Chapter4
1203 Words
The Storm Behind His Eyes
The moment Liana returned to her table, her coworkers swarmed her like bees to honey.
"Isn’t that Dominic Ricci?" Nancy whispered, eyes wide with a mixture of awe and confusion. "What the hell is he doing here? In this café?"
Liana’s fingers froze around her notepad. “I… I guess he just stopped by.”
Nancy blinked at her. “Liana, that man is the heir to the Ricci fortune. As in the Ricci family. Hotels, real estate, private islands—the works. You seriously expect me to believe he just randomly walked into our run-down café?”
“I don’t know why he’s here,” Liana mumbled, her tone tight. “Maybe he wanted coffee.”
Malia gasped. “Please tell me that man is your boyfriend.”
“I swear, I almost spilled the drinks just looking at him,” she added, fanning herself with a notepad. “God took his time.”
Liana smiled politely, brushing their questions off. “We knew each other when we were kids.”
“You knew Dominic Ricci?” Nancy was now fully turned toward her. “As in personally?”
“Childhood stuff,” Liana replied, not meeting her gaze. “It doesn’t matter now.”
She didn’t need more attention. The café was already buzzing with whispers, and she had no interest in explaining Dominic Ricci to anyone—least of all to herself. Even now, her heart was still racing. Not just because he was handsome, but because there was something behind his eyes. Something dark. Something unsettled.
She tried to shake the feeling and focus on her shift.
The rest of the day moved in a blur. Orders came in, coffee cups clinked, and Liana slipped into the rhythm of her work—smiling, serving, moving. The café was her little world, her escape from reality. Here, she wasn’t a poor girl from the broken part of town. She was reliable, hardworking, and strong.
It wasn’t glamorous, but it was hers.
At exactly 5 PM, she unwrapped her apron and tied her scarf around her curly hair. Her feet ached from standing all day, but she didn’t complain. She packed her things, said her goodbyes, and headed outside into the cool evening air.
And then she saw him.
Leaning against a sleek black car parked across the street.
Dominic.
Again.
Her steps faltered.
"You’re stalking me now?" she asked, half-joking, half-nervous.
He shrugged, pushing off the car with practiced grace. “Maybe.”
She blinked. “Why?”
“Because we didn’t get to finish our conversation,” he said. “And because I’m not used to being ignored.”
She laughed, soft and bitter. “I’m not sure what else you expected me to say. We haven’t spoken in years, and now you’re just… showing up.”
“You look tired,” he said instead, eyes roaming over her face, noticing the shadows under her eyes. “Do you walk home every day after work?”
“Don’t pretend to care,” she said, hugging her arms around herself. “Not when it’s convenient.”
His expression shifted—something like guilt flickered across his face. “I’m not pretending.”
Liana looked away. The last time they’d spoken, they were fifteen. He was already running with a faster, richer crowd while she was babysitting her sister after school. Their lives had split paths, clean and sharp. Now he was here, looking like a man used to getting what he wanted.
And yet, for some reason… he looked almost unsure.
"Do you want a ride?" he asked finally. "You look like you could use one."
“I’m not climbing into your fancy car,” she said flatly. “This isn’t a movie, Dominic.”
He gave a dry laugh, pushing his hands into his coat pockets. “Fair enough. Then walk with me.”
She blinked. “Walk?”
“Yeah. Just... talk. Walk. Like we used to.”
And just like that, she remembered it. The alley behind her house, both of them sneaking out as kids to play hide and seek. The way he used to look at her—not with pity, not like she was poor—but like she was someone worth listening to.
She sighed. “Ten minutes.”
He smiled. “Ten minutes.”
They walked in silence at first, the sound of her boots and his polished shoes tapping against the sidewalk in sync. Around them, the city moved—horns blaring, lights flickering, strangers passing. But the space between them felt strangely quiet.
“How’s your mom?” he asked gently.
She tensed, surprised he remembered. “She’s… okay. Still sick. It’s getting worse.”
“And your sister?”
“Thirteen now. Thinks she’s grown.” A smile pulled at her lips. “She’s the reason I work double shifts. Wants to be a doctor.”
Dominic nodded, slow and thoughtful. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For not reaching out sooner.”
She stopped walking. Her hands were balled into fists at her side. “Why now, Dominic? Why me?”
He hesitated, then said, “Because I owe you more than I can explain in a few words.”
Liana stared at him. “You’re not making sense.”
“No,” he agreed. “But I will. Just not here. Not today.”
“Then when?”
He stepped closer, his voice quieter now. “Soon. I just need you to trust me.”
Liana laughed—bitter and broken. “Trust? That’s rich coming from you.”
“I know,” he said honestly. “But you always had the strongest heart, Liana. I remember that.”
She looked away, her throat tightening. The wind brushed against her skin, lifting strands of her hair into the air. “Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“I mean everything,” he said.
For a moment, they just stood there—two people who had once been children, now adults carrying scars neither of them could see.
Then her phone buzzed. A message from her mother.
She glanced at it and sighed. “I have to go.”
He nodded. “Can I walk you the rest of the way?”
She paused… then gave a small nod.
The rest of the walk was quiet. He didn’t press her, didn’t ask more questions. Just stayed beside her, like an old ghost refusing to fade.
When they reached her street, she stopped at the corner.
“This is far enough.”
He looked up at the small, crumbling apartment building ahead. She knew what he was thinking—but he said nothing.
“Goodnight, Dominic.”
“Goodnight, Liana.”
She turned to go, but his voice stopped her.
“Tomorrow,” he said. “Will you meet me?”
She didn’t answer. Just walked into the dark, her shadow swallowed by the night.
And behind her, Dominic stood still—watching, thinking, waiting.
Waiting for the right moment to tell her the truth.
That t
his wasn’t just a coincidence.
That her life was about to change forever.
- Writer
