Chapter 1: The Day I Met You
1093 Words
"I'm tired." Diana sighs and stretches her arms after finishing a day of work.
She's been working as a part-time barista at a local coffee shop while also working at a public relations company in Solovia. For her, spending some time in the café makes her feel better.
It's her way to relax after her "boring" job that requires all her brain, while the other makes her smile and have fun. And if she only had the money, she's going to make her own coffee shop with all the delicious pastries and coffee that would make her heart and sweet tooth happy.
"I can't wait to go home and cuddle with my cats," says Liz, Diana's best friend and co-worker at the coffee shop.
"Me too. I just want to take a cold shower, watch some episodes of the Real Housewives of Solovia, and wind down," Diana added.
Just as Diana finished her sentence, the soft jingle of the bell above the door caught her attention. A late-night customer stepped in, shaking off the chill of the evening air.
Liz groaned, leaning against the counter. "Of course, someone shows up right when we’re about to close."
Diana smiled faintly, brushing her hands on her apron. "It’s fine. One last cup of coffee won’t kill us."
The bell chimed again as the door swung shut, its sound blending with the faint hiss of the espresso machine and the low hum of the café’s playlist.
"May I have some iced Americano with a pain au chocolat?" he uttered in a deep, manly voice. The customer asked for their best-selling drink and pastry.
"Sure, sir. That would be $25." Diana said while pressing the order details on the cashier's machine.
After the man gave Diana $100 bill, their hands brushed each other, making Diana feel all the tension down her spine.
'What was that?' She thought loudly. She never felt this way before. It felt like lightning struck her during that moment. She looked up and she saw those beautiful dark chocolate eyes that sparkled through the room.
'This guy is handsome!!! So handsome that I want to marry him right now.' Diana chuckled before realizing the guy was just staring down at her.
Feeling all ashamed about her thoughts, Diana quickly ran through the cashier's machine and got the guy his change. She looked down, feeling shy, and wanted to run and hide her blushing cheeks.
"No, thank you. You can keep the change." The guy said in a cold but really manly voice.
"Oh sir, we're obliged to give you the change." Said Diana, while still bowing her head so that the guy won't see her red cheeks.
"I insist. It's MY rules anyway." The guy added before going back to one of the seats in the cafe.
Diana couldn't do anything. She just placed the rest of the money on the tip jar and proceeded to wait for Liz to finish the guy's order before serving it to him.
Diana took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Get it together, Diana. He’s just a customer. A ridiculously handsome customer, but still… just a customer.
Liz nudged her with a smirk as she placed the iced Americano and pain au chocolat on the counter. "You okay there? You look like you’ve seen a ghost, or maybe a Greek god."
"Shut up," Diana muttered, grabbing the tray. Her hands trembled slightly as she walked toward the man’s table. He was seated by the window, one leg crossed over the other, scrolling through his phone like he owned the world.
When she reached his table, she carefully set the tray down. "Here’s your iced Americano and pain au chocolat, sir. Enjoy."
He looked up, and for a moment, their eyes met again. Those dark chocolate eyes seemed to pierce right through her, making her heart race.
"Thank you," he said, his voice smooth and commanding.
Diana nodded quickly, avoiding his gaze as she turned to walk away. But just as she did, he spoke again.
"Wait."
She froze, her heart skipping a beat. Slowly, she turned back to face him.
"Yes, sir?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He leaned back in his chair, studying her with an intensity that made her feel like she was under a spotlight. "What’s your name?"
Diana blinked, caught off guard. "Uh… Diana. My name’s Diana."
A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Diana," he repeated, as if testing how it felt on his tongue. "I’m Anthony."
Her breath hitched. Anthony? The name sounded familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it.
"Nice to meet you, Anthony," she said, forcing a polite smile.
"Likewise," he replied, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before he returned to his phone.
Diana walked back to the counter, her mind racing. Liz was already waiting for her, arms crossed and a knowing grin on her face.
"So… what’s his deal?" Liz asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
"I don’t know," Diana said, shaking her head. "But something about him feels… different."
Liz laughed. "Different, huh? Well, if you’re lucky, maybe he’ll come back tomorrow. Or, you know, sweep you off your feet and take you to his castle or something."
Diana rolled her eyes, but deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Liz might not be entirely wrong.
As the night went on, Diana found herself glancing at Anthony’s table more often than she cared to admit. And every time she did, she caught him looking back at her, his expression unreadable.
When he finally stood to leave, the bell above the door jingled once more, and Diana felt a strange pang of disappointment.
But as she cleaned his table, she noticed something tucked beneath the empty glass. A business card.
Her hands trembled as she picked it up. The card was simple, elegant, and bore a name that made her heart stop.
Francis Anthony L. Solane V.
Her eyes widened. No way… THE Anthony Solane? The king of Yelovia?
Diana’s mind spun as she stared at the card, her heart pounding in her chest. She had just served coffee to a king.
And he had asked for her name.
- END OF CHAPTER 1 -
Hi, lovely readers!
Thank you for reading this chapter with me. Coffee shops and chance encounters feel magical. Diana’s world is about to change completely.
This chapter shows her dreams and charm. And Anthony? Fate arrives when least expected.
Did you feel the spark too?
Until next time,
spookiecookie
- Writer
