The next morning, sunlight spilled through the curtains of Sweet Bloom Café, soft and warm — the complete opposite of last night's chaos. But inside Maya, the storm still raged.
She stood behind the counter, hands trembling slightly as she arranged croissants. No matter how hard she tried, her mind kept replaying it — the rain, the touch, the kiss.
Her first real kiss with Adrian Knight.
Every time she remembered the way his hands cupped her face, her heart would flutter wildly again. "Focus, Maya," she muttered, shaking her head. "It was just… the rain. A moment."
But even she didn't believe that.
The bell above the café door chimed softly. For a second, her heart leapt. But it wasn't Adrian — it was Emilia, with a coffee in one hand and mischief in her eyes.
You look like someone who didn't sleep," Emilia teased, setting her cup down.
"I'm fine," Maya replied quickly. Too quickly.
Emilia smirked. "Right. And the storm had nothing to do with a certain CEO appearing out of nowhere?"
Maya froze, caught mid-stir. "You—how—?"
"Half the city saw you two in the rain, genius," Emilia said with a grin. "Don't worry. You looked like a scene from a romance movie."
Maya groaned, covering her face. "Emilia!"
Before Emilia could tease further, the bell chimed again — this time, it was Adrian.
He entered, composed as ever, though his usual sharp aura seemed softened. His eyes found Maya instantly, and for a second, the world went quiet.
Maya's pulse jumped. Adrian walked up to the counter, and neither spoke for a long moment.
Finally, she broke the silence. "You're here early.""I didn't sleep much," Adrian said simply. His voice was calm, but there was a flicker of emotion behind it —
something real, something almost uncertain.
Maya's throat tightened. "About yesterday
—"
Adrian's gaze deepened. "It wasn't a mistake."
She blinked, stunned.
"I don't do impulsive things," he continued quietly. "But that moment… it wasn't something I could stop."
Maya's lips parted, but no words came.
From the corner, Emilia watched silently, suddenly realizing — this wasn't a simple flirtation anymore. Something real was starting.
Just then, a shadow fell over the café door — Veronica Hale, dressed sharply, lips curved into a calculated smile.
"Well," she said, stepping inside. "It seems I've missed quite the story."Adrian's face hardened instantly, the soft warmth in his eyes vanishing behind his CEO mask. "Veronica," he said coldly. "This isn't your place."
"Oh, I think it is," Veronica replied smoothly, turning her gaze toward Maya. "After all, you've become… quite the distraction."
Maya straightened, heart pounding, but before she could respond, Emilia stepped closer, placing herself subtly between them. "Coffee's for customers, not troublemakers," she said coolly.
Veronica smirked, eyes narrowing at Maya before she turned to leave. "We'll see who ends up burnt in this kitchen," she murmured under her breath.
The tension lingered even after she was gone. Adrian's jaw tightened. "You shouldn't let her get to you," he said softly.
Maya nodded, but her mind was spinning — not just from Veronica's threat, but from the way Adrian had said it wasn't a mistake.Across town, Professor Max leaned over a table covered with books. His class had ended, but he wasn't reading — he was distracted.
Lila, Adrian's younger sister, poked her head through the door. "Still working, Professor?"
He looked up, startled — then smiled slightly. "Lila, you shouldn't be here."
"Maybe," she said with a grin, stepping in, "but I wanted to bring you this." She placed a small lunch box on his desk. "You forgot to eat again, didn't you?"
Max laughed softly. "Guilty."
As she turned to leave, he caught himself watching her — the energy, the innocence, the warmth. Five years difference shouldn't matter, he told himself… and yet, it did.
"Thank you, Lila," he said softly.
She smiled, her cheeks flushing slightly. "You're welcome, Professor Max."
And just like that, another spark quietly began to burn — unnoticed but inevitable.