Alpha's Secret

Chapter Nine: A Spark Of Interest

Sarah knocked on Emilia's door, a bright smile on her face. "Hey, Emilia! I brought someone I want you to meet."

Emilia opened the door to find Sarah standing with a tall, handsome stranger. He had piercing eyes and chiseled features, and Emilia felt a shiver run down her spine as he gazed at her.

"Emilia, this is Elijah," Sarah said, gesturing to the stranger. "We're old friends. Elijah, this is Emilia."

Elijah smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Nice to meet you, Emilia," he said, his voice low and smooth.

Sarah linked her arm through Emilia's. "Let's grab some coffee and catch up. I want to hear all about your latest art project, Emilia."

"How come you've never told me about this friend", Emilia narrowed her eyes at Sarah. "Because you've never asked" Sarah replied with a hushed tone, grinning from ear to ear.

Emilia hesitated for a moment, but Sarah's enthusiasm was infectious. "Okay, sure," she said, and the three of them set off towards a nearby cafe.

As they sipped their lattes, Sarah chatted about everything from art to music to their shared love of hiking. Elijah listened intently, his eyes never leaving Emilia's face. Emilia felt like he was trying to see right through her, but she couldn't deny the spark of attraction she felt whenever their eyes met.

"So, Elijah, what do you do?" Emilia asked, trying to sound casual.

"I'm in...business," Elijah replied, his smile vague.

Sarah laughed. "Elijah's being modest. He's a successful entrepreneur with a passion for art."

Emilia's eyes widened in surprise. "No way! I'm an artist."

Elijah's eyes lit up. "Really? I'd love to see your work sometime."

And with that, the conversation flowed easily, like they'd known each other for years. But Emilia couldn't shake the feeling that Elijah was hiding something, that there was more to him than met the eye.