Abigail Lacoste
Sitting at that event, I felt uneasy under that man's gaze. He was so elegant, with black hair, ocean-blue eyes, a well-groomed beard, and a beautiful smile—like a true Greek god. Smiling shyly, I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. The reporters kept asking questions, but his eyes remained on me. I felt embarrassed and something strange stirred in my heart. I had never seen someone who made me feel so disoriented. I looked to the side and saw my aunt stand up from the chair beside me. She had a small notebook and a pen in her hand, and her question went directly to Órion. He finally looked away, focused on my aunt, and smiled.
"I'm not only going to continue, but I also intend to increase the number of scholarships for young people from humble families. I want everyone to have the right to attend good colleges and become great professionals in their fields."
At that moment, it clicked—he was the governor who had implemented that project, and it was thanks to that man that I had received a scholarship to the college of my dreams. Some time later, the interviews ended, and we went straight to my aunt's house. She showed me the room I'd be staying in, and I put away my things while still thinking about that governor. The man had embedded himself in my thoughts, and I needed to know more about him.
I sat at the desk. My aunt had set up a lovely room for me, and I felt grateful for her help. I typed his name into the search bar and found his pictures. He was hugging a young woman who looked to be about my age. They both seemed happy. Just below the photo, I read something that made my heart ache. His wife had been the target of an attack on the day he won the election, and Órion had become a widower, left to raise their fifteen-year-old daughter alone. For four years, he had lived a solitary life, dedicated to his people and raising his only daughter.
"Poor man," I whispered aloud, running my hand across the computer screen. Even though Órion was smiling in the picture, I could see the pain in his eyes. It hurt me, as if he were someone close, someone I needed to take care of or protect. "This is insane." I closed the tab, got up from the chair, walked over to the bed, and collapsed onto it, running my fingers through my hair. How could a stranger affect me this much?
"Abigail." I sat up, pushing my thoughts aside. "I'm making spaghetti, want to help me?"
"Of course, Auntie, I’m coming."
I walked to the kitchen. My aunt’s apartment was simple but very cozy, with two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom, an open-concept kitchen, and a laundry area—everything neat and full of a homey atmosphere. I took the pot full of water that she handed me and placed it on the stove. She held up the package of pasta before starting to chop the seasonings. I pulled my phone from my pocket and played some '90s rock. My aunt squealed and started dancing. Our family has always been full of love. I grew up in a humble home, but love was something we never lacked.
"Welcome to your new life, darling!" she said, pulling me into a dance.
I laughed out loud, swaying along and letting the images of Órion leave my mind. That governor was a powerful man. He would never notice a simple girl like me—he didn’t even know I existed. Maybe he hadn’t even been looking at me at all, just lost in his own thoughts. I needed to forget him and focus on my studies and my internship, to make my family proud.
"Live it up! California is yours, and there are plenty of hot guys here for you to enjoy." My aunt had always been liberal—maybe a little too much. When I decided to move in with her, my brothers went crazy, jealous at the thought that I might meet someone and they’d have to come here to play the overprotective brother role.
"I don’t know, Auntie. I’m not looking for that right now. I just want to finish college and land a good job."
"Stop it." She smoothed my hair. "Don’t be like me—the lonely aunt. Fall in love, sweetheart. Give love a chance. At your age, the best thing that can happen is finding a college crush."
"Maybe. Destiny is unpredictable. Now let’s finish this spaghetti—I’m starving."
We stayed there talking. We sat at the table and had dinner together—a family tradition. Even if everyone had their own commitments, dinner time was sacred, and everyone had to sit at the table and talk about their day. It wouldn’t be any different here with my aunt. Honestly, she loved it. She always told me she was too lonely and needed company, and that I was the perfect person to fill that space.
"What did you think of the candidates?" she asked. I looked at the pasta on my fork, remembering Órion’s eyes.
"I think I have a favorite." I shrugged with a smile. "Órion Fantone. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have gotten the scholarship or been transferred to such a prestigious college."
"He’s going to win—no doubt. Everyone loves him." Smiling, she poured wine into my glass next to my plate. "I still feel bad for what happened to his wife. The bullet was meant for his chest, not hers."
"But it wasn’t his fault, from what I read." She raised her eyebrows and looked at me.
"You were researching him?" She took a sip of wine after refilling her own glass. "Abigail, why were you looking him up?"
"I just wanted to know more about the man who changed my life. You know I always dreamed of studying here, and if I’m finally doing it, it’s thanks to him."
"Hmm, I noticed the way he looked at you." My aunt placed her hand over mine and stroked it gently, locking eyes with me. "Sweetheart, you could have any boy at college, but Órion is off-limits. He’s a powerful man who won’t care about the feelings of an innocent girl like you."
"Auntie, you’re being dramatic." I stood from the chair, walked over to the sink, and placed my plate down before turning to face her. "I was just curious, that’s all."
"I hope it’s just that. Stay away from him."
I ran my hand through my hair, smiling bitterly. Of course I’d stay away from Órion. He was out of reach for someone like me. Besides, all I wanted was to finish college and avoid trouble. That same night, I stayed awake for hours, desperately trying to sleep, but I couldn’t. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was his smile—as if fate were pushing me into a bottomless pit that would only lead to a beautiful mess.