ahead," I replied, caught slightly off guard. She did not wait for further permission before taking the seat across from me.

"I'm Britney Veg," she said brightly, leaning forward with an easy smile.

"Henry M-"

"I know who you are. I'm one of your students, though I wasn't in your class today." She twirled a strand of hair between her fingers as she spoke.

"And what brings you here?" I asked, drawing in a slow breath and keeping my tone neutral.

"Tonight, there's a party happening at one of the clubs downtown."

"No, thanks," I replied, cutting her off before she could continue.

"You did not even let me finish."

"There was nothing else I needed to hear."

"But everyone from school will be there," she added, her lips pushing into a pout. The mention made me pause despite myself. If everyone was going, there was a chance Navarro might show up too.

"I'll consider it. Give me your number."

Her smile returned instantly, and she casually adjusted the neckline of her top.

"You don't need it. I already have yours."

That caught me off guard.

"You already have my number?"

She stood up and leaned closer, invading my space without hesitation.

"Of course I do," she whispered, brushing a kiss against my cheek before walking away, her hips swaying with every step. Bold girl.

After finishing my snack, I headed toward the stairs that led down to the parking lot. That was when I spotted Navarro embracing her red haired friend.

They separated a moment later, exchanged a few final words, and went their own ways. Navarro stood there briefly, distracted and clearly lost in thought.

I took that as my chance and walked toward her. This time, she did not just ignore me. She brushed past with a mocking glance and left me speaking to empty air.

Bold.

I dropped the idea immediately, made my way to the parking lot, and drove straight to the police station.

Inside, I familiarized myself with the team and went through several open cases. Many of them had been sitting untouched for far too long. Thiago's lack of organization was painfully obvious.

"You can come in," I said when someone knocked on my office door.

"Excuse me, Henry."

"Have a seat, Guilherme," I replied, gesturing toward the chair across from me.

"What's so urgent?"

"I need you to dig into one of Thiago's students."

"Alright. Name?"

"I haven't checked her file yet. All I know is her last name. Navarro."

"Okay." He did not object, but confusion flickered across his face.

"Is there a problem?"

"Not exactly," he responded slowly, his brow creasing as if something did not quite add up.

"You've never asked me to handle something like this before. At least not face to face."

"I prefer to stay invisible. I've always relied on my own people to dig up whatever I needed."

"Alright." He picked up his tablet and skimmed the screen. "Her name is Liz Navarro. She's twenty one and lives in the downtown condominium." Guilherme stopped and rubbed his forehead.

"What is it?"

"Are you actually interested in her?"

"Why would that matter?"

"There's just something about her," he said, hesitating again.

"Say it," I snapped, my patience thinning.

"You chose not to know the first time," he muttered. "So why the sudden interest now?"

"Guilherme, you're not making any sense," I said, genuinely confused.

"She lives at L'Bella."

The words landed heavier than expected. That was the condominium where my wife lived. Which meant I could not simply show up there.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked when he kept quiet.

"Oh, and one more thing. Her name is on the guest list at a club. There's a party tonight."

"Dig up everything you can. Send it all to me."

"Goodbye, Henry," Guilherme said as he headed for the door.

That settled it. I would have to go to that club. Coincidentally, I knew the owner well.

I pulled out my phone and called him, needing to confirm a few things.

"Henry McNight. It's been a while."

"And you're still sarcastic, John," I replied. We both laughed.

"You're back in New York?"

"Just arrived a few hours ago."

"Perfect timing. There's a party at my club tonight. Come by, we'll catch up."

Exactly what I wanted to hear.

"I'll be there."

"See you soon."

"See you."

With John, every excuse turned into a celebration. He was older than me, and it had been Eric's father who first introduced us. If anyone knew more than they let on, it might just be him.