Lana couldn't explain why Mick Donovan stayed on her mind.
It wasn't like they had spoken.
They hadn't.
He had simply looked at her.
Yet somehow, that brief moment followed her all the way home.
Ridiculous.
She barely knew who he was.
The next day, Rosewood Café was unusually busy.
Lana tied her apron and immediately got to work.
"Morning, sunshine," Emma greeted.
"It's too early for your energy."
"It's never too early."
Lana laughed and grabbed a tray.
The familiar routine helped clear her thoughts.
Coffee.
Customers.
Orders.
Simple.
Normal.
Exactly what she needed.
Until the café door opened.
The soft bell chimed overhead.
Emma suddenly froze.
Then she grabbed Lana's arm.
"Don't look now."
Lana sighed.
"Whenever people say that, I always look."
And she did.
A man had just entered the café.
Tall.
Well-dressed.
Confident without being arrogant.
His attention remained on his phone as he walked toward an empty table near the window.
Something about him felt familiar.
Then Lana remembered.
"Ayden."
Emma gasped dramatically.
"So you do know him!"
"Know him? No."
Emma stared.
"That's Leo Ayden."
The same surname she'd overheard during the business meeting.
The same name from yesterday.
Interesting.
Leo sat alone near the window.
Rain tapped softly against the glass.
A laptop rested in front of him while he typed something quickly.
He looked busy.
Focused.
Completely unaware of the attention he was attracting.
Several customers glanced his way.
Leo ignored them all.
"Wow," Emma whispered.
"What?"
"He's handsome."
Lana rolled her eyes.
"You say that about every man who wears a suit."
"Not true."
"It is absolutely true."
Emma opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
"...okay, maybe."
A few minutes later, Lana carried drinks to nearby tables.
As she passed Leo's table, she accidentally heard part of a phone conversation.
"No."
His voice was calm.
Firm.
"I won't approve that."
A pause.
Then:
"I don't care how much they're offering."
Lana continued walking.
But she couldn't help noticing something.
Leo sounded different from most businessmen.
Less greedy.
Less fake.
More... genuine.
Strange.
Hours passed.
The lunch rush finally slowed.
Lana sighed in relief.
Until Emma appeared.
With a mischievous smile.
The worst kind.
"What?"
Emma pointed toward the counter.
"A customer wants to compliment the waitress who recommended the caramel muffins."
Lana frowned.
"I recommend those to everyone."
"Well, apparently this customer was very impressed."
Before Lana could respond, Emma shoved a small folded note into her hand.
"What is this?"
"The compliment."
Lana unfolded it.
A single sentence was written neatly across the paper.
Good recommendation. The coffee was decent too.
Below it was a signature.
— Leo Ayden
Lana blinked.
Then blinked again.
Emma squealed immediately.
"Oh my God."
"It is literally a thank-you note."
"He signed it."
"So?"
"He signed it."
Lana laughed despite herself.
Maybe it was nothing.
Probably nothing.
But for some reason...
She folded the note carefully instead of throwing it away..
And somewhere outside the café...
A black car sat parked across the street.
Inside, Mick Donovan watched the café through the window.
His gaze settled briefly on Lana.
Then on Leo.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
"Interesting," he murmured.
As if fate had finally made its first move.
To be continued...