He Called the Waitress His Wife at the Gala
CHAPTER 1 - THE HALLWAY
"Good evening, sir. May I help you?"
Lucia heard her own voice and barely recognized it.
The white marble hallway of the Belmont Grand stretched out around her, polished and bright under crystal chandeliers. Gold details curled around the tops of the columns. Soft music floated from the ballroom downstairs. Her hands stayed steady on the room service cart, even as her heart slammed against her ribs.
Then the man in the navy double-breasted suit lifted his head.
Hugh.
His blue eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost. His mouth opened, then closed again. The blonde woman on his arm tightened her grip, her dark red satin dress catching the warm light.
"Lucia..." he said, almost choking on her name.
Lucia's throat burned. She placed one hand over the curve of her belly, a gesture so natural now she barely noticed it. Six months pregnant. Six months since Hugh had stopped answering calls. Six months since she had been told, by a stranger from his office, that he had left the country for an "urgent family matter."
No goodbye. No explanation. Just silence.
She forced a small professional smile.
"Is there a problem with the service, sir?"
He took one step toward her. "What are you doing here?"
The question landed like an insult. What was she doing here? Working. Surviving. Carrying the child he didn't even know existed.
The blonde woman's green eyes flashed to Lucia's stomach and back to Hugh. "You know her?"
Hugh pulled his arm free so fast the woman stumbled half a step.
"She is my wife."
The words hit the marble walls and came back colder.
The blonde woman stared at him.
Lucia lowered her gaze before he could see her break. Then she raised one hand toward the far end of the corridor, as if this were any other guest interaction.
"Please continue to your room."
The blonde woman gave Hugh a look full of fury and humiliation. "Your room? You told me your divorce was final."
Lucia looked up so sharply the cart rattled.
Divorce.
"Please continue to your room."
And for the first time, Hugh looked as lost as she felt.
