The Forgotten Heiress

Chapter Three: It is chestnut

The weather is a bit chilly today so I put on a brown trench coat over my outfit, a plain black shirt and black trouser. I grab my headphones and my phone before heading out.

I am going to take a stroll to clear my head from all the studying I have been doing the past couple of days.

On my way out, I bump into Brie, my step sister, who is just coming from school. “Where are you going to?” she asks.

“Take a stroll.” I don’t even pause to answer her, I continue walking because I don’t want her to tag along.

“Let me join you please.”

Oh damn it! I want some peace alone.

“No, thank you.”

I have been less busy ever since my boss, Mr Martin shut down his bakery. He is old so he finally decided he wants to go live with his family in his hometown. It was a bittersweet moment. While I was extremely happy that he’d now be close to his family, I was equally sad because now I have no place to work at.

Shutting the bakery was impromptu, or maybe he has been planning about it for a while, he just never mentioned. I didn’t have enough time to get a job elsewhere before he shut down.

And also, Aaron made me quit my job at the club roughly 2 or 3 weeks prior. Now I have no source of income, and no work to keep me busy. I really need to look for another job immediately I finish my examinations.

The street looks less busy today which I am grateful for.

...

I am in a little bit of a situation right now. The Italian guy, I can’t remember his name is here and it looks like he is walking directly towards me, a smile on his face.

“Hey brown.” He is standing dangerously close to me that I am able to catch the faint smell of mint from his breath.

“Brown?” I am equally mesmerized by his voice, as I am by his eyes. His voice is laced with an accent that sounds Italian.

“Your eyes.” He is staring directly into my eyes. This man is on a mission to read me because why else is he staring into my soul? And again, did I mention how attractive the man standing in front of me is?

“Oh,” I blink before stepping back a little. I have to catch my breath, maybe then my head can think properly.

I clear my throat, “It is chestnut sir.”

“Do you mind telling me the difference between chestnut and brown, Miss Brown?”

I point towards Blooms’ behind him, “There is a dictionary in that building, if I am not mistaken an encyclopedia too. They would do a better job at explaining the difference to you.”

Without waiting for his reply, I side step him while changing the song I was listening to.

I can feel his presence behind me but I don’t pay any attention to him.

XAVIER’S POV

I am in awe of this lady whom I know literally nothing about. The first time I saw her was at the Cafe during my first shoot. Unlike the three girls beside her who were gawking, she looked like she was trying her best to decipher why the attention is on me.

It is surprising to say the least that she doesn’t know me. I mean what girl doesn’t know me.

I initially tried to convince myself that it was surprise that made her react like that- she is one of my die-hard fans that never imagined she’d see me at the Cafe.

Our just finished encounter however proves to me that this damsel doesn’t know me at all, which is perfect for me.

I am currently following her like a simp that I am most definitely not. The plan is to push her to the wall, get a reaction. I am sure she is aware of my presence because I am intentionally walking really close to her.

Just as we were about to pass by Blooms’, I drag her into the cafe. We might as well look for the difference between brown and chestnut together.

“What are you doing?” she pulls her headphones down to her neck and pauses the music she is listening to or whatever it is, giving me all of her attention. Great, just what I wanted.

“We are doing the assignment you gave me together.” I say gesturing between her and I.

“Is that how assignments are done in your world?” I see amusement flicker in her eyes before it is quickly replaced by something I don’t understand, yet.

“No but you are not my teacher so we might as well do it this way.”

“You interrupted my stroll.”

“Fully aware, wonderfully planned.” I wink at her with the hopes of getting a smile, or at least a blush but I instead get a scoff and an eye roll.

She turns away from me, putting her headphones back in place.

The waiter approaches us as I grab her arm again, “Kindly take a sit. What will you like to order?”

“Please, give me just 30 minutes of your time.” I urge her, giving her a pleading look. I didn’t even wait for her reply and just led us to the dimly lit corner of the Cafe.

“I will have the iced coffee,” she says to the waiter without looking at the menu.

The waiter turns to me to get my own order, “I will have the same as hers.”

The waiter walks away after giving us a look that screams, ‘Is everything alright with you?’

The look is justified to be honest, why are we having an iced coffee on a chilly evening?

”I do not have all day, kindly quit staring, fidgeting, stalling time or whatever it is you are doing. I am leaving here immediately the thirty minutes are up.”

I clear my throat ready to give her a response when the waiter brings our order.

“Let’s get married.” I blurt out once the waiter left without giving it much thought.