"I don't know, Chels. There still a lot of stuff I need to do here. There's a new deal we just closed with some Russians and I need to go over some details for the contract. It could take all night..." Ximena trailed off to her friend on the phone.
She was indeed very busy, if the stacks of paperwork on her desk said anything. Being the heiress to the Dos Ramos shipping network was certainly not easy, but no challenge was to difficult for Ximena Dos Ramos. She was born for this, and nothing would change that. Well, at least she thought.
Chelsea sighed. "Come on, Mena. I'm in Miami for two more nights then I'm off to Amsterdam for another photoshoot. I won't be back for at least a month!" she whined, trying to convince Ximena to take some time of from her tedious work schedule.
Ximena slouched back in her seat, weighing her options. It was a Friday, meaning she could probably draw up the contract over the weekend but was she really up for a night of adventure?
"Where are you taking me again?" she asked, still needing some more convincing.
"It's a club opening. Some of my friends are going too. Please, I know you wanna go!" she pressed, earning a soft chuckle from Ximena. "You could even meet somebody you like."
Yeah right, Ximena thought with an eye roll. Since her previous date from hell with Logan, she was taking a break from dating. There was no reason for her to rush anyway, seeing as she's only twenty-two years old and she'd just started working at the company. She had plenty of time to scout out men before it was time to settle down, or so she thought...
Just then, her door opened and in walked Dominic her personal assistant. Though she'd never admitted it, he was pretty handsome and very efficient too. His yellow-brown skin glowed from the sun rays that were streaming into the open view office and his grey eyes crinkled when he smiled softly at her.
"Okay, I'm in. I gotta go now, still have loads of work to do though so I'll meet you there. Send me the directions," she drawled recklessly then said goodbye and ended the call.
Dominic spoke up. "Going somewhere tonight?" he asked, placing some paperwork on her glass desk.
Ximena hummed in response, grabbing on of the papers and began to scan it over. "Chelsea is leaving Miami for some time so she wants to hang out one more time before she goes," she explained and then picked up another sheet.
He laughed, then walked over to one of the large windows. "Why do you sound so reluctant? I thought she was your BFF?" he asked, adding air quotations for emphasis.
She stopped what she was doing and sighed. "She is, but sometimes she can be a bit much. I'm very certain the only reason she wants me to tag along is so that I go man hunting, if that's what you call it, and I'm really not in the mood for that. All I want to do is focus on my job."
"Sometimes all you have to do is just look in front of to find the right man," he murmered softly, with an undertone of longing. If Ximena had turned her gaze over to him, she would have seen the sheer look of adoration flooding his eyes.
Ximena waved him off. "Maybe. I think I'll just wait a bit longer before I go looking for someone."
Dominic started for the door. "I'll leave you to it," he added and then exited.
***
Fashion had never really been Ximena's forte. Although her walk-in closet was overflowing with designer clothes, with labels like Ralph Lauren, Prada and Gucci, just to mention a few, she had no idea what to wear. It didn't help that she was also running behind schedule, seeing as it was already quarter to seven.
"Make a decision, Ximena!" she yelled frustratedly to herself, running her eyes repeatedly over her section of cocktail dresses. Why she had agreed to going to the club opening, she had absolutely no idea.
Her door creaked open, and some foosteps could be heard from her room. "Mena, it's almost time for dinner. You coming?" voiced her little sister, Andrea. She wasn't even the least bit surprised that she hadn't knocked.
"I'm going out," Ximena replied curtly. "Would it kill you to knock?" she added, rather irritated by her sibling's lack of respect and her current predicament.
Andrea suddenly popped up in the closet, still clad in her tennis uniform. "Tranquilo, sis. I come in peace. Where are you of to?"
"Some club opening. Chelsea invited me."
"Which club is it? I heard about some grand opening tonight by some rich boy, what his name? I can't remember. Anyway, why aren't you ready?"
Ximena rolled her eyes. "You know pretty well that I struggle with these types of things. That, and the fact that I don't feel like going."
Andrea clicked her tongue. "Yes, your sense of fashion is almost as awful as Salvador's. Step aside and let me help you."
Not wasting a second, Ximena complied and let Andrea browse through her options. Not even a minute later she had pulled out a violet sequined off the shoulder Dolce and Gabbana knee length, body con dress. Despite her lack of interest in clothing, Ximena was impressed and surprised that she even owned such a beautiful article.
"This will go with those silver Balenciaga pumps over there," she said, pointing to her shoes rack. "Now get dressed so I can do you hair and makeup."
About fifteen minutes later, Ximena was looking at herself in the mirror and almost could recognise herself. The dress fit her like a second skin. Her normally straight hair had been curled into bouncy, voluminous waves. The sober make up choice managed to bring out her full lips and electric blue eyes. To top it all off, diamond earrings and a diamond necklace from Tiffany's finished the look.
"Wow," she gasped, earning a triumphant smirk from Andrea.
She flipped her also black hair dramatically. "I know, I'm amazing. You look hot and I just can feel that many heads are gonna turn tonight. Hopefully you can catch the attention of that hunk Adriano Dos Santos," she breathed.
Ximena turned around to look at her. "Who's he?"
Andrea's jaw almost hit the marble tiled fall. "Only the hottest man in Miami, possibly the whole of Florida. Heir to the Dos Santos shipping kingdom...you don't know who he is?" she remarked, disblief present in her voice.
Her sister just shrugged. "Never heard of him," she replied nonchalantly.
"You know what, you're a lost cause. Just grab your purse and go, it's seven already. Maybe if you're quick enough, you won't bump into mama or papa in the halls. Hurry now, shoo!" Andrea said, clearly disappointed in her sister and her ignorance.
They both exited her room, but Andrea went in the opposite direction to her own room. "Thanks, Andy." Ximena yelled over her shoulder on her way down the grand staircase leading to the foyer.
"Whatever," was her response, to which her older sister chuckled.
In no time, Ximena had reached the garage where her white Lamborghini was stationed and brought it to life. She fished out her cellular device and input the directions into the GPS system which worked efficiently in bringing her to her destination within half an hour.
"I'm here," she said into her phone once she had dialed Chelsea's number.
"Good, just tell the bouncer your name and get in. I'm by the bar in the VIP section, I'll see you when you get here."
Ximena exited her car, handed the valet her keys and sauntered over to the entrance. The bright lights above the main door read Los Momento. As she approached the bouncer, all her confidence seemed to wither into thin air. He was huge and definitely mean looking. There was no way he was just going to let her in, much less that there were lots of other people waiting in line to get in as well.
"Back of the line," he grunted tersely, not sparing her a single glance.
She gulped nervously. "Ximena Dos Ramos," she croaked and the large man's eyes flew to her. He didn't say anything at first, then he nodded at her and stepped aside for her to pass through.
Once inside, Ximena exhaled. It was then that the loud music playing penetrated her eardrums and the dimmed atmosphere began to set in. The interior was refined and anyone could easily tell it was a place for socialites only. It wasn't packed like an ordinary club would be, but there were quite a number of people.
She was so busy drinking in her surroundings that she didn't notice that she was about to collide face first into somebody. Firm arms shot out to prevent her fall, and her own grabbed the person's broad shoulders. When she looked at her victim, she immediately recognised his bewitching jade orbs.
"Are you-, it's you again."
________________________
Sorry for my sloppy updating schedule but I really think you guys deserve nothing but the best...so I take my time to write these chapters. I also don't want you to be disappointed when I tell you I'll update and then I don't end up doing just that.
On another note, how are you liking this story so far? Thoughts on the leading lady and leading man?
Love you 💗,
~Deetronite