Chapter 2 --- 💼🔥 Chapter 2: The Billionaire Shows Up... Again 😏🍷

POV: Aria Collins

I stared at the front door of the café for five solid minutes after Mr. Billionaire walked out. 😤

"What was that?" my coworker Lana whispered, elbowing me from behind the counter. She was petite, full of attitude, and had been working with me at Brew Haven for months. Best hype girl ever.

I blinked out of my daze. "That was... a rich, annoying flirt who nearly ran me over this morning."

"Girl," she gasped. "That's Lucien Cross."

I frowned. "Who?"

"You don't know who Lucien Cross is?" she said, gaping. "He's the CEO of CrossTech - worth billions. Shows up in Forbes, GQ, everywhere. That man could buy this café, fire all of us, and replace us with espresso robots if he wanted."

Oh. Crap. 😳

I pressed my hand to my chest. "And I just insulted him like a lunatic..."

"And he came back," she whispered, eyes wide. "With your phone. That's not normal."

I hated how fast my heart was beating. 💓

"He said we'd meet again."

"Girl..." Lana looked at me like I was a walking romance novel. "I think your broke-a** just caught a billionaire's eye."

I scoffed and turned away, pretending to wipe the espresso machine. "That's not a good thing."

But deep down... I didn't believe that.

---

POV: Lucien Cross

"She was working at a café," I said to my assistant Max as we entered my office the next morning.

Max, always dressed like he walked out of a fashion magazine, tilted his head. "And you're telling me this... why?"

"She didn't care who I was," I muttered, leaning back in my chair.

"You almost ran her over."

"She had attitude. Fire."

Max smirked. "You like her."

"I don't," I snapped too fast. "She's interesting, that's all."

He raised an eyebrow. "You've never gone out of your way for anyone, Lucien. Not even for-"

"Drop it," I said, cutting him off.

Truth was, I couldn't stop thinking about her. The way she looked at me like I was just a man, not a billionaire. The way she didn't fall at my feet. The way she challenged me with those fire-brown eyes. 🔥👀

She didn't want anything from me.

And that made me want everything from her.

---

POV: Aria Collins

"Rent's due Friday," my landlord barked over the phone.

I sighed. "I know, Mr. Grant. I'm trying-"

"You've been trying for two months. If I don't see payment, I'm changing the locks."

I hung up, nearly in tears. 😢

Then my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number:

> "You forgot something in the café. Check behind the counter." - L.C.

My heart jumped. I turned to Lana.

"He's texting you now?" she asked, almost squealing.

We both looked behind the counter - and found a white envelope.

Inside? $500.

I gasped.

Attached was a note:

> "Before you throw it in my face - it's not charity. Just think of it as... interest."

Interest? 😳

"What are you going to do?" Lana whispered.

I didn't know.

But I was pretty sure I was being pulled into a world I didn't belong in.

---

POV: Lucien Cross

"She won't accept the money," Max predicted over breakfast.

"I'm not giving her a choice," I said, sipping my coffee. "I want her close. This keeps her thinking about me."

"And what's the plan, boss?"

"I don't know yet. But when she's desperate enough, I'll give her one offer she won't be able to refuse."

"Marriage?" Max said with a grin.

I didn't answer.

Because even I wasn't sure... what I really wanted from her. 😈

---

📝 Author's POV:

Aria had no idea that her life was about to spin out of control - that a flirtatious billionaire with too much power and not enough heart had just decided she would be part of his life.

And Lucien? He had no idea that the girl with the fire in her eyes would change his world forever. 💔🔥💍

Their first meeting was fate.

But what's coming next... is destiny.