Chapter 5 Dinner

In accordance with Lucas' request, Carlos painstakingly arranged the first meeting between his boss and his prospective wife. Despite facing several rejections, with the help of his own grandfather Rico, Luna ultimately had to agree to the meeting.

A Bugatti Veyron car came to a halt in front of a renowned hotel building in Los Angeles. It's not hard to guess the owner of this luxurious hotel, which was undoubtedly under Alvarez's umbrella. The grandeur became evident upon entering the hotel lobby, adorned with luxurious classical impressions, artistic sculptures in every corner, and large crystal chandeliers hanging in the center, adding to the beauty. However, all eyes turned as Luna entered the hotel, a recognizable figure-a beautiful model with elegance, clad in luxurious and elegantly designed attire by a renowned designer, enhancing her perfection.

Luna continued to stride arrogantly, ignoring the admiring and inquisitive gazes. This was a regular meal for her, as she was accustomed to the worshipful looks of those who gazed at her. Arriving at the center of the lobby, Carlos approached Luna, bowing briefly in respect.

"Good evening, Miss Estrada. The gentleman is waiting for you. Please, go ahead!" Carlos said politely, allowing Luna to walk ahead. He took over when they reached the front of the elevator, pressing the button for the restaurant where they would meet.

*Ding*

The elevator door opened after a short wait, and they both entered. However, this became a regret for Carlos, as he should have chosen a different elevator. Being alone in a confined space with Luna made him uncomfortable; even the slightest movement was a challenge. The aura inside the elevator was dominated by Luna's presence, and she truly looked like a stepmother ready to devour her stepchild. There was no smile since her arrival, and Carlos could guess why Luna seemed annoyed with her own beautiful appearance.

*Ding*

Finally, the elevator door opened, allowing Carlos to exhale his relief. "Please," Carlos said, inviting Luna to walk ahead once more. Luna was accustomed to entering and leaving luxurious restaurants, but even for someone like Alvarez, she admired the grandeur that the hotel offered. It was well worth it for her to be in a place like this. Luna continued until she reached a door that led to the top floor of Hotel Alvarez.

It turned out that Lucas had chosen a rooftop dinner for their meal. Carlos opened the glass door in front of Luna. The fresh night air rushed in as Luna approached a table adorned with candles. "Where is the man?" Luna thought, looking around at the beautiful lights. From this vantage point, she could also see the night view of the entire city of Los Angeles.

"Good evening, Miss Estrada," someone greeted Luna. The person's deep and sexy voice made Luna turn around to face Lucas Alvarez. For a moment, Luna was captivated by his gray eyes, knowing Lucas by name but never having met him in person before. This was their first direct encounter.

"I hope your body is strong enough to endure the cold of Los Angeles tonight," Lucas said, bringing Luna back to reality and prompting her to assess her own appearance.

Damn

The word echoed in her mind. Luna was currently wearing a sleeveless black dress that hugged her chest and flowed down to just above her knees. She regretted choosing an open place like this for dinner, inwardly grimacing.

"Don't worry, I'm used to the cold air," Luna said without a hint of a smile, displaying her beautiful and haughty demeanor. Lucas just stared at her without any expression. Luna turned around and gazed back at the perfectly set table.

Creak

Lucas pulled out the chair next to Luna, gesturing for her to sit. With her elegant demeanor, Luna sat down in the chair Lucas had pulled out. Then, Lucas circled the table and sat directly in front of her. For a few moments, there was no conversation between them. Several waiters arrived to serve various dishes.

Still in the quiet atmosphere, Luna paid no mind to the gaze Lucas directed at her. She chose to focus on the meal in front of her.

"I think tonight would be more perfect with some music," Lucas said, causing Luna to look in his direction.

"Whatever you want to do," Luna replied dismissively. At the moment, she just wanted this dinner to be over quickly. A romantic dinner with a handsome man in a supportive setting was every woman's dream, but unfortunately, Luna's heart wasn't in a joyful mood this time.

She was truly irritated because her boyfriend, Albert, had disappeared without a trace. For three days now, Luna couldn't reach Albert. She had even gone to the studio where Albert usually worked on his music, but he was nowhere to be found. Not even her close friends knew where Albert was. Luna's frustration grew, especially compounded by her grandfather's insistence on her meeting with Lucas. Her irritation had reached its peak.

Luna nearly choked when the sound of a piano began to fill her ears.

Piano

Unbeknownst to Luna, there was a piano around them. She looked around and recognized the piano arrangement she was hearing. Luna stood up from her seat and was about to see who was playing the music, but Lucas' voice stopped her.

"Is there something wrong, Miss Estrada?" Lucas calmly inquired.

"Who is he?" Luna asked, as the pianist was obstructed from her view. She couldn't clearly see the person behind the piano.

"Just a pianist that Carlos arranged," Lucas replied.

"I'm asking who the pianist is?" Luna asked again, this time with a hint of annoyance in her tone. Lucas set down his utensils and gazed at Luna.

"If you're curious, you can approach and see for yourself. Is his music so beautiful that it's piqued your interest? If so, we can have him perform at our wedding," Lucas said with a mocking smile. This only fueled Luna's frustration. She responded with a sharp gaze and turned her attention back to the person playing the piano.

Luna couldn't be mistaken; he was the one who had been messing up her mood for the past three days. She knew every note he played and felt a sense of familiarity in her heart as she listened. With her heart racing, Luna approached the piano. Slowly, the pianist's hair came into view, falling onto his forehead. This time, Luna could clearly see his face.

Thud