Chapter 11: The Mysterious Partner

Valeria adjusted her coat as she stepped off the plane in Paris, the city where the first official meeting for the international project would take place. Despite the long days of preparation and planning, she felt a mix of excitement and curiosity. Not only was she taking a monumental step in her career, but she also had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most renowned names in technological innovation.

Upon arriving at the luxurious hotel where she would be staying, she was greeted by her assistant, Laura, who handed her a detailed itinerary.

“Miss Valeria, the main meeting is tomorrow at ten in the morning. The representatives from the partner companies are already here, including Nicolás Beltrán.”

“Nicolás Beltrán?” Valeria asked, raising an eyebrow as she reviewed the documents.

“He’s the key partner for this project. According to reports, he’s brilliant and reserved. There’s little personal information about him, but everyone agrees he’s a genius in his field.”

Valeria nodded, putting the subject aside as she prepared for the welcome dinner.

The dinner took place in an elegant event hall. As always, Valeria dazzled with her presence, wearing a black haute couture gown that highlighted her natural elegance. While greeting other attendees, a tall man with perfectly groomed dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard approached her.

“Valeria Díaz, I presume?” he said in a deep, captivating voice.

Valeria looked up and saw him. His demeanor was impeccable, and his gray eyes seemed to analyze everything.

“That’s correct. And you are?”

“I’m Fernando, Nicolás Beltrán’s representative. I’ve heard a lot about you, but it seems our introductions are a bit delayed.”

He extended his hand, and Valeria shook it, feeling a slight spark of unexpected excitement.

“Pleasure to meet you, Fernando.”

The conversation flowed naturally. Fernando was intriguing, with a combination of confidence and humility that made him even more attractive. They talked about the project, their personal goals, and their visions for the future. Valeria couldn’t help but feel impressed by his intelligence and charisma.

“I believe we’ll make a great team,” Fernando said at the end of their conversation, with a subtle smile that seemed to hide a secret.

“I hope so,” Valeria replied, noticing her heart beating a little faster than usual.

Meanwhile, at Roberto’s house, the atmosphere was entirely different. Ever since he had seen Valeria again, tensions between him and Carolina had risen. That night, as the children slept, the argument they had been avoiding for days finally erupted.

“What the hell is wrong with you lately?” Carolina asked, her voice full of irritation. “Since that damn event, you’ve been distant, distracted, and you won’t even look at me.”

Roberto, sitting on the couch with a beer in his hand, let out a sigh.

“Do you want to know what’s wrong? Fine, I’ll tell you. I saw Valeria again.”

Carolina was silent for a moment, processing the information.

“And so what? Do you think you can go back to her now?”

“Yes, I think about it a lot. Because I never should have left her, least of all for you,” Roberto said, a mix of frustration and regret in his voice. “I chose you because I felt obligated, because you were pregnant. But look at us now. You’ve done nothing with your life. All you do is spend money, complain about everything, and you’ve let yourself go—boring, lazy, fat.”

Carolina, with tears in her eyes, looked at him in disbelief.

“That’s what you think of me? That I’m a damn burden?”

“What I think is that leaving Valeria was the biggest mistake of my life. She’s beautiful, successful... everything you’re not and never will be.”

“You’re a selfish bastard!” Carolina shouted, unable to contain her tears. “You chose me, Roberto. You chose me!”

“And I regret choosing you every single day,” he replied coldly. “I want a divorce.”

Carolina froze, as if the ground beneath her had crumbled. Roberto, without looking back, walked out of the house, leaving Carolina alone and sobbing in the living room.

Back in Paris, the meeting with the project representatives began promptly. Valeria arrived prepared, with a folder full of notes and strategies she had developed over weeks. Fernando was already there, sitting at the head of the table, and greeted her with a slight nod as she entered.

Throughout the meeting, Valeria couldn’t help but notice how Fernando dominated the conversation, offering innovative ideas and practical solutions. His presence was magnetic, and although she was also known for her leadership skills, she couldn’t help but feel intrigued by him.

At the end of the meeting, Fernando approached Valeria.

“I think we have a lot to discuss,” he said with a smile that seemed to hold intentions beyond the professional.

“Indeed,” Valeria replied, trying to maintain her composure.

Later, as they reviewed documents together in a private room, the conversation took a more personal turn.

“Tell me something, Valeria,” Fernando said, leaning back in his chair. “How does someone like you, with so much success, manage to stay so focused on everything?”

“I suppose I learned to close doors to the past,” she replied, though her mind briefly drifted to thoughts of Roberto and Carolina.

Fernando nodded, as if he perfectly understood what she meant.

“That’s admirable. Not many people have the strength to do that.”

For the first time in a long while, Valeria felt like she was with someone who not only understood her but could also challenge her.

Meanwhile, Roberto began to face the consequences of his actions. Carolina, devastated, hired a lawyer to start the divorce proceedings, and Javier, his business partner, warned him that if he didn’t change his attitude, he’d also lose his job.

As Roberto sank deeper into the chaos of his life, Valeria soared to new heights, finding in Fernando not just an ally but also a spark that threatened to reignite emotions she thought she had long buried.

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