Chapter 5

"I don't like that guy!" Adelaide referred to Tristan when they entered the house. She had been saying that the whole way back home, also mentioning that her sixth sense told her to keep her distance from that guy. "He's so narcissistic and sadistic. I bet he paid for your treatment just so he wouldn't get sued right at the beginning of his career. If it wasn't for that, he would have left you stranded in the middle of the street."

Aurora didn't pay attention to what she was saying. She took the camera out of her bag and headed to the darkroom. She wanted to develop the photos she took of Tristan.

When she was in the taxi, Aurora remembered Tristan's eyes and then the eyes in the photo she took at the college festival.

"Aurora? What are you doing?" Adelaide entered the room, but her phone rang, causing her to step back and answer the call.

Minutes passed, and Adelaide had to go to the restaurant. Her boss needed her incredible culinary skills because a very important lawyer was there that night. Adelaide didn't refuse, of course, as she would earn extra money for working overtime.

After the photos had finally dried, Aurora took them off the wall, sat in a chair, and observed all those pictures. For each image she saw, she threw it onto the table, but only one remained in her hand—the last photograph she took of Tristan when he realized he was being watched by her and looked directly into the camera lens.

Aurora picked up the photo from the other day, the one with the person inside the car watching her. She looked at both photos in her hands.

"This gaze is unmistakable! Was Tristan really watching me?!" the girl thought.

***

Tristan spent the week following Aurora. He began observing her daily routine. In the morning, she had coffee at Starbucks, worked at Emotion in the afternoon, and attended college at night.

After Aurora started suspecting that Tristan was watching her, she paid more attention when she was out on the streets. On the other hand, he noticed that the girl was alert and took great care not to get caught in the act.

Even he wasn't sure why he was observing her so much and researching her life. He kept delving deeper as if he were addicted to her, like an endless maze.

One afternoon, he saw her entering the company where she worked, reading the name "Emotion" written at the entrance. He planned to have his friend research the company.

Tristan started the car and drove towards his own company. It had been a while since he had shown up there, but he didn't need to spend the whole day inside that place. Things were going so well that he was making money effortlessly, and if any problems arose, he would have someone else deal with them.

He thought about stopping following the girl for today; his life was so monotonous that he was already bored.

After parking his car, he entered his company and headed towards the elevator, receiving glances and smiles from women. When he reached the top floor, he walked to the last door, which was his office.

"Good afternoon, Tristan," Genevieve, his secretary, gave him a seductive look. "Mr. Parker is waiting for you in the office."

"I've already told you I don't like people entering my office without permission," Tristan replied.

“I tried to stop him, but..." she interrupted herself as Tristan continued walking, ignoring her.

He entered his office, seeing the man sitting in his chair with his feet up on the desk, reading some papers.

"What do you think you're doing?" Tristan questioned.

"Helping you put more money in your pocket!" Xavier, the big-eared one, threw the papers onto the desk. "I've reviewed all these contracts, and if you sign them, the company will make a huge profit."

"I'll deal with that later. Get out of my chair and take your feet off the desk."

Xavier rolled his eyes but did as his friend asked. Tristan sat in his chair, and Xavier took the chair in front of him.

"I hate to break it to you, but you have to sign all these contracts today, and you need to review this month's balance sheet," Xavier said.

Tristan sighed tiredly, realizing he had a lot to do.

"And don't complain. You've been absent these past few days. What have you been up to?"

"I want you to research a company called Emotion," Tristan ignored his friend's question, causing Xavier to make a grimace on his face but do as he was told.

Tristan started reading the contracts and signing them. Sometimes, Aurora lingered in his mind. Meanwhile, Xavier searched on his tablet about the company that interested his friend. When he found out it was a fashion company, he found Tristan's interest strange. He thought it might be a company that could help bring more money to the Callahan's business, but it didn't make sense.

After delving deeper into his research, Xavier remembered that he had heard of that company before and that his sister worked there.

"And then?" Tristan's question brought Xavier back to reality. "Did you find out about that company?"

"It's a fashion company that started its business seven years ago in Canada. After a year, they expanded to some cities in the United States, like Los Angeles. In about three years, they had business all over the country, including New York..." He mumbled to himself to keep reading until he heard something interesting. "I don't know if it's of your interest, but there's a party from that company celebrating the arrival of the owner who used to handle everything in Canada."

Tristan thought Aurora would be at that celebration. After all, she worked there, and she wouldn't miss an opportunity to have fun or enjoy expensive food and drinks for free.

He wanted to see her again, he needed to. He wanted to get closer to feel more, to go even further.

"I need to go to that party," Tristan said.

"Why?" Xavier didn't even wait for his friend to answer and said, "I already know, it's none of my business."

"Exactly."

"Fine," Xavier shrugged, getting up from the chair with a childish smile on his lips, which surprised Tristan. "Have fun trying to find a way to go while I'll be inside the party sipping champagne and laughing at your face for not being able to get past the security guards."

What? How did Dumbo manage to get a pass for the party?! Tristan thought.

Tristan's confused expression made Xavier laugh internally.

"My sister works there. She recently became the owner's secretary and invited me to this celebration. I didn't even want to go, but now that I know you're interested, I'll go just to rub it in your face."

"I'm going with you," Tristan said decisively, returning to signing the contracts. Xavier puffed his cheeks; sometimes, he didn't like the fact that Tristan always got whatever he wanted.

"How can you be so sure of that?"

“Because if you take me, I'll increase your salary.”

“Deal!” he spoke excitedly but then paused to think. “But... I'm Seraphina's guest, there's no such thing as the guest of the guest."

“Now there is.”

Tristan remembered when he met Aurora at that nightclub, when she had said she wasn't interested in him. For some reason, it left him frustrated.

He couldn't describe her. She was different. She was so... Her.

She was beautiful, and that's why he was terrified. It was a deep trap. She laughed at him in an inexplicable way. Even with cold words, she didn't push him away and didn't lose her brave and wild posture.

"What have you done?" This question echoed in Tristan's mind several times.