A Man Like Him
558 Words
Aria quickly looked away whoever the man was, he certainly wasn’t here for her.
Men like him didn’t walk into small cafés unless they were avoiding the crowds or closing business deals over expensive coffee.
She balanced the tray carefully and approached table twelve.
“Your cappuccino, sir.”The elderly customer smiled warmly.
“Thank you, my dear.” As she turned to leave, she felt it again.
Someone was watching her.
She glanced toward the entrance.
The man in the black suit hadn’t moved.
He stood quietly, his hands tucked into his pockets, his sharp eyes following her every step.
He wasn’t impatient.
He wasn’t distracted.
He was waiting.
“Aria.” Her manager appeared beside her.
“The gentleman by the door is asking for you.”
She blinked.
“For..me?”
Her manager nodded.
“I told him you were working, but he insisted he’d wait.”
Aria frowned.
“I don’t know him.”
“Well, he seems to know you.”
She wiped her hands on her apron before walking toward the entrance.
Up close, the man looked even more intimidating.
He was probably in his early thirties.
Tall.
Calm.
The kind of person who didn’t need to raise his voice to command attention.
“Good afternoon,” Aria said politely. “Can I help you?”
Instead of answering, he studied her for a moment.
“You are Aria Bello.”
It wasn’t a question.
“Yes.”
“My name is Daniel.”
He handed her a sleek black business card.
“I work for Mr. Kael Blackwood.”
The name meant nothing to her.
“I’m sorry…” she said carefully. “Should I know who that is?”
For the first time, Daniel looked surprised.
“You’ve never heard of Kael Blackwood?”
She shook her head.
“I don’t really follow business news.”
A faint smile crossed his face.
“That might explain why he chose you.”
Aria’s brows knitted together.
“Chose me for what?”
Daniel glanced around the café before lowering his voice.
“Mr. Blackwood would like to meet you.”
“I think there’s been a mistake.”
“There hasn’t.”
“I don’t know your employer.”
“You don’t have to.”
His answer only confused her more.
“I have to get back to work.”
As she turned away, Daniel spoke again.
“Miss Bello.”
She stopped.
“Your mother’s surgery costs eight million, seven hundred and fifty thousand naira.”
Her heart skipped.
Slowly.. She turned back.
“How do you know that?”
Daniel didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and produced a white envelope.
“This contains an offer.”
Aria stared at it without moving.
“If you accept, your mother’s surgery will be paid for immediately.”
Her pulse pounded in her ears.
There had to be a catch.
There was always a catch.
“What does Mr. Blackwood want from me?”
Daniel met her eyes.
“He prefers to explain that himself.”
Aria looked down at the envelope.
It suddenly felt heavier than paper.
Heavier than money.
Heavier than hope.
Because deep down she knew that whatever was inside would change her life.
And not always for the better.
- Writer
