Chapter 2 – The Strange Order
615 Words
The next day came faster than Mira expected.
She told herself she wouldn’t think about the man. She told herself he was probably just another businessman dealing with something complicated. Maybe he liked silent places. Maybe he liked windows.
But when she stepped into the café at 10 a.m., her heart skipped—
Because he was already there.
Same seat.
Same posture.
Same unreadable expression.
This time, though, he wasn’t alone.
A briefcase sat beside him.
Not the cheap office kind.
The expensive, “you’d cry if you scratched it” kind.
Mira swallowed, grabbed her order pad, and approached him.
“You’re… early,” she said, trying not to sound nervous.
He looked up. Today, he seemed different—tenser, like he hadn’t slept.
“I told you I’d order something today,” he said.
She felt a ridiculous flutter of satisfaction. “Right. So what can I get you?”
He paused.
A long pause.
Mira waited, pen hovering.
Then he said, with complete seriousness:
“Give me whatever you recommend.”
She blinked. “Anything?”
“Yes.”
“But you don’t… know what I like.”
He held her gaze. “I trust your judgment.”
Her cheeks warmed—unreasonably.
She nodded quickly. “Okay… one minute.”
Inside the counter, her manager raised a brow. “That man again? What’s his deal?”
“No idea,” Mira muttered while steaming milk. “Maybe he likes watching people.”
“Or maybe,” her manager replied, “he likes watching you.”
Mira nearly dropped the cup.
“Don’t joke like that!”
Her manager smirked. “I’m just saying. He has the eyes of a man with a purpose.”
Purpose? Mira didn’t even know his name.
She prepared a hazelnut latte—safe, warm, a little sweet.
The kind of drink you’d offer someone who needed comfort without asking for it.
When she delivered it to his table, he looked almost surprised.
“You chose this?”
She nodded. “Hazelnut latte. It’s comforting. People who look… stressed, usually appreciate it.”
His gaze lingered on her longer than necessary. “You’re very perceptive.”
“Just observant,” she said softly. “I work with people every day.”
He lifted the cup, took a sip—
And something changed in his expression.
Not dramatic.
Not obvious.
But something softened.
“It’s good,” he said.
Mira smiled—genuinely this time.
But before she could leave, he spoke again.
“Mira.”
Her heart jumped. “You… know my name?”
“It’s on your name tag.”
“Oh.” She exhaled. “Right. That makes sense.”
He set the cup down. “My name is Adrian.”
Adrian.
The name suited him—sharp, clean, serious.
“It’s nice to meet you, Adrian.”
“You too.”
For a moment, the world seemed to shrink to just the two of them.
Until—
“Sir?” Mira asked carefully. “Yesterday you said you weren’t here by coincidence.”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“Yes,” he said.
“So… why are you here?”
Adrian hesitated.
Then he leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice.
“Because someone dangerous has been looking for you.”
Mira froze.
Her breath caught.
Her fingers trembled.
“W–What did you just say?”
Adrian’s eyes darkened with certainty.
“I’m here to protect you.”
The café suddenly felt too quiet.
Too small.
Too real.
Mira stared at him, heart pounding.
“Protect me from who?”
Adrian didn’t blink.
“From someone who won’t stop until they find you.”
- Writer
