Chapter 1 - Chaos Before Coffee

“Girl… guess what?”

The door slammed shut with unnecessary energy, and the sound echoed through the small London flat like a warning bell. On the couch, buried under a thin blanket, Zara Rahman groaned and dragged the pillow tighter over her head, as if that alone could block out Chloe Bennett’s voice.

“Chloe,” she muttered, her voice thick with sleep, “if this is another one of your dramatic entrances—”

“It is absolutely worth it,” Chloe cut in, breathless with excitement.

Zara stilled.

Something about that tone.

Her eyes snapped open.

In the next second, she shot upright and lunged forward, grabbing the nearest throw pillow and hurling it straight at Chloe’s face.

“Where were you?” Zara demanded, her voice sharp now, fully awake. “Do you have any idea how many times I called you? You disappeared all night like some wayward brat!”

Chloe caught the pillow mid-air with a laugh, completely unbothered. She kicked off her heels carelessly and tossed her bag onto the chair, her curls slightly messy, her lipstick smudged just enough to tell a story.

“You should know how I spend my nights by now,” Chloe said, raising a brow as she strolled further into the room.

Zara crossed her arms, unimpressed. “Let me guess—another one-night stand with a stranger?”

Chloe paused.

Then she smiled.

Not her usual playful grin, but something softer. Warmer.

“Yeah,” she admitted, a faint blush creeping into her cheeks. “A night with a stranger… but this time, I want him to stay.”

Zara blinked.

That was new.

She narrowed her eyes immediately. “Stay? Chloe Bennett, are you feeling alright? Should I call a doctor?”

“Oh, be serious for once,” Chloe said, rolling her eyes, though the smile didn’t leave her face. “He’s everything I want. My typical man.”

Zara scoffed, but curiosity flickered across her expression. “Typical? You don’t even have a type. Your only requirement is ‘tall and breathing.’”

“Rude,” Chloe shot back, though she was already reaching for her phone. “And for your information, he’s more than that. I even took a picture.”

Zara’s interest sharpened instantly.

“You what?”

Chloe smirked, holding the phone just out of reach. “When he passed out. Don’t judge me.”

“Oh, I’m absolutely judging you,” Zara said, already moving closer. “Show me.”

“No.”

“Chloe.”

“No,” she repeated, laughing now as Zara lunged for the phone.

What followed was chaos.

Zara grabbed her wrist, Chloe twisted away, and both of them stumbled over the edge of the rug as laughter filled the flat. Cushions were knocked aside, a chair shifted dangerously, and at one point Zara nearly had the phone—nearly—but Chloe spun away at the last second, holding it high above her head.

“Give it to me!” Zara demanded, half-laughing, half-serious.

“Never!” Chloe shot back. “You’ll ruin it with your criticism!”

“I just want to see this so-called Greek god you’re obsessing over!”

“Well, you can’t!”

Eventually, Zara gave up, dropping back onto the couch with a dramatic sigh, breathing slightly heavier from the effort.

“You’re unbelievable,” she muttered.

Chloe grinned triumphantly, tucking her phone safely away. “You’re just jealous.”

“I’m concerned,” Zara corrected dryly. “There’s a difference.”

Chloe ignored that, flopping down beside her. “Anyway, the point is—he’s not just some random guy.”

Zara turned her head slightly. “Oh?”

“He works for some scary CEO,” Chloe said casually, as if that explained everything.

Zara raised a brow. “That sounds like the beginning of a terrible decision.”

“Or a very good one,” Chloe countered.

Zara shook her head, already done with the topic. “Please tell me you at least know his name.”

Chloe hesitated for half a second.

Zara caught it.

“Oh, that’s fantastic,” she said flatly. “You don’t.”

“I will,” Chloe said quickly. “Eventually.”

Zara let out a quiet groan and leaned back into the couch, staring at the ceiling. “You’re impossible.”

There was a brief silence.

Then—

“Get me coffee.”

Zara turned her head slowly, disbelief written all over her face. “Excuse me?”

Chloe smiled sweetly. “You heard me.”

“I am not your errand girl.”

“But you'll also get yours,” Chloe said without shame, nudging her arm. “Please. I haven’t slept.”

“That sounds like a you problem.”

“Zara.”

“No.”

“Zara.”

Zara exhaled sharply, pushing herself up from the couch. “Fine. But only because I need coffee too, and if I don’t get some soon, I might actually strangle you.”

Chloe beamed. “Love you.”

“Don’t,” Zara muttered, already heading toward her room.

A few minutes later, she emerged dressed, grabbing her bag and keys. As she paused by the door, she glanced back at Chloe, who was now sprawled across the couch like she owned the place.

“Try not to burn the house down while I’m gone.”

“No promises, besides I'm not jobless like you are” Chloe replied lazily while laughing.

Zara rolled her eyes, but there was the faintest hint of a smile on her lips as she stepped out into the cool London morning.

She had no idea that the day ahead would change everything.