02

Ella pulls her brows together and looks at me. She perhaps can't believe her ears that I'm distancing myself from any woman. I know it's not normal for a man in his prime like me. I'm also aware that my declaration piques her curiosity.

"Failed love life?" she asks, but her eyes widen afterward.

I smile.

"I'm sorry. That was personal, I know."

"It’s alright.” I pause, then continue. “Miss Ella, do you mind if I ask where you come from?” I am curious as to why she said she has nowhere to go.

She gives me a quick stare before answering, “Japan, but we used to live here until I graduated from college.”

“I remember you telling me you don’t have a home here. Is that right?”

“Yes. Maybe, I have some relatives here, but I don’t know any of them.”

“You’re here for a tour?” I’m trying to rule out the guard’s conclusion that she’s here because of a boyfriend.

“No. I’m here to cause trouble.”

My eyes pop out right away. What?!

I stare at her, wondering if she’s joking. Then, perhaps expecting my reaction, she chuckles and says, “I’m serious.”

“That’s dangerous!” I exclaim.

“It is.”

I’m expecting she’ll take back her words, but she doesn’t. Instead, she smiles at me and then reaches out for her coffee.

“You must be tired already, Sir. So, shall we go now?”

I turn to Arnold, a friend who manages my chain of coffee shops. He’s standing behind the counter, overseeing the flow of the customers. When he learned that I was coming back and would drop by the shop close to the airport, he immediately came over to see me.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Arnold. I’ll be here at three,” I tell him as soon as he comes over to our table.

“Welcome back, Zed. I hope you’re planning to settle down already since you are buying her a house,” Arnold smiles, glancing at Ella. I know that look. It suggests that Arnold thinks Ella is my girlfriend.

“Nothing has changed, Arnold. My vocation is my woman. And this woman has made me travel all around the world. Who wouldn’t be happy that way?” I chuckle.

Arnold laughs softly, stealing glances at Ella, then reaches out to tap my shoulders. “Okay, see you tomorrow. Your date must be so tired already.”

I look at Ella. She seems amused at Arnold’s presumption. Perhaps sensing my eyes, she tilts her head gracefully and glances at me.

I throw her a question. “Are you my date, Miss Ella?”

“Of course,” she answers, her lips curving into a smile. We then both laugh.

Arnold then hands me my car keys. Since he knew that I was coming today, he took my car to XYZ’s Coffee Shop, the branch closest to the airport.

“Your car misses you already, Zed,” Arnold says as he walks us to the parking lot.

I chuckle. “Yeah, but I’m giving her to the new owner tomorrow.”

“Oh, so you have already found a buyer.”

“Yes.”

I press the car’s remote as soon as I see the car. The headlights then beam brightly at us. I open the door at the passenger’s side for Ella before I walk to the other side.

“See you tomorrow,” I tell Arnold before I step into the car.

“Yes. Let’s talk about X, Yen, and Zed tomorrow,” Arnold replies, then waves goodbye.

I laugh and wave back. Arnold refers to XYZ Coffee Shops. X is supposedly the first letter of our child if only she lives. So then, Y stands for Yen, and Z is my name.

Surprisingly, XYZ’s Coffee Shops have become popular since I left the country. I only had three branches when I left, but now it has multiplied into 30 branches nationwide. Perhaps, its success comes from being a famous motivational speaker. I stand before hundreds of people almost every night here and abroad, and this job has rewarded me with huge and easy markets for my products.

It’s because, aside from building my audience’s self-confidence and determination, I’m also indirectly advertising my business to them. Hitting two birds in one stone, they say. And because I am always hired by companies that promote their products through multi-level marketing, these product advocates also do their presentations at my coffee shops.

“Sleepy?” I ask as Ella fastens her seatbelt.

“A little.”

The short trip to the hotel where I plan to take Ella has been silent. Even if I can initiate a long conversation, I decide to keep quiet. I don’t intend to know more about her. Her name is enough. Whatever her reason for coming here is, and whoever she wants to cause trouble with, I’m out with it. Because after dropping her at the hotel, our communication must end.

I pull in front of the hotel after a few minutes on the road. Ella glances at me, and I nod. "Yes, we're here."

She steps out of the car as soon as she sees me turning off the engine. I follow on the other side, walking to the trunk first to pull out her luggage. We then walk together to the reception area.

The registration is smooth and fast, so I am already ushering Ella to her room in a couple of minutes. I want to end our interaction there, but unfortunately, I can’t leave her in the lobby and allow her to drag her heavy suitcases alone.

“Mr. Ramos, thank you so much for everything. I will surely repay you for your kindness.”

“It’s a pleasure, Miss Ella,” I smile, pulling out my wallet from my jacket at the same time. I pick up a card and then hand it to her. The pin is ….”

“Are you not afraid that I’m going to spend your millions?” Ella laughs, her eyes turning into slits.

I’m not. Honestly, it doesn’t cross my mind. I don't see her as a swindler but an elegant woman. Yet, it’s too late to back out on my words if I may have regrets.

“Of course not. I can always block the purchase anytime. The notification is active.”

She chuckles. “Many thanks, again. I’ll pay for everything later.”

“I’m not yet collecting, Miss Ella. But you’re welcome.”

Ella suddenly throws her arms around me, encircling me into a tight hug. My body turns rigid, and before I can blink, I push her away. Ella staggers backward, and her eyes grow wide – shocked by my reaction.

Realizing my mistake, I quickly pull her into a hug and apologize. “I’m sorry, Ella. I don’t mean to offend you.”

She has no idea that this is the first time in three years that a woman hugs me.