Chapter 2 A Glimpse into the unknown

The following morning, I saw the same grey haze outside the window in my room. As usual, the city looked to be bustling with activity, but I felt something was off.

Something about that man-Alexander Steele-remained in my memory after shutting the café, like the faint aroma of coffee, for reasons I couldn't exactly describe. Pulling on my old trainers, I perched on the side of my bed while the daylight fought its way through the thin drapes.

My morning ritual had become automatic: clean my teeth, put on my uniform, and have a short meal. However, I felt like I was walking a bit more slowly today, and I kept thinking about those sharp grey eyes and the way he had talked to me as if he had noticed something in me that I hadn't noticed in myself.

I tried to get out of it by shaking my head. I mumbled to myself, "Lorena, you're being ridiculous." "He's most likely completely forgotten about you." I couldn't stop wondering, though, as I made my way to the café the cool morning wind brushed my face. Who was he? What did he mean when he said that dreams were significant?

When I got there, the café was already bustling with patrons. Behind the counter, Mia was juggling a tray of hot lattes with the dexterity of a circus act.

"Good morning, Lorena!" she yelled, grinning at me.

"Good morning," I said, putting on a fake grin while fastening my apron around my waist.

I had little trouble getting into the swing of things, taking orders, cleaning tables, and avoiding the occasional coffee spill. However, despite my hectic schedule, I couldn't help but glance at the door every few minutes, half expecting him to enter again.

By the time lunchtime arrived, I was worn out. My feet hurt, and I had the uneasy feeling that my back might collapse at any second. I took a moment to rest against the counter and drink a glass of water to regain my breath.

The door then swung open as though my thoughts had called him. Alexander Steele entered, and I froze, my heart pounding.

He was as dominant as he had been the day before, and I briefly lost my breath.

With a gentle prod with her elbow, Mia said, "Lorena." "He's back." Are you acquainted with him?

In the hope that my face wasn't as red as it felt, I shook my head rapidly. "No... Not really, I mean.

She smirked and added, "Well, he's looking at you," before rushing off to serve another client. I forced myself to move as I swallowed hard. I could feel his eyes on me as I walked up to his table, and my hands became clammy.

I said, "Good afternoon," with a little tremor in my voice. "What am I able to get you today?"

For an instant, I was certain he could hear my heartbeat as his lips formed a little smile. "Miss Matthews, I'll have a black coffee. And if you're not too busy, maybe a little of your time.

I was taken aback and blinked. "Oh, of course. First, I'll grab your coffee. My hands fumbling, I hurried to the counter to prepare his order.

Mia arched an eyebrow at me, but she remained silent despite my sense of her interest. I went back to his table and he motioned me to have a seat.

His voice was calm and courteous as he remarked, "I hope I'm not interrupting."

After slipping into the seat opposite him, I said, "No, it's okay."

I felt as though my nerves were burning brightly, yet behind it all was a weird feeling of exhilaration. He started by saying, "I wanted to thank you," keeping his eyes fixed on mine. "For yesterday." I don't typically spend much time in little cafés, but there's something about this place that feels... calming. I cocked my head in confusion.

"Grounding?" With a contemplative face, he nodded. "Yes. It takes me back to a simpler period before life became difficult. I was unsure of how to react, so I paused.

"You mean, before becoming a multibillionaire?" His eyes were shadowed, yet the corner of his mouth twitched. "Something along those lines." We both remained silent for a moment. As I observed him, I could no longer hear the sounds of the café.

At close range, he appeared more... human than the indestructible character I had envisioned. "Lorena, do you ever think you were destined for something more?"

The stillness was broken by his abrupt question. It was a surprise question. "I suppose I used to. However, things don't always go as planned in life.

He gave me a long nod, as though he fully grasped my meaning. Our current course isn't always the one we were intended to follow. However, it's always possible to alter course. I felt a glimmer of optimism that I hadn't had in years as he spoke. However, a voice cut us off before I could reply.

"Look there, Alex."

When I turned, I saw a beautiful woman standing close to our table, her black hair falling in a waterfall pattern over her shoulders.

Her shoes clicked on the tiled floor as she walked up, her clothes immaculate. Alexander's visage softened a little, his serene manner giving way to something icier.

His tone was abrupt as he continued, "Victoria." In unspoken condemnation, the woman's nicely arched eyebrow raised as her eyes shifted to mine. "I didn't know you were... busy." With haste, I got up and remarked, "I was just leaving."

I sensed the tension rising between them, and my heart fell. "No need," Victoria responded with ease, a smile that stopped short of her eyes. "Alex has plenty of time for the two of us," I said.

I had the unshakeable impression, nevertheless, as I was leaving, that I had just entered a far more complex situation than I had anticipated.