Page 33 of Scarlet Embrace

“Something appropriate for tomorrow night. Every big name in the city will be there, and we need them to notice Elena Rodriguez,” I said with a smile.

There was a whole lot riding on tomorrow night, but I had a feeling that it would be quite interesting, especially if I got to see another side of Elena. In fact, maybe tomorrow might would be far more interesting than I could have ever imagined.

******

“Lucas Cruz. You look quite charming tonight,” Senator Anderson said to me.

“Not like you do, sir. You look splendid,” I said with a smile.

Most people are not aware of the relationship my family had with Senator Anderson, and that was because they don’t know about how we helped the Senator handle a little issue that came up during his reelection. The sheer number of people wishing to destroy the reputation of a good man never ceases to amaze me, and back then, we had helped them realize that we do not like the idea of good men being troubled.

“I take it your father won’t be coming tonight?” Senator Anderson asked.

“Yes, he decided that I should come in his stead,” I explained.

Senator Anderson was in his late fifties, a tall man with a robust stature and a commanding presence. His eyes had a tinge of experience, and it was safe to say that he knew just the right words to win anyone over. Father had expressed how wary he was of the man. In his words, he called the Senator a ‘slippery eel.’

“I see. And are you alone?”

I shouldn’t be, but Elena is not yet around.

She was supposed to come with me, but for some reason, Linda had decided to help her prepare for the event, and now it’s been twenty minutes since I arrived, and she’s nowhere to be found.

“Not exactly. My fiancée is on the way. She should be here soon.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have left without her.

As if on cue, I noticed a black gown at the door. Something about the way the lady entered the room caught my attention, and I wasn’t the only one. A few men had turned their heads in her direction, and I could have sworn I heard someone let out a whistle.

God, she’s beautiful.

She was wearing the expensive necklace I had gotten her, and it really looked good on her. I knew well enough that Elena was beautiful, but I never thought she was that beautiful. The light seemed to settle on her, and it seemed as if all the lights in the room were focused on her. She held her purse in her hand and looked around the room as if searching for me. A voice in my head asked me to step forward, but I just remained where I was.

Her eyes seemed to search the room before they found me. The way her face lit up when she saw me left me breathless. She made her way toward me, ignoring the eyes that were on her.

“There you are, Lucas,” Elena said.

“Yes. Senator, I want you to meet my fiancée, Elena Rodriguez,” I recovered myself.

Senator Anderson was clearly charmed by her, and I had no need to say anything since Elena carried the rest of the conversation herself. This woman kept on surprising me the more I got to know her.

“I had no idea you are this well versed,” I said after the Senator stepped away to speak to someone.

“Trust me, there’s a whole lot you don’t know about me,” she said as she took a glass of champagne.

“Yeah, I’m just finding that out.”

“Well, if it ain't Lucas and his spy.”

Even without looking up, I realized the voice’s owner. He had been hiding pretty much the past few weeks, and I knew for certain that the only reason he’s showing his face around me was because he knew that nothing was going to happen to him.

“Marcus,” I said calmly.

“Lucas,” he said. He was wearing a tuxedo, which I have to admit looked quite good on him. I noticed how he stared at Elena, and I felt my annoyance starting to grow. “So, I heard that you two are together. My mother told me, but I did not believe it.”

“I hope you do now,” I said as I pulled Elena closer to me. “You know how I get when someone eyes something that belonged to me.”

It was a subtle threat, one that Marcus should understand unless he’s as stupid as they really say he is. I knew that look in his eyes, but going after Elena would mean he was signing up for a street war, and that would be a good reason to wipe out the LaRosa, who was turning out to be a pain in the eye.