Chapter Text
There's something about this spot you come to every day. The sun penetrating the windows, making its way to kiss your skin. Adding light to your dark brown eyes, it gives you warmth. It's a coffee shop that's deep in the city, almost 45 minutes away from your apartment, the roasted scent of freshly brewed coffee makes its way over to breeze beneath your nose. The earth like feeling this coffee shop exhibits is truly mesmerizing. The plants green as ever, even having some of your favorite flowers... Tulips. Dandelions. You stumbled across this coffee shop while you were running errands in the city, the location was just perfect, far away from home, knowing you won't run into anyone you know.
An iced matcha coffee, with 4 pumps of French vanilla, 2 pumps of caramel, an extra shot of expresso, made with almond milk, extra sweet is how you liked it. This place was like your second home, your eyes would always gaze across the shop like it was your first time here, you were at peace. It was your sanctuary. You practically lived here. The baristas were very well acquainted with you, even remembering your order without any hesitation to work on it as soon as they saw you walk through the doors. The coffee shop was very popular and had great clientele, but this morning was busier as ever as you walked through the doors.
"Hey [Y/N]! It's so good to see you! I don't think I'm ever gonna get tired of seeing your pretty, brown face first thing in the morning!" one of the baristas said enthusiastically.
You did feel particularly beautiful today. It was really hot outside, about 90 degrees. You decided to put your beautiful, type 4 coils up in a pineapple hairstyle, being supported by a silk wrap that was a sunny yellow color. A white, shirred, bodice frill trim crop top, baring your golden shoulders, and little specs of dark blemishes, that gave a peek-a-boo hint at your belly button. You paired the top with a rustic orange, tropical printed skirt, that hugged your curves, with a high slit that gave a little glimpse of your full thighs. Your look was tied together with subtle gold accessories, yellow low-heeled sandals, and your favorite custom Marc Jacobs tote bag that was a chocolate color.
"Hi Elijah! Thank you, it's always a pleasure to see you as well." You replied with inclination. Elijah has always been sweet to you since he first saw you, his charms worked on you initially. When you first started coming to the coffee shop, Elijah wasted no time getting familiar with you, even going on a couple dates, but it didn't last. He's really sweet and calling him a gentleman would be an understatement, but your personalities was just far too different from each other. Opposites do attract; however, you were just not willing to deal with his roaring lifestyle.
You learned that Elijah was an inspiring club promoter, so he would go to parties and the club almost every weekend, these were not just regular parties. Celebrity parties. In the midst of you both dating, he took you to one of these parties, in that moment you realized he was not your cup of tea. You were not judgmental at all of his lifestyle, but you respectfully decided to end things before it got deeper. Elijah wasn't too fond of your decision, nonetheless he respected it. That didn't change his admiration for you, both deciding to remain good friends.
"Sorry for not having your order ready yet! We'll start working on it as soon as we can!" As you first noticed when you walked through the doors, it was busier than normal. The shop was 3 levels high, even the meeting space being full, which caught your curiosity. Even with having 10 baristas working each shift, you knew how overwhelmed they could get, yet still working so efficiently.
"No! Don't say sorry, it's perfectly fine! You know I'm in no rush at all, take your time. If anything you can work on my order last. I don't need you rushing on my coffee." You threw a smile at him. "I'll just go sit in my normal spot and you can bring it to me whenever it's done." Also with your order, you would get an everything bagel and sweet potato loaf.
You made your way to your normal spot that was always reserved for you, courteous of the coffee shop. They really studied you and seen how much you enjoy sitting here. I mean it is the best spot in the whole shop suitable for one person. It was on the second floor, right next to the window that had a view of the mini botanical garden. The sun was bright and always smiling at you. The intimate, round, rustic table was enough to hold all your belongings and order. You loved it.
About 15 minutes passed by after you got situated and you saw Elijah with his bright smile on his way with your order.
"Alright we have a cosmic, iced matcha coffee, with 4 pumps of French vanilla, 2 pumps of caramel, made with almond milk, extra shot of expresso, extra sweet matching the ever so extra sweet lovely lady sitting in front of me. Everything bagel and a sweet potato loaf." Elijah would do this every time and it was always able to a pull a smile from your face.
"Haha, Elijah you're just too much for me. You really know how to wow a girl with your words." Knowing that him repeating your order is what you meant by him wowing a girl with his words. "I appreciate you oh so dearly, as always. I see it's busy today. Not that I don't love you guys getting business, but what's going on?"
"The 3rd floor is being occupied by an international company that's having a huge meeting. Rather than having the meeting at some boring office with 4 grey walls, they heard about the meeting spaces we offer, and decided to have it here." He explained. "We had to open up a little early, because we also had to set a spread for them. I looked up the company myself and they're really well known. Especially in Japan, that's where they're from."
Elijah gave you a smile as he placed your order gently on the table and proceeded to walk away. He didn't have enough time to engage with you due to the place still being busy.
You took a sip of your coffee and a bite of your loaf. Doing this made the perfect combination, giving the loaf an extra moisture to it. You did a little, subtle happy dance, and let out a soft moan. As you were drinking your coffee you simultaneously began to take out your book to read for the day, it was one of your favorites. I Love My Love by Reyna Biddy. You discovered her about 4 years ago and been hooked ever since. It's like she was expressing the emotions you were afraid to say yourself. You owned all the books she published and read them countless of times. Remembering the chapters word from word.
Reyna Biddy is such a brilliant author. You admired her so much, the words she spoke made you think about your personal life. It gave a painful ache in your heart. You never really had a good relationship with your family. Especially with your mother and one of your brothers. You were the second youngest amongst 5 siblings, not knowing any of them except the one you had a strained relationship with. Growing up your personalities would always clash and you didn't feel the big brother protection you always yearned for. The older you got the less it bothered you.
As for the relationship with your mother, it wasn't any better. Coming from a strict and religious household, your mother was always hard on you while growing up. You decided to move out on your own at the age of 19 and never looked back since. At times, it would hurt how alone you were, but you never felt more at peace until now.
Your nonexistent love life didn't give you any reassurance either. You've been on a couple dates the last few years, but it's always been with arrogant assholes who were self-absorbed. They didn't care about you. Only your looks. You were always still open to try, like you did with Elijah. At least he wasn't an asshole. Your last date was actually with Elijah and it was at one of the celebrity parties he has connections with. That was the day you broke things off with him. You knew what type of love you wanted and deserved, and you would never settle for anything less.
Hours had passed since you've been at the coffee shop and it's 30 minutes before closing. You were packing your things getting ready to leave. You grabbed your belongings and leftover coffee you normally let linger 'cuz for some reason you like the taste of it. As you were making your way over to the door, you were too invested in your book, not paying attention to your path. You knew you were about to the pass the barista counter, so you gave a distracted wave as you left.
"My apologies." As he said. Enticing is what you felt. He had so much appeal and rasp in his voice. Who knew the words "my apologies" could sound so sultry. Your body underwent a vibration of chills. The hair on your arms were standing up at attention due to the heat you felt from his hands. Compelled. You felt completely compelled as a spiced amber scent, with a touch of saffron danced across your nostrils. It smelled so good. Your hands were placed on pectorals, hard enough to be a wall, yet firm enough to be a bed. Slightly gripping to prevent yourself from falling, you can feel how strong and broad his chest was. Immediately feeling you would feel safe to be wrapped into a chest such as his.
You finally looked up and your eyes met with his. Pale skin, followed by a stoic, yet soothing expression in his brown eyes. It had the power of the sun that made you melt. You could barely catch your breath. A jawline sharp enough to cut you, the mandibular itself was well-defined as you noticed he clenched his jaw. His cheeks were hollow, chiseled and low, it framed his face so perfectly. It definitely brought everything together. Slight bags were under his eyes that would not be present had he slept often, he must work a lot. Beautiful rosey lips somewhat parted, with a light moisture to them. Although he was towering you, about 6 feet tall, you can smell the hints of mist with a mixture of coffee lingering from his breath. His hair was exemplary blonde with sheen and one piece of hair drifting across his forehead. All you can think about was how beautiful this man is.
"Miss?" he said. "Are you okay?"
You were in awe, finding a way to your words.
"Y-yes, I am. I-I'm sorry, it was my fault. I should be watching where I'm going"
You noticed your book fell on the floor. You attempted to pick it up, but the man immediately went to do so before you even had the chance. As he began to hand back your book, you noticed his hands. They were big and I mean big. His fingers were so long and thick, veins formed around his knuckles. Thinking how good they would feel inside of you. Caressing you--- Gripping you--- Choking you. [Y/N] focus.
"Thank you, I really appreciate it." You were flustered.
The man was observing you a bit, a coy smirk developed on his face, then he proceeded to examine your book with interest.
"Reyna Biddy, huh?" He asked. His eyes engrossed fully focused on you.
"You know her?" You questioned eagerly. You've never met anyone who read Reyna Biddy and you never really told anyone about her. She was your escape, your safe haven. She was one of those authors you wanted to keep to yourself. "I love her so much, her work is amazing. She really knows how to captivate you with her words." you added.
"Yes, I agree," he remarked, "I just started reading her last year. I only own and read her first 2 projects. But I've listened to her audios on Apple Music. The serenity in her voice is beautiful. I know she released another book, even an audio not too long ago. I haven't had the chance to get a hold of them. It's very hard to get access be--"
"You can borrow mine! I can get them for you!" So much enthusiasm was in your voice and your eyes lit up even more. You didn't even pay attention to how excited you were talking to him about your favorite author. You needed to get yourself together. You didn't want to scare him off.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't me-" You were surprised.
"I would love that" he said with a small smile. "It would be a foolish of me not to take this opportunity to bond over a common interest with a beautiful woman such as yourself."
"What?" You thought. He saw the hesitant jubilance in your face and began to draw back.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to catch you are off guard with that, you must be marr-"
"No, it's okay, I- thank you." You were definitely flustered.
The man was relieved.
"Do you come here often? I noticed you sitting by the window on the 2nd floor. I'm sure you love that spot seeing you were there for hours."
"He noticed me? Since I got here?"
"Yes, I do, I love this place." You responded. Feeling the nerves slightly lifting up from your chest.
"My company and I are having a meeting every day of this week. Tomorrow's meeting is ending much earlier. Would you mind if I accompany you after I'm finished?"
Your smile began to grow bigger. Your cheeks were hurting. For an instant, it seemed like he blinked almost nervously. He was drawn to you.
"I would love that."
"Nanami Kento." He reached to grab your hands, to have his engulfing yours.
"[Y/N] [L/N]."
And so, it begins