Capítulo 7: FINDING HER
Antonio sat behind his desk, his mind focused on the latest business reports in front of him. Beta Jerome entered the room with an unusual look on his face.
"What is it, Jerome?" Antonio asked, briefly looking up from the papers.
"I've found her," Jerome said, his voice low and confident.
Antonio's head snapped up, his eyes locking onto Jerome's. "Found who?"
Jerome hesitated for a moment before speaking. "The woman from the gala. Rachel."
Antonio's expression changed from curiosity to shock. He felt like he had been punched in the gut. "What do you mean you've found her?" he demanded, his voice rising.
Jerome stepped forward, a small smile playing on his lips. "I've located her, sir. She's been living in the city, keeping a low profile."
Antonio's mind raced as he tried to process this information. He had thought he would never see her again, that she was just a fleeting moment in his life. But now...
"Bring her to me," Antonio said finally, his voice firm.
Jerome nodded and turned to leave, but Antonio's next words stopped him.
"No, wait. I'll go to her."
Jerome's lips curled into a slight smile. "I'll prepare the car then," he said and left the room.
Antonio's heart was racing as he stood up, his mind filled with thoughts of Rachel. He couldn't believe he was going to see her without trying too hard as he had been distracted lately, trying to catch the culprit behind Olivia's leaked messages and photos.
Just as he was about leaving the office, his secretary came in.
"You have a meeting with the marketing team in 20 minutes, Sir," she said.
"Cancel it," Antonio said, rushing past her.
"Huh," the secretary said surprisingly as she watched Antonio go into the elevator.
Shock was written all over Antonio's face as Jerome pulled over in front of an apartment barely 30 minutes away from the company.
How was she so close and they never bumped into each other?
Antonio took a deep breath. "How do I look?" he asked Jerome.
"Awesome as always, Alpha," Jerome replied, a smile plastered across his face.
Jerome noticed Antonio's nervousness and chuckled lightly. "My Alpha, you don't have to push it too much. Just allow the conversations flow naturally, or you might scare her away."
"I'll try. It's my first time, you know," Antonio said, rubbing his sweaty plans on the smooth surface of his trousers.
Antonio got out of the car and smoothened his suit perfectly to his body before heading upstairs. His head pounded fast as he knocked on the door, waiting for Rachel to open up.
The door opened, and Rachel stood before him, looking more beautiful than he remembered. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she took a step back, as if unsure of what to do.
"Antonio," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Rachel," he replied, his voice shaking slightly. "Can I come in?"
Rachel hesitated for a moment before nodding and stepping aside. Antonio entered the small apartment, his eyes scanning the room as he tried to take in everything at once.
"What are you doing here, Alpha?" Rachel asked, as Antonio took his seat. "Firstly, let me get you something to drink"
Antonio shook his head, his eyes locked onto hers. "No, I just want to talk."
Rachel nodded, and took a seat on the couch opposite him, the tension between them obvious.
"Why did you leave the gala that night?" Antonio asked finally, his voice barely above a whisper.
Rachel took a deep breath before speaking, her words spilling out in a rush. "I was scared, Antonio. I didn't know who you were or what you wanted. And then I saw the way you looked at me, and I knew I had to get out of there."
Antonio's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with questions. But before he could ask any of them, Rachel spoke again.
"But I've been thinking about you ever since the scandal," she said, softly "I wanted to know if you were fine, but I knew it wasn't my place."
Antonio's eya dropped, and he fidgeted with his hands. "Well, I've been coping pretty well, but it's being tough. Thanks for your concern" he said, his voice low and husky.
"By the way, why are you here?" Rachel asked, taking Antonio by surprise.
Antonio's chest tightened as he searched for the right excuse, trying not to show his nervousness. "Nothing much, just wanted to be friends."
Rachel's eyes snapped up to his, surprise and curiosity written across her face. "Friends?" she asked. "No, that's not possible."
Antonio leaned forward, his eyes locked onto hers. "I mean what I said. I want to be your friend, what could be so wrong about that?" he asked. "I saw the way you hide behind your beauty and your charm. And I wanted to know more."
Rachel's face went white, and she looked like she had been punched in the gut. "But Alpha, I'm a lowly Omega, I dare not dream of being friends with you."
"There's no hierarchy when it comes to friendship. I like you, Rachel, but I don't want to rush things. I'll give you enough time to be comfortable with me," Antonio assured.
But then, something unexpected happened. Rachel's face crumpled, and she began to cry. Antonio's instincts kicked in, and he moved to sit close to her, he pulled her into his arms, holding her close as she sobbed.
As Rachel cried, Antonio held her close, his heart aching with a mix of emotions. He didn't know what she was going through, but he knew it was deep. He stroked her hair, whispering soft words of comfort, trying to soothe her pain.
After a few moments, Rachel's sobs subsided, and she pulled back, her eyes red and puffy. Antonio handed her a tissue, and she blew her nose, a small smile on her face.
"Sorry about that," she said, her voice shaky.
Antonio shook his head. "Don't apologize," he said. "You're safe here. You can trust me."
Rachel looked up at him, her eyes searching. "Why are you being so kind to me?" she asked. "I was rejected by my mates because I don't have a wolf, I was banished too, it hurts to finally have someone care about me."
Antonio's heart skipped a beat. He was touched by her words.
She must have really been through a lot.
Rachel's gaze lingered on his, and for a moment, Antonio thought he saw a glimmer of hope. But then, she looked away, her shoulders sagging.
"I don't know if I can trust anyone," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Antonio's heart ached. He knew that feeling, that fear of being hurt again. But he also knew that trust had to start somewhere.
"Let's start small," he said. "Tell me something about yourself. Something no one else knows."
Rachel hesitated, then looked up at him, a small smile on her face. "I like to paint," she said. "I find solace in it."
Antonio's eyes lit up. "That's nice, I'd love to see your work," he said.
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