Chapter 10: The Invitation

The past few weeks had been an emotional whirlwind for Valeria. From her mother’s insistence that she “settle down” to the awkward reunion with Roberto and Carolina, her life seemed to be off balance. The tranquility that had always been her refuge was being replaced by an emotional chaos she could not afford.

Determined to ignore any distractions, she stopped answering her mother’s calls and avoided conversations that could divert her from her goals. Her mind was fixed on one objective: focusing on what she truly loved—her company and her projects.

Valeria entered the boardroom with her characteristic confident stride, wearing an impeccable white pantsuit that highlighted her natural elegance. The partners were already waiting, and the conversation quickly turned to a proposal that had been brewing for weeks: an international expansion of LuxeWorld into Asian markets.

“This is a unique opportunity,” one of the senior partners said, pointing to the projections on the screen. “If we can establish ourselves in Asia, we could double our profits within the next three years.”

Valeria listened attentively, nodding as she reviewed the reports in front of her.

“I’m in. I want all of us to focus on this for the coming months. I’ll send a team to Shanghai to explore the market, and I want weekly updates.”

The decision was made, and with it came a new challenge that would keep her mind busy and focused.

After the meeting, Valeria returned to her office, where Laura, her assistant, waited with a folder in hand.

“Here’s all the information you requested about the tech startup, Ms. Valeria.”

“Perfect. Leave it on my desk.”

Once Laura left, Valeria leaned toward the folder and began reviewing it. The initial reports were standard: data on projects, finances, and marketing strategies. However, as she delved deeper, something caught her attention.

The startup’s finances were in critical condition. The numbers didn’t add up: maxed-out credit cards, a mortgaged house belonging to one of the partners, and virtually no cash flow. But what truly grabbed her interest was the name of one of the partners: Roberto Fernández.

Valeria let out a heavy sigh, leaning back in her chair.

“So, this is what’s become of you, Roberto,” she murmured.

She couldn’t help but feel a mix of satisfaction and pity. Roberto—the man who had utterly shattered her heart and left her at the altar—was now drowning in financial troubles. Out of curiosity, she dug deeper into the reports. His partner, Javier, seemed to be losing patience with Roberto, and the notes indicated growing tensions between the two.

“This could get interesting,” Valeria thought, closing the folder and setting it aside.

Across town, Roberto was lost in his own thoughts. The vision of Valeria—so radiant, flawless, and successful—had haunted him since the event. He had spent days mentally replaying his life and wondering where it had all gone wrong.

Meanwhile, his partner Javier was visibly frustrated.

“Are you going to sit there all day, or are you going to do something to save this company?” he snapped during a meeting.

Roberto barely reacted, staring off into space, trapped in a world of “what-ifs.”

That evening, after a heated argument with Carolina over her excessive spending, he decided to look up Valeria on social media. He wasn’t sure what he was hoping to find, but seeing photos of her traveling the world, attending exclusive events, and looking impeccable, he couldn’t help but compare her life to his own.

He imagined himself by her side, sharing that success and enjoying the life he felt he deserved. In his mind, he built a fictional world where he and Valeria were a power couple, dominating the business world together.

But a shout from the other room snapped him out of his thoughts. It was his son, asking him to take him to soccer practice.

“Sure thing, champ. Let’s go.”

During practice, Roberto called his lifelong friend, Eduardo, to vent.

“Eduardo, do you remember Valeria?”

“Of course. Why?”

“I saw her a few days ago. She’s more beautiful than ever. She’s successful, powerful. And me… I’m stuck here with Carolina, who does nothing but eat like crazy, spend money, and complain about everything.”

Eduardo laughed sarcastically.

“Roberto, remember you chose Carolina. You left Valeria at the altar, and now you’re complaining because your life didn’t turn out the way you imagined?”

“You don’t understand. If I had married Valeria, we’d be rich and powerful together. I’d be by the side of a spectacular woman, not stuck with fat Carolina.”

“Do you honestly think Valeria would have forgiven you? That after what you did, she’d be waiting for you all these years with open arms? Everything that’s happening to you is karma, my friend.”

Roberto fell silent, feeling the weight of his friend’s words. But deep down, he couldn’t stop thinking that maybe, just maybe, he could win back Valeria’s love.

Back in her office, Valeria was wrapping up her day when she received an email that caught her attention. It was from a prestigious international firm offering her a collaboration to lead a revolutionary project in sustainable technology.

The email detailed the scale of the project: a multimillion-dollar investment, a team of the world’s best talents, and the opportunity to position LuxeWorld as a global leader in innovation.

Valeria read the message twice, processing the magnitude of the offer. This wouldn’t just change her career—it would elevate her to a completely new level.

“This is exactly what I need,” she said softly, feeling a mix of excitement and determination.

She knew that accepting this offer would require significant sacrifices, but she also knew it was the opportunity of a lifetime.

The following weeks were a whirlwind of decisions and preparations. Valeria began delegating responsibilities to her team while preparing for her trip to meet with the executives of the international firm.

Meanwhile, Roberto remained obsessed with the idea of winning Valeria back, convinced that she was the key to solving all his problems. But Valeria was more focused than ever on her own path, determined to prove that she didn’t need anyone to achieve success.

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