chapter two
441 Words
A Bad First Impression
Lila hoped she would never see the rude stranger again.
Unfortunately, fate seemed to have other plans.
The next morning, Riverside buzzed with excitement. People gathered outside the town hall, whispering about a wealthy investor who was interested in developing part of the town.
Lila rolled her eyes.
"Just what we need," she muttered.
After finishing her shift at the café, she walked toward the crowd.
Standing at the front was the same man from yesterday.
The black-coffee stranger.
Ethan Cross.
He looked confident as he addressed the townspeople.
"Riverside has incredible potential," he said. "With the right investment, this town could become a major tourist destination."
Some people applauded.
Others looked uncertain.
Lila crossed her arms.
Tourist destination?
The charm of Riverside wasn't something that needed fixing.
Ethan continued speaking about new hotels, shopping areas, and modern developments.
To everyone else, it sounded exciting.
To Lila, it sounded like the destruction of everything she loved.
Before she could stop herself, she stepped forward.
"And what happens to the people who already live here?" she asked.
The crowd fell silent.
Ethan looked directly at her.
Recognition flashed in his eyes.
"The barista," he said.
"The businessman," she replied.
A few people chuckled.
Ethan smiled slightly.
"The people benefit from growth."
"Or get pushed out because they can't afford it anymore."
His smile disappeared.
"I think you're making assumptions."
"I think you're selling promises."
The tension between them became impossible to ignore.
For several long seconds, neither spoke.
Then Ethan cleared his throat.
"Thank you for your opinion."
Lila smiled sweetly.
"It wasn't an opinion."
Gasps spread through the crowd.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
Lila turned and walked away before he could answer.
But as she left, she could feel his eyes following her.
And for reasons she couldn't explain, her heart was beating much faster than it should have been.
Later that night, Lila unlocked the door to her small apartment.
The moment she entered, her expression changed.
The cheerful barista disappeared.
She opened a hidden drawer beneath her desk.
Inside were documents worth billions of dollars.
Newspaper articles.
Corporate records.
And a photograph of a smiling family.
The Hart family.
Her family.
The family the world believed she had abandoned.
Lila picked up the photograph and traced her finger across her father's face.
"I miss you," she whispered.
A single tear slipped down her cheek.
She quickly wiped it away.
No one in Riverside could ever know who she really was.
Especially not Ethan Cross.
Because if her enemies discovered where she was hiding, the peaceful life she had built would disappear forever.
And danger would follow.
- Writer
