Our eyes locked. And then…
He was watching me, not like he was staring, but more like he was trying to read a something about me he'd already seen but missed the meaning the first time. Maybe.
I could only hope I was ready for whatever Malik had planned.
For a minute, neither of us said anything. A waiter came, asked if I wanted water. I nodded. He left. Still nothing.
I wasn't sure if I should speak first or wait. So many words swam through my heart but none of 'em knew how to come out right.
"So," he said, folding his hands together, "I wanted to say I'm sorry. For earlier. For the surprise."
I let out a dry laugh. "Surprise? That's one word for it."
He nodded, quiet. "Yeah. I... I… didn't know your dad worked for the company. I swear I didn't."
"I believe you," I said, and meant it.
Another waiter passed by, and Malik asked for two Americanos. I didn't even say I wanted one, but he asked me with his eyes, and I gave the smallest nod.
"So," I finally said, staring at the table, "why didn't you tell me?"
He blinked. "Tell you?"
"That you're a CEO. That you run big things. You sat across from me like just some guy. But you run the company my father works for."
He exhaled. "I don't lead with titles. Just love the low personality without any big recognition."
I tilted my head a bit to the right and said almost immediately, "That's not the same, Malik. You knew your card only said M. Carter. You wanted to be lowkey?"
"I didn't want it to be about that," he said. "Not with you."
I looked at him. "Why not?"
I reached for my water, just for something to do with my hands.
He hesitated. "Because I liked how we met. You weren't performing for a grant. You weren't trying to impress anybody. You were just you. And I was just a guy listening to you speak something real. And for once, I didn't wanna be the title. I just wanted to be Malik. I didn't want power to get in the way of that."
I sat back. His words hit something. Something small and sore in me.
"Still," I said. "It felt like a lie dressed in truth."
He winced, a little. "Fair."
Silence stretched again. This time, not heavy. Just careful.
The coffees came. I wrapped my hands around the cup. Needed something warm to hold.
"You gave me a big shock. That day. And I'm still figuring out what that means."
"I get it."
The tension thickened like the steam from our untouched drinks.
"I'm not used to men like you."
He raised a brow, curious. He looked at me like he wanted to say a lot at once but was trying not to ruin it by saying too much. "Like me how?"
"Quiet with power. And hard to read."
He looked away for a second. "You don't need to read me, Sera. I'll speak."
I sipped the coffee. It burned a little. Good. I needed to feel something real.
He leaned forward slightly. "Truth? I was hoping I'd see you again. I just didn't expect it would be like that."
"Same."
I glanced at his hands. No ring. Clean cut. Watch that probably cost more than my semester fees.
"Do people ever pretend with you?" I asked suddenly.
He tilted his head, surprised at the question. "All the time."
"And how do you know?"
He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I've learned to wait. Pretenders don't have patience."
I laughed. That one caught me. "That's deep. Oh wow."
"It's just experience."
We sipped quietly. The room around us felt like a blur, like we were in some bubble time forgot.
Then he spoke again.
"I'm not trying to impress you, Sera. I'm just curious about you."
"Why?"
"Because your words stayed with me longer than most people do."
I bit my bottom lip. "You don't know me."
He leaned forward just a little, elbows brushing the edge of the table, eyes steady on mine.
"Not yet," he said.
That "yet" hit something inside me I didn't expect. It wasn't the kind of flirt that made you roll your eyes. It was low, sincere, with a weight that didn't feel like pressure...
I looked away. Focused on a tiny chip in my coffee mug.
"You should've told me who you were, though," I muttered.
He exhaled. "If I did... would you have spoken to me the way you did?"
I didn't answer that. Because deep down, I wasn't sure.
"Besides," he added, "I didn't know you were Big G's daughter either. Trust me, I was just as shocked."
I looked back at him. "Then why didn't you say something sooner? At least when you found out?"
"I didn't know how to. I didn't want to make things weird."
I chuckled bitterly. "News flash... it already is."
He looked a little hurt at that. But he didn't deny it.
"I'm not tryna confuse you," he said, his voice dropping, almost like he was trying to be careful with it. "I'm just asking for honesty. Same way you give it on stage. That's all."
That made my chest tighten a bit.
I rubbed my palms on my jeans. "Okay, then. You wanna know the truth?"
He nodded once.
"I was flattered. That someone like you noticed me. But also confused. Because for the first time in a while, I didn't know if I should feel seen or hunted."
He blinked. "Hunted?"
"Yeah. You're successful. Powerful. And I'm just fiiguring stuff out. I didn't know if this, whatever this is, was genuine or just another power play."
Malik sat back, the muscles in his jaw twitching just slightly.
"That's fair," he said after a beat. "But I'm not here to play games. And I'm definitely not chasing you out of pity or performance."
I didn't say anything.
The silence stretched between us like thread. Tight. Fragile.
Then he leaned forward again, voice softer.
"Look. I don't know what this will become. I just know I'd regret it if I didn't at least try to know you better."
My throat felt dry. "Even if my dad's your employee?"
He gave a tired smile. "Even more reason to be careful. But not a reason to avoid."
I opened my mouth. Closed it.
Because, honestly, what was I supposed to say to that?
I was about to shift the subject, maybe ask about his company or something safer, when my phone beeped again.
Rose.
I flipped it over. Ignored it.
He noticed.
"You alright?"
"Yeah. Just some random calls."
He nodded like he understood.
But we both knew nothing was quiet anymore.
And then, just as the waitress brought our check, something strange happened. Malik stood, pulled out his wallet, but before he could drop the cash, his phone lit up on the table.
I saw the name.
E. Hartwell.
I don't know why it jolted me. But it did.
Maybe because the tone in his face changed just slightly. Maybe because he didn't pick up. Or maybe because my gut told me... whoever that was, they weren't just a business partner.
He tucked the phone away without explaining. Paid. Looked at me.
"You wanna walk a bit?"
I hesitated, then nodded.
The air outside hit different. Cold but not freezing. A sharp wind brushing past, tugging at the edge of my coat. My mind raced louder than my footsteps.
We walked in silence for a block or two.
Then I said, without looking at him, "Who's E. Hartwell?"
He stopped.
That pause?
Too long.
"family," he said finally. "Why?"
I shrugged. "You looked different when the name popped up. I noticed your mood became a bit dull. You're alright?"
He sighed. "It's complicated."
I looked at him now. "You got a lot of complicated in your life, don't you?"
He didn't respond. Just kept walking. I followed.
But something in my chest had shifted.
And I wasn't sure if it was drawing me closer...
...or pulling me away.