Chapter 3: The invitation
469 Words
The Next morning, Amara woke before sunrise. She couldn’t explain why,but her thoughts kept drifting back to the stranger from the cafe.
“Ethan,” she whispered to herself.
She shook her head and smiled.
“What am I doing? He’s just a customer.”
After getting lily ready for school, she hurried to sunrise cafe, determined to focus on work.
The morning rush was even busier than usual. Orders piled up, customers filled every table and the staff barely had time to breathe.
Around noon, the cafe door opened.
Amara looked up.
It was Ethan.
This time he wasn’t alone, two men in suit walked behind him, speaking quietly as if discussing business. Ethan said a few words to them before they nodded and sat at another table, he walked toward the counter.
“Good morning, Amara.”
She smiled politely.
“ welcome back. The usual?”
He chuckled.
You remembered.”
It’s part of my job.”
“Or maybe I made a good first. Impression.
Amara laughed softly,
“ maybe.”
As she prepared his coffee, Ethan noticed a small burn on our wrist.
“ what’s happening?”
She quickly pulled down her sleeve.
“ it’s nothing. Just a kitchen accident.”
He frowned.
You should take better care of yourself.”
For a moment, Amara didn’t know what to say. No one had asked if she was okay in a very long time.
When Ethan finished his meal,he stood beside the counter instead of leaving.
“ Can I ask you something?”
She looked at him curiously.
“Of course.”
I’ve really enjoyed talking to you these past two days, would you be willing to have coffee with me on your day off? Just coffee.. no pressure.”
Amara’s heart skipped a bit.
She had promised herself never to get involved with another man. The last time she trusted someone she was left alone to raise her daughter. She lowered her eyes.
“ I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Ethan didn’t look offended.
“I understand.”
He reached into his wallet, took out a simple business card, and placed it gently on the counter.
“ if you ever change your mind, call me.”
With one last smile, he turned and walked away.
After he left, Amara stared at the card for several seconds.
She almost threw it in the bin.
Instead...
She slipped it into the pocket of her apron.
She didn’t notice that someone else had been watching the entire conversation.
Standing outside the cafe window was a beautifully dressed young woman wearing dark sunglasses.
She removed them slowly, her eyes fixed on Amara.
“So... this is the woman Ethan has been smiling about.”
The woman smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
“ interest.”
- Writer
