5. A Queen and More

Luca

Diane looked radiant in the champagne-gold dinner dress that slitted up her thighs, offering a teasing glimpse of her toned legs as she moved, and hugged her more enhanced curves with the dainty jewelry that adorned her neck and wrists, complimenting her glow.

She looked different from the woman I used to know—the woman whose heart I had broken.

She was poise and elegant; the type of woman that was almost unattainable.

The look in her eyes.

The way she spoke and moved around so gracefully—like a goddess.

The perfectly rehearsed professional smile on her face was all enough to make me argue that the woman before me wasn't Diane but someone else.

However, the mixture of anger and shock in her eyes as her gaze landed on me was enough proof that indeed it was her.

My ex-girlfriend, and the only woman I had truly loved.

The same woman I had walked away from was standing before me, and this time, it wasn't a fragment of my imagination.

I knew I had broken her heart in a bad way, and the moment I hit my milestones, I searched for her, but it seemed like she deliberately hid herself away from me.

My life has not remained the same since I left her. 

I had desperately sought after the kind of love we shared, but it was as if the universe had closed the possibility of me experiencing that with any other woman.

Even the money and status I had attained could not buy back what I had lost in her.

As she gracefully shook hands with Diego, my best friend, and exchanged formal pleasantries with him, I couldn't help but stare.

She completely ignored me, but I didn't mind as it gave me more time to marvel at her presence.

She was more beautiful than I can remember. The woman I dated throughout my college days hardly wore makeup. But here she was, dressed like a royalty with a red lipstick that made her lips inviting.

Her skin was creamy and flawless like porcelain, glowing under the light. 

Her hair wasn't the beautiful shade of black that added to her petite adore. Instead, it was dyed blonde and styled perfectly into loose curls, adding a sophisticated look to her already confident self.

Her long lashes framed her amber eyes, making them shine brightly.

Diego placed his hands around my shoulder, bringing my attention back to the present.

“Miss Allen,” he said to Diane in a respectful tone. “Allow me to introduce you to Luca Belluci, my best friend and one of the leading hoteliers in the country.”

Slowly, her eyes turned to me and our eyes met, leaving me speechless.

The hatred and anger from earlier were all gone, replaced by a sweet, professional smile.

“Hi, I’m Diane Allen, CEO of Hope Horizons,” she stretched her hands for a handshake with the same smile playing on her face. “It's nice to meet you, Mr. Belluci.”

Her voice was smooth and melodic. But the title—Mr Belluci—felt like a dagger to my heart.

CEO?

Diane was the CEO of the largest charity organization in the country. How did she manage to pull this off? How did she rise to the position?

For a moment, my gaze moved from Diane to the petite woman standing beside her, whom I guessed was her secretary or PA, as I silently contemplated if it would be a good time to try mending things with her.

After a few seconds, I decided that now wasn't a good time and chose to play along with her instead.

“Hi, Miss Allen. The pleasure is all mine.” Before I could stop myself, I took her hand in mine and brought it to my lips, pressing a kiss on it.

Gritting her teeth behind her smile as she tried to maintain her composure, she watched me but didn't try to pull her hands away.

Her hands felt soft and warm beneath my touch, and it took everything in me to let go of it.

She forced a smile and turned to Diego as if I wasn't important. “It's nice making your acquaintance, Mr. Jones. The organization is truly grateful for your generous donation.”

Diego let out a small laugh, obviously captivated by her charm as well as I was. “It's a privilege working with you, Miss Allen. You've done remarkable work.”

Diane's smile never left her face. “Well, enjoy the rest of the evening, gentlemen.” She gave us both a small nod before turning away with the woman following closely behind her.

The moment she was out of sight, Diego let out a low whistle, shaking his head in admiration. “Now, that is a Queen right there.”

I ignored his statement, as I grabbed a glass of champagne from the tray of a passing server.

I sipped it, my eyes following Diane as she moved effortlessly through the room, exchanging pleasantries. 

The guilt and regret I had felt on the night I broke up with her came rushing back, along with a million other questions.

How could I have been so blind and selfish, to let her go? 

“Come on, Luca—don’t ogle at her. It's embarrassing.” Diego said in a teasing tone as he stood beside me with one hand in his pants pocket and the other holding a glass of cocktail.

I finally turned my head, facing him. 

“Why shouldn't I?” I asked in a low tone, my jaws clenching slightly in irritation.

Diego noticed and laughed at my expression, clapping me on my back. “Because she is not your regular woman. She is way out of your league, Bro.”

“Way out of my league? That's ridiculous.” I scoffed.

Diego smirked. “She is every man’s dream woman,” he continued, “and she'll have a man like you for breakfast.”

Hmm…

His words settled in my head, making me more intrigued to know who this new Diane was.

My gaze left Diego, searching through the room for the familiar champagne-gold dress and blonde hair.

Then I saw her, standing in front of one of the huge paintings that adorned the room with her secretary—or PA—beside her; the crowd around her had dissipated and I took it as the right time to approach.

“I’ll be right back,” I patted Diego on his shoulder, sauntering across the room to where Diane was standing, looking so majestic.

“Good luck,” he called after me, laughing softly.

She saw me approaching, and her eyes locked on mine, cold and unreadable as if telling me to back off.

But not this time.

When I got to where they stood, her assistant was the first to address me.

“Mr. Belluci—can I help you, Sir?”

“Miss, could you excuse us for a moment, please?” I spoke to the petite woman in the black dress, my eyes never Diane's. “I'd like to talk with your boss.”

The woman adjusted the rim of her glasses as she glanced at Diane, who had silently been watching me all along, for approval.

Diane finally turned to her, her rehearsed smile back in place. “It’s alright, Jane. This shouldn't take longer than three minutes.”

“I’ll be waiting at the corner, ma’am,” she gave Diane a polite nod. “Excuse me.”

“You have exactly three minutes,” Diane said as soon as the woman was out of earshot.

“Diane…I…” I opened my mouth to speak but the way her gaze bore into me stopped my brain from conjuring up words.

Just as I decided to try again, a female voice cut through the speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome the new CEO of Hope Horizons….Miss Diane Allen.” The voice said, announcing her presence as the spotlight landed on her, barely missing me, and the crowd erupted in applause.

Diane placed her hand on her chest as she reveled in adoration and I thought to use the opportunity to take her hands in mine—once again—and lead her to the podium.

Surely, she won't refuse me with this much attention on her.

Just as I stretched my hand forward, a man appeared behind her and placed his hand on her back.

The gesture stopped me in my tracks as my chest knotted with jealousy.

“You’re so sweet, Marko,” she said to him, looking at him with a warm smile—one that reached her eyes.

The type she used to give me when she was my woman.

Who was he?

Surely, her reaction to him meant that they were close.

I clenched my fist in annoyance as I watched him lead her up the podium—away from me.

Diane was mine once; she will be mine again.