Chapter 2. Love without price tag.
1251 Words
The secret place called Green hill is a very quiet place filled with a lot of life.
As Alex Grey stepped out of his modest apartment early sun risen soft and gold across town. They was a far cry out from the glass towers and he had once called home.
In the whole world’s eyes Alex Grey had vanished his name buried below layers and forgotten forever not knowing he constructed his identities and false it but to the people here he was Liam the new maintenance of public building at Ever glow Cafe.
He has gone were he was giving suits and company rides.
Now he wore faded jeans and a simple sweater shirt with mixture combination
In within the working class among crowd.
It was in this simplicity however that he feel something strange, something different which he had not felt for years which is peace.
As he mopped the cafe floor before the morning rush, his eyes wandered again to Ama Rive
Emma had his own way of style of walking into a room that made everything else pause.
She wasn’t even glamor in the models way on magazine covers but she was radiant with heat, her honey brown bounced as she moved and her eyes sparkled brightly like sunlight rising from river water.
She was the kind of beautiful that everyone sneak up on gently.
Ama worked as a waitress at the cafe. She was kind to everyone whether they were dissatisfied to a regular traveller who forgot to tip.
And every morning she greeted Alex known as Liam to her with a smile that doesn't cost a thing but made his heart beat like a drum.
He had not meant to fall for anyone here. Disappearing had been a strategic plan decision a way to escape betrayals, gold digger women and a world where love always had a price to pay before you get accepted.
But here in the warm aroma of fresh coffee and home made pies, his heart found something very exceptionally different.
Ama was never interested in social status or expensive gifts.
She brought left over chops for the homeless man across the street and share them. She volunteer doing it at the library on every weekends.
When Liam once offered to carry her bag, but she said playfully rolling her eyes and said I have carried heavier things in life.
And yet despite how down to earth she was Alex knew he had a secret that could spoil everything.
She didn’t know who he really was. To her Liam was a broke stranded fellow who look after the maintenance and cleaning of public building who's trying to start over again. Not the billionaire CEO of Grey tech Corporation.
But maybe that was what made everything feel so real.
That morning as they both cleaned and prepared the cafe Ama turned to him.
You always get here earlier than me. Are you trying to out shine me of something or what?
Alex with a quiet laugh. Maybe I just enjoy it.
Or maybe I like watching the sunrise through the window.
She twisted her head. You sound like one of those romantic poets.
He cracked a smile. And here I thought I was just a house keeper.
Ama looked at him thoughtfully then smiled. You’re more than that Liam I can tell.
Her words hit him harder than he was expecting because no one had seen him as the CEO, not the billionaire but just him the man.
That was what Ama saw.
The next few weeks their friendship begin to grow, they laugh over spilled drinks shared stories over lunch breaks, and slowly Alex let down his guard with Ama, he started gradually exposing himself.
He told her he was starting over after a rough past she never too attentive to understand what Alex was trying to say.
Instead she told him about her dreams that one day she would open her own little bookstore cafe. Somewhere warm with books stocked to the ceiling and tea that never finish, she said it dreamily.
He listened to her and he cared. And one evening as they walk together home under the city lights she looked up at him and said, You’re different Liam why because Most guys always try too hard pretending but you don’t pretend.
That hurt a little because in truth he was pretending.
Every day he spent as Liam was a day lived with lies. But he didn’t want to hurt her with the truth not yet, Not when things were still so fragile,
and so new.
The next night after closing Ama found him staring out the back window lost in thought very confuse.
Are you okay? she ask gently.
He nodded his head then turned to face her. Ama can I ask you something?
Sure, you can.
If someone lied to you but they had a reason like a good reason would you hate them forever?
She frown her face, it depends on the lie And the reason but I think honesty matters more than perfection.
We all make mistakes but if someone lies just to protect themselves that is different than lying to protect someone else.
Alex swallowed hard. Her answer gave him a light signal of hope but it also reminded him that he was running out of time.
The longer he kept the truth from her the more betrayal she might feel.
Still for now he hold on to the moments they shared. To Ama’s laughter when he joked.
The way she learned closer when telling him about her childhood, to how her hand had brushed against his. Here comes one afternoon the unexpected storm.
Then one rainy afternoon a smooth black car parked outside the cafe Alex froze when a tall suited man entered.
His old head of security Daniel
Sir, Daniel said on his head bow, You have been found, the board is panicking because your absence is calling for legal alerts.
You need to come back.
Ama watched from behind the counter confused and curious.
Alex world spark, the life he had escaped was pulling him back, If he left now, everything with Ama could vanish and he don't want that to happen.
If he stayed he risked losing the company he had built from scratch.
But Ama approach him slowly. Is everything okay Liam?
Alex looked into her eyes so open. So trusting, he had a choice.
He took a deeper breath his voice shaking vibrating. Ama there’s something I need to tell you.
And at that moment as the rain tap on the windows and the weight of the world, and pressed down on him Alex Grey knew that true love was never about wealth, image or power.
It was about honesty about showing your scars, your truth, your heart without expecting a price in return.
And that’s what Ama deserved.
A love without a price tag.
- Writer
