Chapter 2

MAYA'S POV

I woke up to a beautiful morning in New York City. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and I could hear the sound of traffic outside my window. Today was a new day, and I was ready to take on whatever came my way. I got dressed and headed to work at the coffee shop.

As I was cleaning the counters, my coworker and friend Danielle walked in. She gave me a friendly smile and started to chat with me. "So, have you met our neighbor yet?" she asked.

"Our neighbor?" I asked, puzzled, as I tackled the coffee stain on the counter.

"Yeah, the guy who works in the office opposite us. Alexander."

"No, I haven't," I replied, not really interested in meeting anyone new. I just wanted to work, make money and go home. I didn’t really care about the thrill of making new friends, especially some random New York City Billionaire.

"Well, let me give you the run-down. Alexander is a total workaholic. He always sends his personal assistant to get him coffee before he gets to work. But he recently fired her, so he doesn't have a PA anymore. And while he looks for one, he decided to get some coffee himself today." Danielle said as she tied an apron around her waist.

I raised an eyebrow, mildly intrigued. "Okay, so what's the big deal?"

Her eyes shone once she realized that she was able to rope me into one of her gossip sessions. I rolled my eyes.

"He's just one of those guys, you know?" Danielle said with a shrug. "He's rich, powerful, and used to getting what he wants. Also, He's not exactly the friendliest person in the world."

I rolled my eyes. "Great, just what we need. Another entitled jerk." I didn’t want to have to meet a rich businessman that thought that the world revolves around him.

Danielle chuckled. "Don't worry, Maya. Just stick to serving him his coffee whenever he comes in, and you'll be fine. Just try not to make eye contact or anything."

I laughed, appreciating the humor in the situation. "Yeah, I'll do my best."

As the morning dragged on, I found myself thinking about Alexander more and more. He sounded like a mysterious puzzle of a man, and I wanted to get to know him even though I’d never seen him before. I couldn't help but think about the possibility of him showing up. Whatever it was, I couldn't deny that I was intrigued.

And then, to my surprise, Alexander walked in. He looked just as Danielle had described him, with his expensive suit and serious expression. He walked up to the counter and ordered a single black coffee.

I tried not to show any reaction as I made his coffee, but I couldn't help stealing glances at him. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a chiseled jaw and intense gaze. I could feel my heart beating faster as he paid for his coffee and walked out the door. Despite Danielle’s warning, I couldn’t help but find him attractive. Maybe it was the hint of danger in his eyes.

As soon as he was gone, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Wow," I muttered to myself. "What was that all about?" I whispered to Danielle. She shrugged.

“I don’t know girl,” Danielle said thoughtfully, “but he’s so dreamy, right? I mean look at those beautiful eyes, he looks like he just came straight from an eighties romance novel.”

I rolled my eyes at her. “Girl please don’t tell me you have a crush on that douche already.”

Danielle laughed. “No girl, I have a boyfriend remember? But you, on the other hand though. Single and ready to mingle am I right?”

I wagged a finger at her and gave her a playful shove. “Don’t even go there girl, I’m not interested in some entitled CEO that couldn’t even be bothered to say please, thank you, or even give a smile.”

The next day, to my surprise, Alexander returned for some coffee. Danielle noticed him before I did and nudged me in the ribs. "Looks like someone's attracted to you," she whispered with a sly grin.

I rubbed my side and rolled my eyes. "Don't be ridiculous," I said, even as my heart skipped a beat. "He's probably just getting his coffee fix." I put the napkin into the warm soapy water and focused on making the glass windows perfectly clear just like Phoebe likes it. I didn’t need her screechy voice yelling in my ear so early in the morning.

But as the days went by, Alexander became a regular at the coffee shop. He always ordered the same thing - a single black coffee - but he started to linger longer and longer. He would sit at one of the tables in the corner, reading his newspaper or typing on his laptop. I wondered why he would leave his tall building where he probably had a hotel suite for an office to come and do his work in our little café.

After a week of him consistently showing up and leaving us heavy tips, Danielle suggested that I talk to him. “Besides, he’s obviously into you, there’s no way he’s choosing not to work in that probably air-conditioned office just for our coffee. I make terrible coffee.”

I burst out laughing. “Danielle, not going to happen. I’m not going to get involved with a douche that thinks leaving tips is a way to ask a girl out. Also, what if you’re the one he’s interested in?”

“Oh Please. I’d been working here for six months before you started, and I know everything about him, and he’s definitely seen me before. The only factor that changed before he started coming in was you, Maya.”

“I don’t know about that Dani.” I said, as I vigorously mopped the floors to avoid a scolding from Phoebe the next day.

And I couldn't deny that I was drawn to him. Despite his aloof demeanor, there was something about him that intrigued me. I found myself stealing glances at him whenever I had the chance, trying to catch his eye.

But apart from the fact that I just wanted to be on my own, I was always too nervous to actually talk to him. I didn't want to seem too forward or make a fool of myself so I just decided to pretend like he doesn't exist.

-

“Looks like your boyfriend came in again. Maybe you should make his coffee this time.” Danielle said.

“What the hell, Dani?” I whisper-shouted, but it was too late. Danielle had disappeared from the counter and Alexander was standing right in front of me.

I avoided his piercing blue gaze as I greeted him, trying to keep my tone professional. “Good morning and welcome to Thalia’s. How may I help you today?” I greeted politely.

I didn’t want to look at his face so I had to focus on his suit. It was a designer suit and tailored with the way the fabric hung to his body. He was probably ripped under that suit.

“A single black coffee, please. I’m having it here.”

I let out a breath once I turned away to rinse one of the ivory-colored mugs. I made his coffee silently, feeling his eyes on me. He was attractive, yes, but I didn’t want him to think he had any power over me. I handed the steaming mug over to him.

“I’d also like a pastry, a croissant.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Why couldn’t he just make the whole order at once? He took the croissant wordlessly and left a ten-dollar bill in the tip jar before he sat down. I heard Danielle gasp.

“Girl. He definitely has the hots for you.” Danielle said after he finally left the café.

“You keep saying this and I keep saying it’s never going to happen boo.” I said as I untie my apron. I didn’t want to be just another conquest for some corporate hotshot.

“I’m telling you girl, there’s definitely something between you too.”

“He’s just another customer. And an arrogant one at that so there. Can we stop talking about this?”

But as the day went on, I found myself thinking more and more about Alexander. He was definitely different from the usual customers who came into the coffee shop. There was something about him, something special. Or maybe I was just ovulating, and my horny hormones are all over the place.

That night, I found myself standing in front of my closet, trying to decide what to wear. I wanted to go out and do something fun and different because the past two months had become so monotonous. I just went to work, grabbed fast food each break, and went home to sleep off to the sound of yelling, car horns, and sirens, or as Danielle liked to call it “NYC white noise.”

I settled on one of my shorter dresses, plain black, and wore some high-heeled boots which I hadn’t put on since I moved because I knew my feet would just end up aching, but I didn’t want to wear my white sneakers, so I headed out like that with the only other pair of shoes I had.

I wandered through the bustling streets, taking in the sights and sounds that I hadn’t been able to hear clearly from the tucked corner of my apartment. I eventually found myself at a lively club, with music pumping and drinks flowing. I ordered a cocktail and sat at the bar, trying not to draw too much attention to myself.

As the night wore on, I found myself feeling more and more adventurous. The club was packed, and I found myself getting lost in the music and the crowd. I was having the time of my life until I accidentally bumped into a guy and spilled his drink. He didn't take kindly to it and pushed me back.

“Hey, it was an accident,” I said to the tall, angry-looking man.

“Shut up you clumsy bitch.” He said. Everyone gasped in shock. What the fuck is going on?

“Hey, calm down bro, she said she didn’t do it on purpose so what’s your issue?” A blond man said, pushing to the space in the middle where we were.

“And who involved you in this, punk.” The first man spat.

I was too drunk to realize what was happening, and before I knew it, I was in the middle of a brawl. People were yelling and screaming, and some were even cheering as fists were swinging. I heard a sickening crack sound and then I screamed for them to leave each other alone. I didn’t want someone dead because of me.

As I tried to push the men away from each other, I felt someone push me and I tripped thanks to my uncomfortable black boots and hit my head on a nearby table, and then everything went black.

I don't know how long I was out for, but when I came to, I was lying on the floor of the club with people gathered around me shouting and yelling. I could vaguely make out some flashing red and blue lights and I felt a sharp pain in my head. I put my palm on my forehead and I felt a lump on my head, and my vision was blurry. I tried to stand up, using my arms but my limps were wobbly, and I fell back down again, with everything going dark once more.

The last thing I remember was a man's voice asking if I was okay before everything went dark again. I had no idea what had just happened or what was going to happen next. All I knew was that I was scared, and I didn't know what was going to happen to me.

-

I woke up with a sharp pain in my head and neck and groaned, wondering if everything that happened last night was just a dream. A bright light shone in my eyes, and I immediately felt weird. As I turned on my bed, I realized something.

This was not my bed.

I got up immediately and threw off the white heavy duvet from my body. I resisted the urge to scream. I looked around the white and grey room I was in. This was not a hospital. Hospitals don’t have king-size beds and a whole wall is a mirror.

Where am I?

I stared at my red feet which looked bruised and sighed heavily. That’s the last time I’m wearing high-heeled boots in New York City. I lifted my black dress and check if I’m still wearing my underwear and I sigh in relief. I don’t think anything major happened to me.

At that point, I looked over at the side table and saw a sachet of painkiller tablets and a glass of water. Those would help with the throbbing pain I felt in my head and my side. I swallowed two and downed the glass of water, then decided to explore this mysterious place. Whoever kidnapped me was loaded, and not just a little loaded. I mean had a shit ton of money. I instantly felt self-conscious. This rich person must have seen me look terrible and messed up.

I stepped out of the bed, and I walked towards the mirror wall to examine myself. My eyebags looked more profound and I had a bruise on my left cheek. My hair was matted up and looked oily since I hadn’t washed it in days.

My purse and phone!

I started rifling through the drawers looking for my purse and phone. The stranger had left me a pair of pajamas on the edge of the bed, but I frantically threw them off as I searched for my phone. I needed to know where I was, I needed to know what the time was, and I needed to call Phoebe to tell her that I was probably going to be late.

I burst out of the room door and ran through the doors. I must have passed about seven different rooms before I found myself in the large, lush living room. I gasped in shock, forgetting for a moment that I was supposed to be looking for my purse and phone. All I could do was stare at the skyline from the glass wall. I was in total awe.

“Beautiful right?” I heard a male voice say from behind me. I swiftly turn and saw the broad build of a man coming from the corridor area. I could see him striding over to me. I ran towards the open kitchen and grabbed a knife from the organizer.

“Who are you and why did you bring me here? I have a knife in my hand right now, don’t try anything funny.” I said, making my voice as threatening as possible. I heard him laugh as he stepped closer to the light. I almost dropped the knife in shock.

I could see him now, his broad shoulders and his tailored suit, his beautiful blue eyes and his brown tousled and dark hair, and the tiny golden strands that I hadn’t noticed till now. I stared in shock as I took him all in, watching his mouth that was set in a cocky smirk and I remembered the exact reason why I didn’t like him.

“Well Miss Maya, my name is Alexander, and this is my apartment. How’s your headache? You managed to hit your head twice in one night.

At that point, I wanted the ground to swallow me up. Immediately.