Delayed Plans

A woman with flowing brunette hair strode into Las Flores, the upscale Spanish fine-dining restaurant owned by Ricardo Rossi. Dressed in nothing more than fitted jeans, sleek rubber shoes, and a simple shirt, she should have looked out of place among the chandeliers and crisp white tablecloths. 

But despite her casual attire, she carried herself with such effortless elegance and quiet authority that not a single staff member dared question her presence—or the fact that she blatantly ignored the restaurant's strict dress code.

Without hesitation, she was escorted to one of the private dining rooms, the very one Ric had reserved the night before. As she settled in, she ordered one of the most expensive bottles of non-alcoholic wine, an indulgence despite the fact that the meal had already been pre-selected for her.