CHAPTER 3: COFFEE BROWN EYES
1412 Words
(Alexander’s POV)
I adjusted my tie while walking down the spiral staircase, glancing briefly at my watch.
I hated being late.
Usually, I stopped by my favorite café before work just to sit quietly for a few minutes before the chaos of the day started. It was the only peaceful part of my mornings lately.
But the moment I pulled up in front of the café, I realized it was still closed. I sighed softly and rested my head against the steering wheel for a second.
I almost considered driving straight to work, but the thought alone exhausted me.
That was when my eyes landed on the park across the street. I stared at it for a few seconds before eventually stepping out of the car.
The moment I entered, noise attacked me from every direction. I immediately noted to myself never to come here again.
Children screamed while running across the grass. Teachers tried so hard to calm them down. Somewhere nearby, a child was crying dramatically over what looked like a spilled juice box.
I instantly wanted to walk away from this chaotic school outing, I assumed.
Then my eyes landed on a little girl chasing two others across the grass.
Tiny brown curls bounced wildly around her face as she giggled loudly, completely ignoring her surroundings.
She tripped on a branch right in front of me and the girls she was meant to catch burst into laughter immediately.
The little girl froze on the ground for a second, her smile disappearing slowly.
Something inside me tightened unexpectedly.
Not giving it much thought, I bent down and helped her up carefully.
The moment she looked up at me with those huge coffee-brown eyes, her entire face lit up.
“You’re really pretty—” she gasped.
I blinked at her, completely confused.
“No wait,” she corrected quickly, placing both hands on her cheeks dramatically. “Boys don’t like pretty right?, You’re handsome and strong, Mr... Smiley?”
I stared at her as my face twisted upon hearing the worst nickname I have ever been called.
Smiley?
For a second, Timia’s voice flashed briefly through my mind.
“The baby is going to love having such a handsome father”.
The memory hit me so suddenly that it almost hurt.
“Smiley?” I repeated slowly, raising a brow.
“Mhm.” She nodded proudly. “You look like someone who forgot how to smile.”
Her curls bounced again as she nodded harder, clearly impressed with her own explanation. I found myself staring at her longer than necessary. There was something strangely comforting about her.
Something warm.
A young woman’s voice suddenly echoed from a distance.
“Children! Come over here!”
The little girl’s eyes widened instantly.
“Bye bye!” she waved excitedly. “Next time we meet, let’s go on an adventure!”
Before I could respond, she turned and disappeared into the crowd. I glanced at my watch afterward and sighed quietly.
Time for work.
---
The moment I stepped into the company building, nervous greetings followed me everywhere.
“Good morning, sir.”
“Morning, Mr. Diaz.”
I received greetings that I will never reply to.
Halfway down the hallway, I paused briefly when I noticed two employees laughing while running around during work hours.
Complete Idiots.
I entered my office without a word and pressed the red button on my desk.
A few seconds later, Julian walked in casually carrying coffee and a sandwich in one hand. He threw himself onto my couch while taking a huge bite out of his sandwich.
“You know,” he groaned into the cushion, “for a CEO, you make exhaustion look weirdly fashionable.”
Despite being annoyed minutes ago, the corner of my mouth almost twitched.
Almost.
“Fire the trainee portfolio analyst and the research assistant,” I said coldly.
Julian lifted his face slowly.
“You say things like that before breakfast?” he sighed. “One day you’ll make me choke on my food”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.” He sat up finally.
Unlike everyone else around me, Julian never acted afraid of me.
It was absolutely annoying but I'll never admit that I find it strangely comforting.
He rubbed his eyes tiredly before standing.
“You look horrible, by the way.”
“I’m fine.”
“Yeah,” he muttered dryly while heading toward the door, “that’s exactly what dead people say before collapsing dramatically.”
“Get out.”
“I’m leaving already, your majesty.”
The moment the door closed, silence filled the office again.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and stared at the mountain of files waiting for me.
By evening, I arrived at the hotel booked for the investor meeting and checked into my suite before starting another online conference call.
Hours later, my head was pounding badly enough that I finally stepped outside for fresh air.
That was when I noticed a tiny figure standing near the balcony window staring at the night sky.
Coffee-brown eyes turned toward me instantly.
Then her face lit up.
“SMILEY!”
Before I could react, the little girl ran toward me happily.
“Are you lost again, Smiley?” she asked seriously.
I stared down at her calmly.
“Again?,No I'm not,” I replied. “Are you?”
“Maybe a little,” she admitted proudly. “But I’m on an adventure.” mischief written all over her face.
I crouched to her eye level. “So an adventure without your mother?”
“It’s a secret,” she whispered loudly. “Don’t tell Momma you saw me.”
Before I could answer, her tiny fingers wrapped around my pinky naturally. I looked down at our hands for a few seconds.
“I don't exactly like people touching me” I asked quietly.
She looked at me and closed her eyes tightly then opened them filled with tears.
I panicked “No no no, you can hold me anytime you want to”.
A smile slowly stretched her lips causing me to narrow my eyes.
I blinked slowly.
Children were terrifying.
“What’s your name?” I asked instead.
“Luna. But Momma calls me Lulu.” She smiled brightly. “Momma says strangers are dangerous, but you look too sad to be dangerous.”
I stared at her silently.
Too sad to be dangerous? What the f**k does that mean?
Eventually, I carried her back toward my suite.
The moment I placed her down, Luna looked around the room with sparkling eyes.
“Smiley,” she whispered sleepily, “your room is huge.”
Then she looked at me carefully.
“You still don’t smile much… but I’ll wait.”
“Wait for what?”
“For you to become Smiley for real.”
“And if I don’t?”
She yawned softly.
“Then I’ll just keep trying.”
For some reason…I shook the thought away.
After helping her describe where she came from and making sure she returned safely to her room, I finally headed back toward my suite.
But the moment I turned the corner—
Someone crashed into me.
Cold liquid splashed all over my white shirt instantly.
What a way to end my night.
---
(Thalia’s POV)
The moment I saw the ruined shirt, I stared at the ground trying to summon it open.
“Oh my God—I’m so sorry!” I rushed out immediately. “I didn’t see you, I swear I’ll clean it up—”
“Stop.”
I froze.
“I said I’m sorry,” I repeated tightly.
“Stop talking.”
Excuse me?
The man brushed past me coldly, bumping my shoulder hard enough to annoy me instantly.
I stared at his back as anger bubbled up in my chest. Then muttered under my breath—
“Being rich must come with complimentary bad manners.”
His footsteps stopped immediately.
My eyes widened.
Slowly… very slowly… he turned around.
The glare he gave me could probably freeze lava.
Then he started walking toward me.
He took long strides wearing a deadly expression on his face.
Panic rose to my throat immediately, I looked to both sides and decided to do the first thing that came to mind.
I ran.
While running, I could’ve sworn I heard the man let out an exhausted sigh.
- Writer
