Chapter 1 Home calls.

Her heart pounded against her chest as she fought back the tears while Mr. Chan continued talking.

"Ashley, you've been a great help to me and this Cafe, but home calls," he said with a sad smile.

He just told her about his Cafe's closure. She had worked her ass out there since she settled in Washington.

The cafe had been her main source of income since graduating from college.

Mr. Chan had been sick and on medications for months until his children urged him to come home for proper treatment, so he had to sell the Cafe.

"I'm sorry about the sudden dismissal. I know this Cafe means a lot to you, but I need to go home. Even if I were to die, I would prefer to die in my homeland."

She forced a smile despite the turmoil in my head, "Don't talk about dying. You will get well, Mr. Chan. I can always find another job. I wish you the fastest recovery."

Mr. Chan gave her a sad smile and patted her on her back. "I know you can pull out anything you want, Ashley."

She leaned in and dropped my apron on the counter. With trembling hands, she gave Mr. Chan a quick peck on his cheek. "Goodbye Mr Chan. Please take care of your health. Until we meet again."

"Bye Ashley" Mr. Chan's voice trailed off as I gently shut the door behind her.

She cast a final glance at Whispering Woods Cafe, my haven. Tears threatened to fall but I composed myself.

She remembered that morning, happily brewing coffee while Mr. Chan rested in the inner room. She was happy she would soon raise my share of the rent.

Once she closed the door behind me, tears of frustration threatened to slip down.

She sniffed and headed to the State Library just a few miles away.

She always went there to escape the harsh reality of life, and now was when she needed it the most.

Scanning the shelves and running her fingers along the crests of the books, she searched for the perfect escape from reality.

She finally settled on a copy of Cinderella and made her way to my quiet corner, she was the only reader in the library .

She loved fantasy novels because I could always pretend to be a princess who had all the work done for her rather than the reality of life.

As she engaged herself in the story, a strong scent of cologne drew her attention and she glanced up.

Her gaze landed on a tall, broad man in a suit, standing in the business section opposite her.

Curiosity gnawed at her. She tried to catch a glimpse of him and he turned. It was Owen Dalton, it felt like a dream.

She had seen him at my university business event four years ago and developed a crush on him.

Owen Dalton, the CEO of the Dalton Finance and Investment Empire. She wondered if he remembered that chance meeting.

They had never spoken, but she had harbored a secret crush on him since seeing him on the podium.

She observed him from a distance as he sorted through the section and finally picked a book.

He found a seat adjacent to her, his brows furrowed in concentration as he turned the pages of the book with focus.

Those piercing brown eyes. She wondered what stories hid behind them.

She momentarily forgot that she had no job and should be heading home, to explain what happened to her roommate, Jessica.

Owen sensed someone looking at him and he turned just in time to catch her gaze.

Caught in the act, she looked down nervously, her fingers tracing patterns on the book cover.

He averted his gaze and continued reading. His phone beeped and he returned the book to the shelf and left the library.

She heaved a sigh of relief, his gaze was so commanding. Memories of her ex, Kelvin, disrupted my thoughts.

They met when she first started at Crestwood University. She liked him because he was quite popular and handsome, unlike her who had an introverted nature.

She often caught him cheating and every time, he apologized. She always forgave him until a week ago.

She decided to pay him a surprise visit after work only to get surprised instead.

She entered the apartment with her key and immediately sensed something was off.

Her heart raced as the sound of a moan caught her ear, and she walked toward the direction of the sound that was coming from the bedroom.

There, in the bed was a blonde moaning under the sheets. Kelvin was constantly thrusting inside her and their moans filled the apartment.

"F**k me harder, Kelvin, fill my c**t" the blonde moaned through clenched teeth.

"F**k it, Avi," Kelvin's voice pierced my already cloudy ears. "You are so sweet, I could go all day long."

At that moment, she finally ended things with him and poured all her energy into working at the cafe. Enough red flags.

She shook her head back to reality, there was no point in pretending to read. She had real-life issues to address.

Returning the book to the shelf, she made my way out of the library. With the final wages from Mr. Chan in her purse, she headed to the grocery store.

After purchasing a few groceries, she rummaged through her purse and realized she had just enough money for the trip home and possibly the next day.

As she contemplated her next purchase, the voices of some kids at the coffee shop next to the grocery store drew her attention.

She approached two schoolchildren in a heated argument, they were arguing in Spanish, and asked what was wrong.

Growing up in Chicago, Ashley happened to be cast in several languages, she was hoping to get a job as a translator later in the year.

The younger one wanted a milk candy, but the older one didn't have the money. She bought them both milk candies and then showed them to the bus.

She returned back to the coffee shop to get her groceries and decided to wait for the free bus. Just as she stepped out of the cafe, she locked eyes with someone.