After several hours of flight, Marco arrived at his destination, "Mexico." He had previously worked with people from this country and thus anticipated a pleasant experience, citing their previous kindness.
Upon his arrival, a driver was already waiting for him. Marco asked to be taken to his hotel; however, on the route, the driver was listening to a singer from years past.
Being fluent in Spanish, Marco inquired, "Excuse me, what's the singer's name?"
The driver replied that in his country, the singer was an icon known as "the prince of song."
"That seems like a romantic lyric," Marco remarked, listening to the song playing at a low volume, so as not to discomfort his soon-to-be boss for a month.
Noticing Marco's interest, the driver handed him a CD, saying, "All his songs are on there." Marco read each song title written on it; yet, one, in particular, caught his attention. He asked the driver, "Could you play track number seven?"
The driver nodded and changed the song. As the music began, Marco listened intently, hoping it wasn't something that would floor him. He remained silent until the song started:
Lies, they are all lies
Things that people say
To claim our love is forbidden
That I'm forty and you're twenty
They say I'm autumn in your life
While you're the sweet spring
They don't know I harbor a summer
That burns when I gaze at you
Forty and twenty
Forty and twenty
Love is what matters
Not what people say
Forty and twenty
Forty and twenty
Take my hand
Walk with me
Facing forward
It doesn't matter if they don't understand me
And whisper behind my back
About the significant difference
That I'm forty and you're twenty
They don't know I have life experiences
And you hold such innocence
They're unaware our secret
Is your youth and my experience
Forty and twenty
Forty and twenty
Love is what matters
Not what people say
Forty and twenty
Forty and twenty
Take my hand
Walk with me
Facing forward.
After hearing the song's lyrics, Marco realized he was making a mistake by distancing himself from the one who had made him feel alive for the first time. So he told the driver to "Turn around and take me back to the airport."
"Are you sure, sir? The Palacios are expecting you," the driver responded.
Reflecting on this, Marco replied, "You're right; I'll do what I came to do, but I won't extend my stay. I'll only be here for two weeks, and I will pay you for your service as agreed." Jacinto, the driver, nodded and took him to his hotel.
While contemplating, Marco thought he must return and clarify what happened between him and Alexa, and he would take responsibility for her; even at the risk of a clash with Lucio and Mariana over their ages, he was willing to take that chance.
Then he said to Jacinto, "May I borrow that disc? I want to copy that music onto my computer; it'll only be a moment."
"Sure, boss, as you command. If you like, I'll give it to you. My wife at home has several; she's a fan of that singer; sometimes I even believe she would leave me for him," the driver joked, prompting a smile from Marco with his wittiness.
Days have passed, and Alexa has abandoned the notion that she's being pursued. In contrast, the security tasked with watching over her have realized someone else is shadowing the young woman. Thus, they've split shifts to ensure her protection in the morning, afternoon, and evening, always with two of them on guard.
Carlota has sent people to take Alexa away, needing her to marry Luke as she and her daughter have depleted the Ferreti fortune and wish to keep it a secret. Whether by choice or not, she would marry off that foolish girl to Luke Simonds, whose father was a man of consequence and required this marriage for financial salvation.
Meanwhile, Luke, on a golf course with his father, is asked when he will introduce his girlfriend. Luke claims she's shy and he doesn't want to pressure her, but he's contemplating engagement, and his grandmother is delighted with the notion.
"If that's the case, use whatever I have to spoil that girl. If she makes my son happy, the cost doesn't matter—everything I own is yours," his father assured him.
"I know, Dad. And thanks for bailing me out that time and keeping it quiet," Luke responded.
"Don't worry; I'd do anything for you," his father said.
Luke knew that (while thinking, 'You'll prove it when the time is right').
Luke agreed with Alexa's grandmother's plan to take her and force her into marriage. But what he didn't realize was that he was about to awaken a monster.
The days continued to pass, marking two weeks since Marco's trip… and this week, Alexa has been unusually hungry, attributing it to anxiety after seeing news of Marco in Mexico, arm in arm with a woman eyeing him seductively, causing Alexa’s heart to shrink at the sight.
On the other hand, Marco is ready to return to Italy after 15 days, struggling to stop thinking about Alexa, eager to see her and make a straightforward proposal.
As Marco packs his office, Mia Palacios, the daughter of his business partner, enters. A beautiful and determined woman, her sole ambition is to become the new Mrs. Lombardo.
To Marco, Mia is a good friend; her father had done business with him, and she lived many years in Italy before deciding to return to her homeland.
"I've decided to go with you, Marco. The business folk are pleased with our work, and I don't want to leave things halfway. I'll be learning from you for a while before I come back to improve operations; my father will oversee the construction projects. I hope that's okay with you," Mia proposed.
Without hesitation, Marco agreed, seeing no issue in adding another member to his team.
Then the secretary announced Efrain Palacios's arrival. Efrain seemed anxious as he said to Marco, "I need you to stay one more week. There's a problem with one of the chosen sites. Once the land arrangement is settled and registered, you can leave. Please help us."
Marco wanted to grab his things and depart immediately, but these people had been so hospitable that he couldn't abandon them.
So, he had no choice but to agree.
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