Chapter 1: Introduction
The hum of tires eating up fresh pavement and cool New York air soothed my worries as the black town car pulled into the porte cochere of The Whitney. Suits—the ever-present entourage of suited hyenas—surrounded me, whispering in my ear, "Mr. de la Vega, we have some matters to attend after your dinner." I was about to address this tiresome need to waste my time when I noticed a stunning creature checking into the hotel. Her long brown hair cascaded down her subtle shoulders, ending gracefully at her small waist.
Her eyes, the mesmerizing shade between azure and deep blue, sparkled under the dim lobby lights. Maria was, and always will be, an extraordinary beauty; I couldn't deny that. She wore a simple yet stylish black dress, a perfect frame for her toned arms and slender legs. Her timid, self-conscious posture—which I'd come to detest—hinted at the presence of something new within her. Maybe she finally realized her worth?
Against my better judgment, my eyes locked with hers, and I felt a magnetic pull that was hard to ignore.
Her once-submissive eyes displayed a newfound confidence, and I contemplated the change it brought over her delicate facial features. Intrigued, I discarded my suit entourage with a subtle flick of the wrist and approached her. Her eyes never left mine, as if welcoming the interaction but afraid of its potential outcomes.
I leaned into her personal space, watching her breath hitch as her body tensed. "Is that any way to greet your ex-boyfriend, Maria?" Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly before a coy smile spread across her lips.
"Carlos, I wasn't aware we would run into each other tonight. Besides, your presence no longer demands the same grandeur." She confidently handed over her credit card to the front desk attendant, who seemed taken aback by her abrupt dismissal.
My pride bruised, my mind raced with thoughts of what had changed her since our tumultuous break-up. I couldn't fathom the idea that she no longer adhered to my every need.
It wasn't our disagreements that drove her away, but rather her inability to submit—the same quality that initially captivated me. I studied her intently as the desk clerk handed her room key back, the plastic swaying back and forth in front of those heavenly blue eyes.
"Why, Maria? Why did you have to leave me for this newfound independence?" My words caressed her, and I noticed the slight shiver that ran down her spine as she turned to face me.
"Carlos, it's been over a year since our break-up.
I had to find myself." Her confession echoed in my mind, but her tone was steady, not a quiver of doubt in sight. "You were smothering me. I couldn't breathe."
Her brutal honesty made my skin crawl with a hot mix of anger and embarrassment. I struggled to maintain my composure, focusing on posturing my muscular build and confident demeanor, as that seemed to be the only way to communicate with Maria, formerly my submissive partner, now this changed woman.
I murmured in reply, "We can still go back to how things were.