Chapter 2. The second encounter
1242 Words
The city pulsed with life, cars rushing by, people weaving through the sidewalks, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee drifting from street vendors. Elena Mercer had no time to enjoy any of it. She was late. Again.
Her shift at the Magnolia Café was supposed to start fifteen minutes ago, and thanks to the packed morning traffic and a broken-down bus, she was sprinting down the street like her life depended on it.
“Just my luck,” she muttered under her breath, dodging pedestrians and gripping the strap of her bag tightly.
She knew Miss Penelope, the café’s manager, would give her an earful. Worse, if she kept racking up late arrivals, she could lose her job altogether, and that was not an option. Not when rent was due, and her mother’s medication was running low.
Taking a sharp turn around the corner, she finally spotted Magnolia Café a few blocks away. She sighed in relief until she collided into something solid.
No, not something. Someone.
The impact was enough to knock her backward, but before she could hit the pavement, a firm grip caught her wrist, steadying her.
“Seriously? Are you incapable of walking like a normal human being?”
That voice. That deep, authoritative, and unmistakably arrogant voice.
Her eyes snapped up, and sure enough, standing before her in a crisp, tailored charcoal-gray suit was Xander Wolfe. The billionaire. The same infuriating man she had clashed with in the elevator just days ago.
For a moment, she was too stunned to speak. It wasn’t just that he was devastatingly handsome because, damn it, it was the sheer audacity of running into him again in this massive city.
Xander’s piercing blue eyes narrowed as recognition flickered across his face. “You,” he said, his voice laced with irritation.
Elena’s shock melted into immediate defiance. “Oh, fantastic. Of all the rich, entitled businessmen in this city, I had to bump into you.”
She pulled her wrist free from his grasp, brushing off imaginary dust from her sleeve like she wanted to rid herself of his touch.
Xander sighed, clearly unimpressed. “You seem to have a habit of getting in my way.”
Elena folded her arms. “And you seem to have a habit of being insufferable. ” She stopped herself, inhaled sharply, and exhaled slowly. “You know what? Forget it. I don’t have time for this.”
She turned on her heel, ready to sprint toward the café before she got fired on the spot. But she only made it two steps before his voice stopped her.
“Wait.”
It wasn’t a command, but something about the way he said it made her pause just for a second. When she turned back, she expected to see that same smugness from their first encounter. Instead, Xander’s gaze wasn’t as harsh as before. There was something else out there of Amusement?
She frowned. “What?”
Xander studied her for a moment before smirking. “No snarky comeback?”
Elena groaned. “Look, some of us actually have jobs to get to.”
His smirk deepened. “And yet you’re standing here, talking to me.”
Her fingers twitched. Oh, how she wanted to wipe that smug look off his face. But she had no time to engage in another battle of words with him.
“Goodbye, Mr. Wolfe.”
She turned and finally stormed off toward the café, ignoring the way her pulse raced.
Inside Magnolia Café
The moment Elena stepped through the café doors, the smell of roasted coffee beans and fresh pastries greeted her. The place was already buzzing with customers, and the sound of steaming milk filled the air.
Miss Penelope, a short but fierce woman in her fifties, shot Elena a glare from behind the counter.
“You’re late, Mercer.”
Elena winced. “I know, I know. Traffic was a nightmare”
“Save it.” Miss Penelope waved her off before shoving a notepad into her hands. “Table seven has been waiting. Get to it.”
Elena sighed in relief. At least she still had her job for now. She quickly adjusted her apron and made her way to the assigned table, her mind still reeling from running into him again.
What were the odds?
She shook off the thought and forced a polite smile as she approached the table. “Good morning! What can I get for”
Her voice died in her throat.
Sitting at table seven, completely relaxed with his fingers tapping against the ceramic coffee cup, was none other than Xander Wolfe.
Elena blinked. Then blinked again. “Are you stalking me?”
Xander chuckled, setting his cup down. “Tempting thought, but no.” He leaned back against his chair, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Although, now I’m starting to think the universe enjoys throwing us together.”
Elena’s fingers curled around the notepad. “Or it’s trying to punish me.”
“Oh, come on,” he mused. “You don’t seem too thrilled to see me.”
She scoffed. “I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I find you annoying.”
Xander tilted his head. “And yet you’re still standing here.”
Elena let out a deep breath, reminding herself that this was her job. She wasn’t about to let some ridiculously wealthy businessman get under her skin.
“Fine,” she said, tapping her pen against the notepad. “What can I get you?”
Xander’s lips curled into a smirk. “Surprise me.”
Her brow twitched. “Surprise you?”
He nodded. “I’m sure someone as… outspoken as you has good taste.”
Elena clenched her jaw. Was he messing with her?
She exhaled sharply, then plastered on her best fake smile. “Alright. One surprise drink is coming up.”
She turned and marched toward the counter, already regretting her decision.
Great. Now she had to make a drink for the most aggravating man she’d ever met.
Minutes Later
Elena placed the drink in front of Xander and crossed her arms. “Here you go. A surprise.”
Xander raised an eyebrow before taking a sip. His gaze remained locked on her as he set the cup down.
“Hmm.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Hmm, what?”
He licked his lips, as if savoring the taste. “I expected you to sabotage it.”
Elena huffed. “Tempting, but I like my job.”
Xander chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Impressive. Not bad at all.”
Elena blinked, caught off guard by the subtle compliment. But before she could say anything, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression shifting to something unreadable.
He stood abruptly, tossing a crisp hundred-dollar bill onto the table. “Keep the change.”
Elena gaped at the money. “This is a tip,” Xander said smoothly, already heading toward the door. “Until we meet again, Miss Mercer.”
And just like that, he was gone.
Elena stared after him, heart pounding.
Why did it feel like this wouldn’t be the last time their paths crossed?
Little did she know Xander had no intention of letting their encounters be mere coincidences
Was it really fate that kept throwing them together? Or was Xander Wolfe starting to take an interest in Elena in ways even he didn’t fully understand?
- Writer
