The next step

River 

The dining room was unusually quiet. 

Sunlight streamed through the floor to ceiling windows, spilling across the polished oak table. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the scent of buttered toast, filling the room with the warmth that contrasted sharply with my mood. 

I unfolded the morning paper more out of a habit than interest. 

“You are reading a newspaper?” 

I looked up. 

My mother walked into the dining room, dressed elegantly as always. Even on breakfast, she looked like she was in her way to an important meeting instead of spending a quiet Sunday at home. 

“I didn’t know people still did that,” she teased as she took the seat opposite me.

“I like the silence.” 

She smiled. 

“A rare luxury in the family.” 

One of the house keepers poured her coffee before quietly excusing herself. 

For a few minutes, we ate in silence and I had hoped it would stay that way.  

“I saw something online last night.” 

I didn’t look up immediately.

“Mhm.” 

She picked up her cup. 

“There’s this young woman attached to your arm in a photograph.” 

I put my fork down. 

“So you’ve seen it.” 

“The headline was rather fancy. And I think everyone in London are talking about it over a meal like this.” 

She used her hands to make a gesture in the air. “Billioniare River Cassian steps out with a mystery woman.” 

“So….”

She folded her hands neatly on the table. “Who is she?” 

I reached for my coffee before answering. 

“Her name is Zara.” 

“I gathered that much.” 

Her lips curved into an amused smile. 

“What I want to know is how my son, who thinks relationships were a waste of time, suddenly has a girlfriend.” 

I let out a quiet breath. 

“We met. And we fell in love.” 

The words left my mouth far more easily than expected. 

She blinked once. 

“Just like that?” 

“It happens.” 

She laughed softly. “What about Mira.” 

I resisted the urge to sigh. 

“There is no ‘what about Mira.’”

“Oh?” 

“We were never together. And I don’t know why she has told you about us. She has not place in my life and I have told her countless times.” 

“She seems to think otherwise though.” 

“I don’t care what she thinks and I don’t have any business with it.”

She studied me for a long moment. 

“I haven’t seen you smile like that in a very long time.” 

“Smile?” 

“In the photograph. You seemed to have been enchanted by her so that you could hide your feelings.” 

I frowned. 

“You should look at the pictures. The camera caught a good angle.” 

“If that helps you sleep at night.” 

I checked my watch. “I should get going.” 

So soon?”

“I have somewhere to be.” 

“I know.” 

Her smile returned. 

“You are going to pick up Zara today.” 

I stopped halfway to standing. “You really do know everything.” 

“I make it my business.” 

She stood up as well, soothing an invisible crease from her dress. “I would like to meet her.” 

“It isn’t  the right time.” 

“Why.” 

“Because……we are still getting to know each other.”

“Fair enough.” 

I walked out of the dinning room, heading for the main entrance. 

“Give me that keys.” 

“But sir I can take you to where you are going.” 

“Don’t worry Phil. I will drive myself today.” 

I rarely drove myself. I wanted to drive today. 

The city slowly unfolded before me. The roads closest to the estate were wide and almost empty, lined with towering trees and perfectly trimmed. 

But as I kept on driving, the road became narrower and I almost thought I had gone the wrong way. 

The buildings were different. And they stood closer together, replacing extravagant mansions with neat apartment blocks, roadside cafes, convenience stores and small businesses that had served this neighborhood for years. 

It wasn't poor. 

But it was far different from my world. 

But it wasn’t my world either.

This was the kind of neighborhood where people knew their neighbors by name.

Where children still played outside on Sunday mornings.

Where life felt… real.

My navigation announced the next turn just as my phone connected to the car’s speakers.

Oliver.

I pressed the button on the steering wheel.

“You’re calling to make sure I didn’t forget.”

A laugh came through the speakers.

“So you already know why I’m calling.”

“I’m on my way.”

“I figured as much, but I also know how your mind works. You’d start thinking about work, take one phone call, and somehow end up at the office instead.”

“I wouldn’t.”

“You absolutely would.”

A small smile found its way onto my face.

“You’ve prepared everything?”

“The guest suite is ready.”

“I told you she wasn’t a guest.”

“I know.”

There was a brief pause.

“I’ve also informed the staff.”

“Good.”

“They know about the contract?”

“No.”

Oliver answered immediately.

“They only know that Zara will be staying at the house.”

“That’s enough.”

“It should be.”

Silence settled between us for a second before Oliver spoke again.

“And River…”

“What?”

“Try not to scare her away on the first day.”

I scoffed quietly.

“I don’t scare people.”

Oliver laughed.

“We’ll pretend that’s true.”

The call disconnected before I could respond.

I shook my head, slipping the phone back onto the console.

A few minutes later, the navigation instructed me to turn into a quieter street.

The apartment buildings here were older but well maintained. Flower pots decorated several balconies, laundry swayed gently in the breeze, and bicycles rested against the front walls.

I slowed the car.

Then I spotted the address.

Pulling over to the curb, I switched off the engine.

Right on time.

For a moment, I stayed where I was, my hands resting loosely on the steering wheel as I looked up at the apartment building.

It wasn’t impressive.

It wasn’t extravagant.

But it was home.

I glanced at my watch.

Ten o’clock exactly.

Punctuality, I had learned, said a lot about a person.

Now, I was about to find out if Zara  valued it as much as I did.