Chapter 1 Crush on billionaire chapter 1

Amara Rivera adjusted her apron for the fifth time that morning, fighting back a yawn as the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the small café.

Another Monday. Another long shift. Another day of serving grumpy customers with too much money and not enough manners.

"Table three wants almond milk, not regular!" her manager, Tara, called from behind the counter.

"Got it!" Amara grabbed the steaming cup and hurried toward the corner table. Her sneakers squeaked slightly against the tiled floor.

But as she rounded the corner, it happened.

Her body collided with something-no, someone. A tall, solid wall of a man. Before she could react, hot coffee spilled across his expensive-looking suit.

"Oh my God!" she gasped, eyes wide as she looked up... and froze.

Piercing blue eyes stared down at her. Sharp jawline. Dark, perfectly styled hair. And an expression that could freeze fire.

Damian Knight.

Even without knowing his name, Amara had seen him enough times to recognize him instantly. The cold, untouchable billionaire who owned the skyscraper across the street. The man who walked past the café almost every morning like he owned the whole city.

And now... she'd just spilled coffee all over his thousand-dollar suit.

"Watch where you're going," he said, voice low and dangerously calm.

Amara's cheeks flushed hot. "I-I'm so sorry! Let me get napkins-"

He lifted a hand, stopping her. "Forget it," he said, stepping back like her touch was poison. "Just... stay out of my way next time."

Before she could apologize again, he turned and walked out of the café, leaving behind the strong scent of expensive cologne... and a very embarrassed Amara.

Her heart raced in her chest as she stared after him.

Great.

Just her luck.

Her first real interaction with a billionaire... and she'd ruined his suit.

Little did she know... this was just the beginning.

The bell above the café door chimed again, but this time, Amara didn't bother looking up. Her heart was still pounding from her earlier disaster.

"Girl... what just happened?" her coworker, Mia, whispered as she rushed over, wiping her hands on her apron.

Amara groaned, hiding her face behind the cash register. "I spilled coffee on a customer. But not just any customer... Damian Knight."

Mia's mouth dropped open. "Wait... the Damian Knight? As in, the billionaire? The one on every business magazine cover?"

Amara nodded miserably.

Mia giggled, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Well, if you're going to spill coffee on someone, at least make it someone rich and hot."

Amara shot her a glare. "You're not helping."

By lunchtime, the incident became the hottest topic among the café staff. Everyone had something to say about "The Coffee Spill".

But Amara just wanted to forget it.

Unfortunately, the universe had other plans.

Later that afternoon, while she was restocking the sugar packets, the café door opened... and the air seemed to shift.

She turned-and froze.

Damian Knight was back.

This time, he wasn't wearing the stained suit. He was in a tailored navy blue jacket, crisp white shirt underneath, and sleek black pants. Every inch of him screamed money and danger.

But what shocked Amara most... was that he was looking right at her.

Without breaking eye contact, he walked straight up to the counter.

"Black coffee," he said simply, placing a hundred-dollar bill on the counter like it was pocket change.

Amara blinked. "S-Sure... coming right up."

As she prepared the coffee with shaky hands, she felt his gaze on her the entire time.

When she handed him the cup, his fingers brushed hers-just for a second-but it was enough to send a strange chill down her spine.

"Try not to spill this one," he said, lips curling into the smallest hint of a smirk before turning and walking out again.

Amara stood frozen behind the counter, heart racing faster than it had all day.

What... was that?

Mia appeared at her side, practically squealing. "Oh. My. God. Did you see that? He was totally flirting with you!"

Amara shook her head. "No way. Not a chance. Guys like him don't notice girls like me."

But deep down... a small, foolish part of her wondered...

What if... this billionaire... was starting to notice her?

For the rest of the afternoon, Amara tried to focus on work, but her mind kept drifting back to him. Damian Knight.

She could still feel the way his fingers had lightly brushed hers when he took the coffee. That tiny smirk on his face... like he enjoyed making her nervous.

What did a man like that even want from a place like this? He could afford the most expensive coffee shops in the city.

So why here? Why today? And why... her?

Amara shook her head. Stop it, she scolded herself. He probably already forgot her name-if he ever knew it in the first place.

By closing time, her feet ached, and her apron smelled like coffee and vanilla syrup. She sighed in relief as she stepped out onto the sidewalk, pulling her hoodie over her head. The city air was cool, with distant traffic noises and flashing lights from late-night taxis.

As she waited for the bus, her phone buzzed.

Mia: Girl, check the city gossip blog... now.

Amara frowned and clicked the link Mia sent. Her heart dropped.

A blurry photo popped up on her screen. The headline read:

"Cold-Hearted Billionaire Seen at Small Downtown Café... New Mystery Woman?"

Her breath caught in her throat.

The photo was of Damian... standing at the café counter... with her in the background, handing him his coffee.

Amara's stomach twisted.

"No, no, no..." she whispered to herself.

It was already bad enough that she embarrassed herself in front of him. Now her face was on some gossip blog?

She shoved her phone in her pocket just as the bus pulled up. Climbing in, she kept her head low, hoping this ridiculous attention would blow over by morning.

Little did she know...

Damian Knight had seen the article too.

And now... she had his full attention.

Damian Knight scrolled through his phone with mild irritation.

His assistant, Eric, stood nearby, nervously shifting from foot to foot. "Sir... about the article. Should we contact the blog for a takedown?"

Damian's cold blue eyes narrowed at the blurry image on his screen. There she was-the girl from the coffee shop-caught mid-smile, her dark hair pulled back, cheeks flushed.

The headline was laughable. "New Mystery Woman?"

As if.

He should have been annoyed. He hated being dragged into pointless rumors. But for reasons he couldn't explain... he wasn't annoyed at all.

He zoomed in on the photo, focusing on her.

"Leave it," he said finally, locking his phone.

Eric blinked. "Sir?"

"I said leave it." Damian's tone made it clear there would be no more discussion.

---

Meanwhile, across the city...

Amara sat on her tiny bed in her studio apartment, staring at the article for the hundredth time.

Her heart was racing with a mix of embarrassment and panic.

What if people from work saw this? What if Tara fired her for bringing 'unwanted attention' to the café?

Her phone buzzed again. This time it was Mia calling.

"Girl! You're famous!" Mia shrieked the moment Amara picked up. "Do you know how many views this article already has? And the comment section? People are already shipping you two!"

Amara groaned, burying her face in her pillow. "This is a nightmare."

"Or... the start of something fun," Mia teased.

Amara was about to argue when another text popped up. This one from an unknown number.

Her heart stopped.

Unknown Number: Be at your front door in five minutes. We need to talk.

Her stomach twisted painfully.

Who was this?

Before she could respond, there was a loud knock at her apartment door.

Amara's eyes widened.

Slowly, with trembling hands, she walked toward the door, peeking through the peephole.

And there he was.

Damian Knight.

Standing at her doorstep.

In the middle of the night.