Chapter Two

Wow, what a chaotic place! Serena thought aloud in her head. She bumped into a hard but smooth surface as she turned to face her path. The owner of the body walked away so fast that she couldn't even catch a glimpse of who had hit her. For sure, she was aware it was a guy and he wasn't so fast for her not to inhale the lemon fragrance that came with him.

She rubbed her eyes and shrugged. She had better watch her step next time. She walked down the street while checking spots she could visit on the guide.

There happened to be a public library around the corner, one of the largest in the area. After asking a teenager who was weirdly excited about giving her directions, she headed for the library.

She settled for a collection of short stories by Jane Woods, a 'crime books for kids' author. She enjoyed reading it, the simplified diction and the way it still gave the thrills.

She was on the last story when her stomach began to grumble. She only had coffee for breakfast. It was not yet twelve but she could go back to the hotel's restaurant and order a good meal from their menu or check out a nice restaurant in the area.

Only if Hadley had come with her, maybe this would have been more fun, but a vacation wasn't something she could afford. She needed to go outside and give her a call.

Hadley picked up the call immediately it rang, "Hey SC! You've found a rich billionaire already?" Hadley's laughter rang in her ears.

Serena rolled her eyes, "Not a single one on the streets of Mareco."

"You don't mean it." Hadley said, mockery in her tone.

"You should see for yourself."

"Come on, it's just your first day. What are you up to? Been anywhere interesting yet? Don't tell me you're still in bed!" Hadley said in a rush. Serena wondered what question she was supposed to answer first. "There's no way you'll spend so much money to stay in.." Hadley began to caution her but she was familiar with the drill.

"I'm not in bed!" Serena didn't realize just yet that she was shouting on the street. In fact, she was raising her hand to emphasize that she was on a busy street in Mareco, only if Hadley could see her.

Hadley pauses, "okay…" Serena recognized the tone, she was doubting her. "FaceTime then? Where are you?"

"Ugh...I can't do that now, this place is busy as hell, maybe not so busy in the afternoon, I guess because it's sunny. I just got out of a library. The Citizens Library, did I tell you about it?" She paused to know if Hadley was following.

"Yeah, I guess…but why would you be going to a library anyway. I don't think rich billionaires go to libraries, they own them in their mansions! You need to go to the parties, the functions, the clubs!" Hadley ranted, a hint of mockery in her voice.

"I don't think a rich billionaire was ever part of the plan." Serena moved the phone to her other ear as she shifted her knapsack on her shoulders.

"I'll call you later, love you buy, muah" she made a kiss sound as she hung up and took note of my surroundings. It was a T junction. She had two options, turn left and go back to the hotel or turn right to God knows where it would lead her to.

As soon as she stepped onto the road, she heard a car honk from a direction she couldn't tell but it was coming at full speed.

Something or rather someone pulled her hoodie along with her from behind. Her phone dropped.

"What in the name of…" Serena began to yell, but her jaw dropped as she saw the person that had dragged her out of a close accident.

Serena closed her mouth as her nose picked up the scent again. Lemon fragrance. Was he the one? Did he bathe in a pool of it? Or was it just her?

He stood there and looked at her while she tried to figure out what had just happened. She picked up her phone. No scratch, thank God. She ran her hands down her tresses, brushed invisible dust off her jacket, and made sure her boots were buckled properly. She did every other thing but acknowledged his presence. Well, until he spoke.

"You know we're both standing here because we owe each other something?" His voice sounded like…she didn't know where to place it yet, but it was as good as he looked.

She tried not to be distracted by his looks, but what if he was a rich billionaire? "Rich billionaires don't go to libraries. They own them in their mansions!" She remembered Hadley's rants and she couldn't conceal the soft chuckle that escaped her lips…in front of this stranger that had just mentioned that they owed each other something.

Clearly, he was bewildered by her behaviour. She didn't know why her eyes scanned him from head to toe in a millisecond, but his eyes were on the Hotel's tour guide she had been holding since morning. There was no use hiding it. He knew she was a visitor already. She searched her brain for tips on how to converse with strangers in an unfamiliar environment.

"Let me get this straight," Serena paused as he threw his head back slightly and smiled, but she brushed it off anyway. He could be as stupid as she was. "You think I owe you an apology?" She paused and he nodded, then added, "and a little gratitude."

"For what?" She surprised herself by asking a question with an obvious answer.

"Are you being serious?" He chuckled.

"So do you owe me? You said you owe me too?"

He raised a brow, "maybe that was a mistake, but you do owe me something."

Serena was baffled, who did he think he was?