Elena's POV
It was two weeks now since I'd left Kendall, and it's been too hard! I knew I would be fine at last. Still...it was hard.
"On the plus side," Mateo said, "you've not seen the hideous faces of those evil witches in a while now."
Mateo Garcia was my best friend in the whole world, a sweet handsome Italian business man became my friend over four years now, just after I graduated from college. He was such a darling, protecting me and caring for me.
Everyone always thought we would end up together. But we were just friends. He never showed why signs he might like me in that manner at all.
A slight smile formed on my face. "You're right." We sat for hours, just ranting about life in general.
My grandpa walked in, that old man never knocked on my door! "There's someone I'd love you to meet, my dear." He announced.
Mateo jumped up. "Grandpa. I asked about you but you weren't around earlier and--"
"--that's enough. I don't want to hear." He replied dryly. Mateo was only smiling by now.
"Grandpa, you're not still mad at Mateo for not ordering for two soup bowls the other night, are you?" I said, and the expression on his face was funny to make me laugh.
"He knows how much I loved the soups from that restaurant!" Grandpa cried out.
"I won't ever make that mistake again!. I'm sorry grandpa." Mateo said, apologizing.
I just smiled and watched the two of them act like kids..
"Come on out, he's here now." Grandpa said again and I was just forced to head downstairs with him. I had my long brown hair tied up in a bun, and since I was home that day, my face was free of makeup other than my cherry lipgloss.
"Who's he asking you to meet?" Mateo whispered to me on our way downstairs.
I shrugged. "I'm not so sure. He just said someone important to him," I confessed.
Once downstairs, there as a tall man with his back facing us. He wore a cooperate outfit, and just from his back posture, I was surprise how much he appeared so handsome.
Mateo was handsome too, with his pale brown eyes and curly hairstyle seemed to look so amazing on him, but this man looked like he'd been sculpted. When he turned his face towards us, my lips parted softly at how much he looked...sexy!
His eyes lingered on me for a while, a soft smile appearing on his face. I was melting on the inside.
My grandpa took the lead, "my dear, this is Joshua Smith, my godson. And a big investor in our firm." He said.
"Ohh he's the one you're always talking about so dearly?" I was forced to say. Grandpa always talked about a mysterious investor, just around the second year I got married to Kendall. This man invested a lot in our company and started to win my grandpa's heart.
"Hello," he said, his voice deep and charming. "It's nice to finally meet you." He said, a sweet smile resting in his eyes as he advanced forward to stretch a hand to me.
I shook his hand, that huge palm covering my tiny delicate hand. It was brief, but I loved the warmth that came with it..I was grinning like a fool now.
"Um...hi. It's an honor to meet you as well." I managed to say, hoping the excitement in my eyes wasn't too obvious.
Grandpa was smiling now at the connection we exchanged. "Guess what? He's here to invite us to his birthday party this Saturday. Isn't that right, Joshua?" Grandpa threw the question to him. And he took so much pleasure in responding to it.
"Yes. It's a little celebration at the Greenhouse hotel, just to glorify the bond that have been shared between Mr. Price. As well as our new partnership." He said proudly.
Our companies were going for a partnership program that would last three months. We both owned retail companies that sell groceries at cheaper rate to consumers, but Joshua's business was three times bigger and popular than ours, so this partnership program was a huge source of promotion for us.
"That's so sweet." I said. It still surprised me I had never seen this man before, but I was clearly getting interested in him.
"Hello, Mateo here too." Mateo said and we all laughed.
"Of course, good afternoon Mr Mateo." Joshua said."You're very much invited as well!"
"Oh that's awesome." Mateo said with a smile.
"Will you be staying with us for dinner?" Grandpa asked him.
"Actually, I was in a bit of a hurry earlier..."
"Aww so you won't join us for dinner? I'll cook!" I chirped in. My grandpa looked at me and an impressive smile appeared on his face. We had been inseparable since forever. And I knew him persuading Joshua for dinner was to strengthen our bond.
He chuckled, "Wow. Okay then..but I can't stay for too long." Finally, he said.
Instantly, we began to make preparation plans. Well, mostly me. Mateo would boil water for tea, and it would still taste bad.
I gathered some of the assistant we had at home and we all made meal preparation for that evening. Soon, we were gathered on the dining table.
"Wow. This is really delicious!" Joshua complimented.
Mateo's nose flared, "This? I think it's a bit salty."
"Ignore him." I said, brushing it off. "Did I mention that Mateo is my friend but also a big bully?"
He acted cool, shrugging as he stuffed his mouth again. "I'm just really great at telling the truth. That's all."
"Yes. He's a big bully!" Grandpa instantly agreed.
Mateo groaned. "I said I'm sorry, grandpa. I ordered two bowls of soup afterwards but you didn't eat it!"
"Plit twist, he did. He's just too stubborn to admit it." I said, giggling as grandpa's eyes widened when he stared at me in shock for exposing him.
Amidst the laughter and all, Joshua wanted to feel along too. "This is such a good way to relax. It's always just boring being the only one at home with no one to party with like this."
His comment quickly dimmed the jovial mood in the air. It was known to me that Joshua was an orphan just like me...but at least, I had grandpa.
Then, grandpa decided to ruin things...!
"You're the one who's still insisting on being single. My daughter is single now, so why don't you two hit up?"
Hit up?
"Grandpa?!" I scolded.
Even Joshua looked shocked.
"Oh, I'm so embarrassed right now. Just ignore him. Really!" I said, trying to defend myself.
To my surprise, Joshua's response caught me off guard.."That's not such a bad idea. I'd love to take you out sometime. That is...if you'd allow that too?"