Chapter Two
Marcus
We did our final walk-through of the new potential property that morning. It was luxurious, and even though it was located near the strip but not on it, the numbers over the previous five years were outstanding. A significant overhaul was done three years ago, and it was turn-key. It would be a considerable investment for my family, but we were ready. Since the younger generation of Díaz were retiring their parents, my cousins wanted to expand and invest in more ventures other than hotels, and I was on board. I admit that I went into this business kicking and screaming, but after eleven-plus years, I found a way to balance hospitality and my desire to make robotics.
I had opened a shop selling gadgets and parts to people like me so that they could build whatever their imaginations were inspired to create. I found a way to satisfy my geek needs while generating millions with my now five properties. My parents, of course, still owned four, but I had the one I inherited and the new built I did on my own. It’s more of a boutique property. With only fifteen villas, it’s located near the lake and has great amenities and a stellar staff. It has made more than the projected budget in the last two years, and I couldn’t be prouder of myself.
After telling my cousins that I would meet them in the lobby in an hour, I headed to my room to change out of my business attire into something more comfortable for the flight. I was returning home to my busy life with the hotels, my gadget store, and my fiancée Eliana. She was the perfect choice for me, and even though my mother didn’t care for her like I hoped she would, she was better than the twenty-plus countless women that I had used in my past to fill the void of losing Zamora. I could finally say I found love again. She was gorgeous, smart, and made me happy…well, to a certain extent. I still missed many things about Zamora, but holding on to the past only made me sad and regretful. I finally gave love a chance and tried to welcome the new happiness.
After some resistance, I gave Eliana a chance, and after two years, I grew to care for her deeply. It’s strange, though. I desire and enjoy her when I’m around her, but when I’m away from her, I don’t miss her. Still, she makes me happy. She is sexy and ambitious, works in the fashion industry, and runs her own business. Sometimes, I think she is too well put together for me.
She’s a good woman, no doubt, but fun, she is not. She is always scheduled––“let’s stick to the agenda” type of energy. We don’t sleep in on Sundays or eat popcorn while sitting on the couch watching movies.
There I go, comparing her to Zee again. Shit, no woman has measured up to my Zee.
“Let it go, Marc. You and Zee are history,” I said aloud to myself, then stepped into my sweatpants.
After putting on my hoodie and sneakers, I changed out my jewelry and reached for my phone to text my family to check their status. When they replied they were already in the lobby, I grabbed my gear and headed out. We rolled out the double doors and waited for our car. The Denali pulled up, and we climbed in while the driver loaded our bags.
Once we arrived at the airport and reached our gate, we sat conversing in Spanish, my first language taught by my mother. I was anxious to review the numbers again to see if this would be a good move for us. With four properties in Chicago, someone would have to be there to oversee this considerable investment. Since I was the eldest, the task would most likely fall on me, and I immediately decided it would be a no for me.
After the second delay alert, my cousins returned from talking with the agents about our flight.
“Let me call the hotel and check their availability in case we have to stay,” one of my cousins said.
While he was placing the call, I received a text from Eliana.
Eli: Don’t forget the catering appointment is at ten.
Me: Got you. No worries. The Z Spot, correct?
Eli : Yes, and have a safe flight. I love you. Call me when you land.
Me: Will do. Love you back.
A few minutes after our text exchange, I received another notification…this one alerting me the flight had been canceled. My cousins and I decided we would rebook online instead of standing in the long line already formed in front of the ticket counter. Not wanting to have to answer any emails once I got back to the hotel, I told my cousins to go ahead so I could take care of business while I was still in the mood, promising to catch up with them later.
As they left the terminal, I returned my attention to the task at hand…until I heard a voice that broke my focus and instantly gave me butterflies. When I looked up, I saw the long braids of a woman that hung down her back and did not cover her swollen backside. Fuller, yes, but I knew that ass. I shut my eyes and concentrated on the sound of her midwestern accent that I was all too familiar with. I knew it was her. If it wasn’t, this woman had to be her doppelganger. I hurried and gathered my shit because I had to be right there when she turned around. I had to see her face.
I approached the counter and stopped several feet behind her. As I watched her take out her wallet to put her ID back inside, the anticipation became too much for me.
“Zamora?”
She turned to me, and my heart nearly stopped. My mouth went dry, and my eyes blinked uncontrollably. They had to be playing some cruel trick. Suddenly, I felt strange, unlike myself, as I gazed at her.
“Marcus,” she whispered loud enough for me to hear my name escape her sweet-looking lips.
It took every bit of restraint in my 6’3” body to keep from pulling this woman into my arms and kissing her like I’d missed her for ten long years. Thank God we were in a public place. We were interrupted by the clerk, who asked her to allow the next customer to step to the counter, and when she moved, she came closer in my direction.
“I can’t believe it’s you, Zee. What are you doing in Vegas? You look so beautiful… I mean, fantastic. You’re glowing. You look radiant,” I said, stumbling over my words like a nervous teen.
She smiled. “Thank you. Can we?” she asked, pointing towards empty seats nearby.
The gate area had grown relatively empty since the cancellation notice.
“Of course,” I agreed, and we went to sit in a couple of vacant seats.
“Well, I came here for my friend Megan’s wedding on Saturday. They left on Sunday, but I decided to stay and sample some good food. And you? How are you here in Sin City?”
“Wow, it’s so crazy to see you. I ummmmmm…” I intentionally dragged out my response. I feared that if I talked fast, our conversation would end much too soon. “Been here for about four days surveying a property that my family and I may buy. I was headed back home today, but I guess we are stuck here another night,” I responded nervously.
“Yeah, and this is so fucked up because I have a major appointment in the morning, and with all of these cancelations, I may be stuck sleeping in this airport tonight,” she said, looking down at her phone.
“No, I have a spot, and you are more than welcome to stay with me.”
“A spot? I thought you said you were here on business.”
“Not a crib but a hotel suite. The place I’m looking to buy is holding me a suite, and it’s enough room for the both of us. So, if all the hotels are sold out, you are welcome to come with me. We can get some grub and catch up.”
“Are you sure? I mean, I don’t want to impose, Marc. I’ll be okay here, or I can check back into the hotel I was in,” she said, then frowned. “Damn!”
“What? What is it?” I inquired with concern.
“I can get my room back, but the rate is three times higher,” she said, connecting her brows together with a look of defeat.
“Zee, please don’t do that. When I say I got you, I got you. Now, come on. Let me call us a car,” I said, standing and extending my hand.
“Thank you, Marc. I really appreciate it. Can you give me a second to email my client so I can inform her of this news?” she asked.
“Sure,” I replied. “I’ll run to the bathroom while you’re doing that. Can I leave my things here with you?” I asked.
“Of course you can. I’ll watch it,” she answered, with her eyes glued to her mobile device.
I walked off to the men’s room, and by the time I returned, she looked ready to go. After retrieving our checked luggage from the baggage claim area, we proceeded to the pick-up spot outside of the airport. The car pulled up within ten minutes, and I opened the door for her to get in. Not much was said during the ride, but we exchanged many glances. Once at the hotel, I got a key to a new suite, and as soon as we entered the door, she headed straight to the bathroom. I called my cousins to let them know I made it back to the hotel and declined their dinner invite, promising to fill them in later regarding why I would be absent.
“Again, I really appreciate this, Marcus,” she said while exiting the bathroom. “You can certainly take the bed in there. I’ll sleep out here on the sofa,” she foolishly insisted, and that was not going to ride with me.
“Nonsense. You know I’m a gentleman. The bed is all yours.”
“Marc, no, you are nice enough to put me up in this beautiful suite. The couch is fine.”
“Zee, we aren’t going to argue or debate about this. Now go and freshen up for dinner, and I’ll do the same. Then we can go to one of these fancy restaurants around here and talk. I mean, it’s been over ten years. I’m sure there is a lot we can catch up on.”
She nodded, and I smiled. I wanted to know every detail about her life during our time apart, and I would stay up all night listening if that’s what it took. Before we left the room, I made a mental note, not to mention Eliana.
We made small talk over dinner––nothing big. Feeling she was a bit reserved about her current situation, I held back on the current events in my life with my future bride. We talked about family and friends but only a little about ourselves. After the meal, I ordered a drink, but she declined to join me with a cocktail or glass or wine. That was strange because I knew her to be a cocktail or wine queen.
“You don’t drink anymore?” I asked.
“I do. Just not tonight.”
“So, you’re going to make me drink alone?”
She stared, looked down, and then let out a breath. “Okay, one glass of Merlot. Then we should head back. We have an early morning flight and I have to prepare for my new client after I land. I can’t be nursing a hangover tomorrow.”
“A hangover, not you, Ms. Wine Princess, but one drink is perfect,” I said and waved over to our server.
I ordered her a glass and ordered myself another before closing out our tab.
We rode back with little to no conversation, and if I hadn’t been engaged, the night would have gone entirely differently. I would have expressed that seeing her again was like a dream. I would have probed her personal life and asked if she was single or seeing someone, but I did not want to open myself up to the same line of questioning. My prayers were answered when she didn’t ask about my romantic situation. If she had, I would have lied through my damn teeth. It’s not that I was ashamed of Eliana. I just didn’t want her to know I was giving what belonged to her to another woman.
After we both showered, we agreed to call it a night. I wondered why we didn’t talk about the breakup. I guess neither of us wanted to revisit that story. I wanted to tell her that I was sorry but didn’t think it would make much of a difference to her now—ten years later.
Once our flight landed, we met at baggage claim. I grabbed my luggage first, then waited for her bag. When she leaned in for it, I stepped in and snatched it off the conveyor belt before she had a chance.
“Thank you,” she said, looking up at me with a smile. I remembered that smile and instantly knew how much I missed it. Her smile had an effect on me, and I easily smiled back at her.
“No problem,” I said with a nod, and then we headed for the doors.
Once outside, I noticed my car had arrived.
“I can get you where you need to go,” I offered, hoping she’d say yes and I’d have a few more moments with her, but to my disappointment, she declined.
“Thanks, but my sister will be here shortly.”
“Okay,” I said, then stood there gazing at her.
“Well, it was nice seeing you, Marc. Take care of yourself,” she finally said and turned to leave. I did not want this to be it, so I called her name.
“Zee, wait!” I called out and was happy she paused.
She stopped and turned back to face me.
“Listen, the way I ended things was fucked up, and I’m so sorry baby,” I blurted out.
I couldn’t let her walk away, not knowing how I felt. I was a fool to let her get away.
She held up a hand. “We’re not doing this right now, Marcus. I didn’t bring it up because I do not want to discuss that. This is certainly not a good time or place to talk about any of that.”
“I know it’s not, baby, and neither did I, but I need you to understand that leaving you was the biggest mistake of my life. I’m sorry I let my ego, anger, jealousy, and personal issues force you out of my life. I messed up. Please tell me that you forgive me.”
She swiped at her face, catching a tear as it fell from her eye. “I do forgive you, Marcus, and I did it a long time ago. If I hadn’t, there was no way I could have been anywhere near you yesterday.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding in.
“Thank you, and I know it may be too late, but I never stopped thinking of you.” I paused to consider what I wanted to say next and decided it would be best to use the opportunity that had presented itself to let her know. “And I never stopped loving you,” I confessed.
Suddenly, a loud horn sounded behind her, interrupting us.
She turned her head to look over her shoulder.
“That’s my sister,” she said, looking back at me. “I appreciate you saying what you said. Things are complicated, and my love for you is still there and strong, but I had to bury that and move on with my life.”
The horn blared again, her sister called out her name from the passenger seat, and a man exited the driver’s seat.
“I must go, Marcus. I have an important client today, and I can’t be late,” she said, backing away. “Take care, and maybe we can talk later.”
“Call the hotel,” I yelled. “The number is still the same!”
I prayed that she heard me as a man I assumed was her sister’s husband tossed her luggage into the back of the black SUV. I watched him get back inside, and within seconds, she was gone. I headed to my car, and the driver took my luggage from my hands. Once I was settled in the backseat, thoughts of Zamora came rushing back.
Damn, Marc, what were you thinking telling her that you still love her? You just got engaged! What if Zee shows up at the hotel wanting to revisit that brief conversation and possibly reunite? What will I say? How can I tell her that I’m engaged? Will that break her heart all over again?
“Shit!” I said, my thoughts interrupted by my ringing phone. When I pulled it from my jacket pocket, I saw it was Eliana and let out a long, exaggerated sigh.
“Eli, what’s up? I just landed.”
“Not much, just doing some party planning. I have a couple of appointments today. Will you make it to join me?”
“I wish I could, but I must get to the hotel. With the canceled flight yesterday, I have to make sure everything is everything. I’ll have to catch up with you later.”
I heard her let out a disappointed sigh. “I didn’t expect to plan this engagement party alone, Marcus. I mean, you’re busy with everything but me.”
“Eli, I just landed, baby. Can we please not have a back-and-forth right now? I wanted a small party at my hotel, but you wanted something more elaborate. So, I told you to do your thang.”
“Yes, but I still wanted you to be present. Don’t worry about it. I got this! Later!” she said, then disconnected the call.
I should be ashamed to say I was relieved she cut our conversation short, but I wasn’t up to debating with her. Seeing Zamora had messed me all the way up. I needed time to regain my focus and try to forget I saw her again.