UNSEEN BONDS

Chapter 1: The First Encounter

New York was alive with the hum of city sounds, the cacophony of honking cars, the soft murmur of street vendors calling out to passersby, and the rhythm of hurried footsteps on the pavement. It was a city that never stopped, where people rushed to their destinations with little thought for what lay between them and the end goal.

Nicole had long learned to navigate through the chaotic streets with ease, but today was different. As she rushed to make her way to her mother’s apartment, juggling the weight of her purse, cup of coffee and the stress of the job interview she was about to attend, something felt off. Her mind kept replaying the details of her interview, the company, the position, everything. It could be her chance to break out of the life she had been trapped in for so long.

She was almost there, walking quickly across the sidewalk, when she felt a sharp tug as someone jostled past her. In a split second, her coffee cup flew from her hand, and a dark brown splash stained the crisp white shirt of the man she had collided with.

"Watch where you're going!" the man snapped, his voice dripping with irritation.

Nicole froze, shocked by the sudden encounter. The hot coffee stained his shirt, and as he glanced down in disbelief, she could feel the heat creeping up her neck. The anger surged through her veins, her own frustration spilling over from hours of holding things in.

"I'm sorry," she began, but her voice barely held any apology. "It was an accident!"

"Clearly," the man said sarcastically, his eyes narrowing with an air of disdain. "Do you not have any spatial awareness? You could have ruined my suit."

Nicole’s eyes flared, a defensive fire lighting up in her chest. The guy, tall and sharp-looking with messy brown hair and a piercing gaze, was acting like she had done it on purpose. His expensive taste in clothes only amplified the distance between them. She knew people like him, entitled, spoiled, thinking the world owed them everything.

"I said, I’m sorry!" She raised her voice a little, unwilling to let him treat her like that.

He let out a huff of disbelief, his hand swiping over his shirt. “I don’t have time for this. "Do you even know how to apologize properly? "I should have just walked away, but this ” he gestured to his coffee-stained shirt. “This is ridiculous.”

Her patience snapped. She opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, he spoke again.

“Just thank your stars, I’m in a good mood this morning” he muttered, his tone dismissive.

"Well, that’s your business" Nicole muttered under her breath, turning away, but her heart still raced from the altercation. She was late for the interview now. She couldn't afford to let this man’s rude comments throw her off.

As she walked away, her thoughts were clouded by his arrogance, the way he thought he could talk down to people like her. But that wasn't the worst part. It wasn’t even the way he acted, like he was the center of the universe. No, it was the fact that he had a look about him, something about the coldness in his eyes that made her feel like she didn’t belong.