Chapter 2 A Chance Encounter

Nevaeh's POV

Nevaeh's heart was still racing from her embarrassing run-in with Aiden Klein. She ducked into a nearby coffee shop, her cheeks still burning, and took a moment to catch her breath. She could hardly believe what had just happened-first the sheer terror of last night, and now, just hours later, laughing out loud at one of the most powerful men in Seattle.

"Of all people," she muttered to herself, clutching her bag and sliding into a corner booth. "Why did it have to be him?"

The coffee shop was bustling with early-morning energy: the hiss of the espresso machine, the clinking of cups, and the low hum of conversations. Nevaeh pulled out her phone, trying to distract herself from the mortifying memory of Aiden's sharp, amber gaze locking onto hers.

The man was the definition of intimidating, even when he wasn't being assaulted by a hyperactive Pomeranian. She knew she should feel sorry for laughing, but the sight of the untouchable billionaire floundering over a tiny dog had been too much. Even now, the corners of her mouth twitched upward.

Just as she was beginning to calm down, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from her dad: Hope your first day is going well! Call me if you need anything. Remember, stay away from boys!

Nevaeh rolled her eyes. Her dad's overprotectiveness was legendary, and if he ever found out about last night or, heaven forbid, about her accidental encounter with a billionaire he would have her on the next flight back to Texas.

"Not going to happen," she whispered, setting her phone down and taking a long sip of her coffee. It was too bitter, but she didn't care. Anything to ground herself.

The universe, however, seemed determined to keep her off balance.

The door to the coffee shop swung open, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees. Nevaeh's heart sank when she saw who walked in: Aiden Klein. He was still dressed impeccably in his tailored suit, his hair slicked back, his jaw clenched in a way that suggested he was about one minor inconvenience away from ripping into someone.

Nevaeh ducked lower in her seat, praying he wouldn't notice her. But fate, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor. Aiden's gaze swept across the room and landed on her almost immediately. His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, she considered crawling under the table.

But then he looked away, like she was nothing more than an insignificant speck. Relief and indignation warred within her as she watched him stride to the counter. How could someone exude that much power just by ordering a coffee? The barista looked like she might faint from the intensity of his stare.

Nevaeh tried to look anywhere but at him, but her eyes kept drifting back. There was something mesmerizing about him, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. It wasn't just his looks-though those were undeniably arresting. No, it was something deeper, a storm brewing just beneath the surface.

"Get it together," she scolded herself, tearing her gaze away. But she was too late. Aiden had already gotten his coffee, and he was now making his way to the only empty table left in the entire shop-the one right beside hers.

Of course.

Aiden sat down with a sigh, setting his coffee on the table and pulling out his phone. Nevaeh kept her eyes glued to her own drink, trying to become one with the wallpaper. She could practically feel the tension radiating off him, like he was barely holding himself together. Was he really that furious over a dog incident?

But then she heard something she didn't expect: his phone call.

"No, I'm not canceling the meeting," Aiden said, his voice low and rough. "I don't care how uncomfortable they are. I'm not in the business of making people comfortable."

Nevaeh tried not to eavesdrop, but it was impossible not to hear. His voice was commanding, the kind that demanded attention even when he was speaking quietly.

There was a pause, and his next words made her heart skip a beat. "Yes, I'll deal with the fallout from last night myself. The security team is handling it, but clearly, our hiring practices need an overhaul." His jaw clenched tighter. "I won't have this building's reputation tarnished because of one psychopath."

Nevaeh's grip on her coffee cup tightened. He was talking about her incident. The idea that her terrifying experience had reached the ears of someone as powerful as Aiden Klein felt surreal.

Aiden ended the call abruptly, his fingers drumming against the table. He looked exhausted, though he'd never admit it. His eyes scanned the room, and Nevaeh held her breath, hoping he wouldn't look her way again.

But he did.

And this time, his gaze lingered.

"What?" she blurted out before she could stop herself. The word escaped her lips in a mixture of nervousness and defiance, and she instantly regretted it.

Aiden's brows lifted, and a flash of something surprise? amusement?-crossed his face before he schooled his expression back into indifference. "Excuse me?"

Nevaeh swallowed hard. "You... you were staring," she stammered. Great. Now he probably thought she was crazy. Or worse, one of those people who wanted to get close to him because of his wealth.

Aiden tilted his head, his amber eyes studying her with a level of scrutiny that made her skin prickle. "Was I?" he asked, his voice smooth but edged with something dangerous.

"Yes," she said, though her voice sounded small.

For a moment, he didn't respond. Then, to her utter shock, a hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe I was just wondering how someone could laugh so openly at another person's misfortune."

Heat flooded Nevaeh's face, and she wanted to sink into the floor. "I wasn't- I mean, I didn't mean to-"

"That laugh," Aiden interrupted, leaning back in his chair. "It was... distinctive. Not many people laugh at me."

Nevaeh's jaw dropped. Was he teasing her? No, Aiden Klein didn't seem like the type who knew how to tease. But there it was, a subtle glint in his eye, like he was amused at her expense.

"I'm sorry," she managed, even though she wasn't entirely sure she was. "But you have to admit, that dog-"

He held up a hand, and she fell silent. His smirk was gone, replaced by the stern expression she was sure most people associated with him. "I don't find humor in chaos," he said. "But perhaps I should thank you for reminding me that some people do."

With that, he stood, grabbing his coffee and leaving her sitting there, her mouth agape.

What. Just. Happened?