HIM FOR HER

Chapter One

Anderson knew that look. He had seen it many times to even lose count. From his high school days up to this moment, those looks accompanied him. It won't count as being arrogant to say that he reeled in it too, the attention those looks brought. They usually come with the owners approaching him, fangirling over his features only to ask for his number and certainly ask him out for a date. It was thrilling to be desired by any one he came across with.

It didn't matter that he was rich and could buy anything and anyone he wanted. The people giving him those looks didn't seem to mind too, desperate for a little bit of his time.

They just want to be around him and admire him. Pale skin, soft and smooth to the touch with greenish-brown eyes that held more mysteries than it appeared, a sharp and perfect jaw, jet navy hair that appears almost black under the sun, a pointed nose, broad forehead and shoulder, tall with a lean body that glides with every step he takes.

Anderson was very handsome and some girls might pass it as being pretty but he was okay with it. The attention was all he needed. It made him feel important as a human being belonging to the society.

"What would you like to order?"

So, it came as a surprise to him why she wasn't asking him out like others. Why wasn't she approaching him like other people did? He knew for a fact that she likes him. She has that look on her. The one he was all too familiar with. The one where her eyes gets stuck on him, with awe and adoration in them. But that was it.

"Two americanos coming up!"

Why does she keep looking away anytime their eyes meet? Why does she ignore him anytime they walk across from each other?

Anderson was confused and he won't deny it was making him feel frustrated. Like now, she was peeking at him from behind the counter, but would look away when she so much as caught his gaze.

"Stephanie. Take this order to table 4."

He heard what her co-worker said and he perked up. Stephanie. That was her name. He had heard someone call her that. Table 4. That was his table. Excitement lit his eyes.

He kept his eyes on her as she made her way towards him, posture rigid and eyes trained on the floor as if her whole world was lying there. Anderson took a long look at her.

There was nothing special about her. Her features were ordinary, unlike the girls that flaunt themselves around him. Long black hair, currently tied in a bun. Caramel skin with freckles dusting her cheeks. Slightly red lips drawn in a thin line as if holding the world's secret in. He guessed she must be tall enough to reach his neck and she was slim too. The white shirt and black trouser she was wearing hugged her petite figure and Anderson thought it fitted her. That was all. Nothing special about her, so why was she bothering him? He shouldn't care about her, yet here he was, sitting down in the cafe where she works and staring at her with anticipation and something akin to curiosity.

"Here is your cappuccino and croissants.”

She rambled off robotically and placed the coffee and dessert on the table, all the while avoiding his gaze. Anderson hated it. He tried to tell himself it was nothing. But he hated it.

Nobody has made him that desperate to get their attention before. The attention was for him and the desperation was for others. But it was the reverse, when it came to her and he hates her for it.

"Enjoy your treat. Call me if you need anything.” She mumbled again in a forced monotonous voice, while eyeing the counter, an indication that she was ready to bolt away from there.

"Wait!" The desperation laced his tone and he hates it. But he was glad she stopped. She glanced at him with a confused look and for the first time, Anderson could see the color of her iris. It was deep blue, like the blue of the ocean and he thought he saw rolling waves in them. He cleared his throat to refocus and gather his mind on what he was about to say. She was still waiting for him but he could read her expression. She was tensed and very uncomfortable.

"You go to my school, right? I am sure you must have seen me there.” He wasn't going to let her know he was curious and intrigued about her.

She tilted her head slightly, her head swirling in naked confusion.

"It's nice to meet you. My name is Anderson. What is yours?" He peered up at her, wide eyes brimming with anticipation and nervousness, not minding her confused look.

For a while, he was worried she wouldn't reply and he was almost feeling disappointment clouding his mind when he heard it. It was so small that he wouldn't have heard it if he wasn't that desperate.

"Stephanie."

He perked up immediately, like a Christmas tree. He would have been ashamed of himself on any other day, but he was too busy celebrating his win to think about anything else.

"Nice to meet you, Stephanie. Let's get along well with each other, okay?" He threw her his brightest smile, the one no one could resist. His killer smile. Majority of the girls called it that. He heard a soft gasp escape from her lips before she turned and almost fled the scene. He smirked smugly. She wasn't immune to his charm after all. He thought, feeling a sense of accomplishment as he picked up his coffee to take a sip.