Chapter Two:The Man Who Found the Letters
432 Words
The rain had stopped completely by the time Adrian Kingsley stepped out of Bloom & Brew Café.
His driver hurried to open the car door.
"Good evening, sir."
Adrian nodded, but his attention remained on the leather journal in his hands.
He could have left it with the café manager.
Instead...
He brought it with him.
Not because he wanted to read it.
Because he didn't trust that it wouldn't get lost again.
He gently placed it on the seat beside him.
His driver noticed.
"Did someone forget that?"
"Yes."
"Will you return it?"
"I'll try."
That was all Adrian said before looking out the window.
Across town...
Elena stood in front of her grandmother's house carrying two bags of groceries.
Margaret Brooks opened the door before Elena could knock.
"There you are."
"I'm sorry I'm late."
"You remembered the bread?"
Elena smiled proudly and held it up.
"I remembered."
Her grandmother laughed.
"Good. Come inside before the mosquitoes decide you're dinner."
They both laughed.
As Elena unpacked the groceries, she suddenly froze.
"My journal..."
Margaret looked up.
"What about it?"
Elena searched her bag once.
Then again.
Her smile disappeared.
"No..."
She checked every pocket.
Nothing.
Her heartbeat quickened.
"It can't be."
"What happened?"
"I left it..."
"Where?"
"The café."
Without another word, Elena grabbed her umbrella.
"I'm going back."
Meanwhile...
Adrian arrived home.
His penthouse overlooked the city skyline, but tonight he barely noticed the view.
He placed the journal carefully on his desk.
He stared at it for a long moment.
"No," he whispered.
"I'm not reading someone else's private thoughts."
He reached for his laptop.
Opened it.
Closed it again.
His eyes wandered back to the journal.
Curiosity won.
He opened only the first page.
Just enough to see if there was a name.
There it was.
Written neatly at the bottom.
Elena Brooks.
He smiled with relief.
"So that's your name."
He closed it immediately.
Mission accomplished.
Tomorrow, he would return it.
Or so he thought.
At that exact moment...
Elena rushed into Bloom & Brew Café, slightly out of breath.
The barista recognized her instantly.
"Miss Brooks?"
"My journal... did anyone find it?"
The barista's face fell.
"Yes."
Hope filled Elena's eyes.
"Really?"
"A gentleman picked it up."
Her smile slowly faded.
"He said he wanted to return it to the owner."
Elena swallowed.
"Did he leave his name?"
The barista shook his head.
"I'm sorry."
For the first time in years...
Elena didn't know where her most precious possession was.
She looked at the empty table by the window.
It had never seemed so lonely.
- Writer
