The morning sun shone through Isabella's apartment window as she got ready.
She put on a light blouse and an elegant skirt, simple yet charming, and looked at herself in the mirror.
"Today I'm going to coffee with Alexander… I can't look nervous."
When she reached the office entrance, Alexander was waiting for her, impeccably dressed as always, in a black suit, his hair perfectly styled.
"Good morning, Isabella," he said, with that elegant smile that made anyone's heart race.
"Good morning… sir," she replied, blushing slightly, trying to appear casual.
"Come on, I don't want you to be late for coffee," he said, offering his arm.
Isabella hesitated for a moment, but eventually accepted, feeling a strange mix of nervousness and excitement.
They walked through the streets until they reached Cafe House, a sophisticated yet welcoming place with the aroma of fresh coffee and soft music playing in the background.
"So…" Alexander began, pulling out her chair for her, "I wanted to thank you again for yesterday. Solving that problem so quickly… impressed me."
"Oh, it was nothing," Isabella replied, trying to hide her satisfaction. "But I imagine that without me, you'd be completely lost."
He laughed, an elegant sound that made the people at the next table cast curious glances.
"Probably. You really are talented, Isabella. But tell me, it's not just work that matters, right? What do you like to do outside of here?"
She sipped her coffee thoughtfully.
"I like simple things… reading, walking… sometimes I think about traveling. Nothing too extraordinary."
"Hmm." Alexander leaned in slightly, a smile on the corner of his mouth. "Simple, but charming. I bet if you wanted to, you could turn any moment into something extraordinary."
Isabella blushed, looking away.
"You talk as if you've known me for years." "She said, half-joking, half-serious.
"Maybe I see things others don't," he replied, a glint in his eye. "For example, I see that you have… a quiet determination. And that even when you smile, you carry something inside."
She was surprised.
"How... how did you notice?" he asked, trying to maintain his composure.
"It's impossible not to notice," Alexander said, leaning a little closer, "and that only makes me want to know you even more."
Isabella's heart raced.
"So that's it... you want to meet me?" she asked, nervous and curious.
"Not just meet me," he replied with a mischievous smile. "I want to make you smile, even on the hardest days."
She laughed softly, trying not to show how hot her cheeks were.
"You're full of flirting, aren't you?"
"Only when the situation warrants it," he replied, looking her in the eye in a way that made Isabella's breath catch.
Their coffee continued with light conversation, about work, hobbies, and the little details of life.
Isabella discovered that Alexander loved the piano, had a dog named Max, and enjoyed cooking on his rare days off.
He, in turn, seemed genuinely interested in hearing all about her, her dreams, her insecurities.
As they laughed over a silly story about a report Isabella had messed up on her first day, something shifted in the atmosphere of the café.
A movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention.
A tall man in a dark coat approached the table with slow steps, his eyes fixed on her.
"Wow... you're that girl I saved that day, aren't you?" The husky, intense voice made Alexander lean in slightly, suspicious.
"With a knight like that..." Dante continued, his piercing gaze fixed on Alexander and Isabella, "and he can't even save you when needed."
Alexander's smile faded, replaced by a serious expression.
Isabella swallowed, feeling her chest tighten.
Dante stopped a few steps from the table, making it clear that this café, this moment, was no longer safe or peaceful.
The heavy atmosphere settled.
Alexander remained elegant, but the tension was palpable.
Isabella, torn between Alexander's confident charm and Dante's intense danger, didn't know what to think.
Her heart was pounding, not with anger, not just nervousness… but with something deeper, more confusing.