Chapter 5

The restaurant hummed with energy. Waiters glided between tables, their trays balanced with plates of steaming food. Glasses clinked, and soft laughter floated through the air. But for Elena Francisco, the noise blurred into a distant buzz. She sank back into her chair at the corner table, her fingers brushing the cool stem of her water glass. Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest. Across from her, Derek Norman eased into his seat, his broad shoulders stiff under his crisp black suit jacket. He avoided her gaze, staring instead at the flickering candle in the center of the table. The tiny flame danced, casting shadows across his sharp jawline. Mr. Francisco and Mrs. Norman hovered nearby, their faces a mix of hope and worry. They looked like they’d just tossed a match into dry grass and were waiting to see if it would spark a fire or a full-blown blaze. “Well,” Mr. Francisco said, his voice loud and cheerful, slicing through the heavy silence, “this is a surprise, huh? Looks like you two already know each other.