The soft hum of a saxophone filled the dimly lit lounge, blending with the murmur of late-night conversation. Warm amber light glowed against the polished wood and glass, and the faint scent of whiskey lingered in the air.
Caelum Vellaria sat at the far end of the bar, sleeves rolled up, his tie loosened, eyes fixed on the untouched glass before him. The amber liquid shimmered under the light, but he hadn't taken a sip in minutes. His mind was too crowded.
He wasn't sure what brought him here — maybe the exhaustion from endless family tension, or maybe he simply wanted silence that wasn't filled with expectations.
He had spent days keeping up appearances: the perfect grandson, the poised heir, the charming Vellaria. But beneath it all, he was tired. Tired of pretending he was fine, tired of the weight that came with the family name.
He finally lifted his glass and took a slow drink, savoring the burn.
Then he saw her.
At the opposite side of the bar sat a woman alone elegant, composed, and quietly radiant under the soft lighting. Her hair cascaded down her back like silk, her profile calm yet distant as she swirled the drink in her hand. There was something graceful about her stillness, something that stood out amid the noise and laughter surrounding them.
Then he noticed the two men near her drunk, boisterous, leaning in too close.
At first, she smiled politely, shaking her head, clearly uninterested. But they persisted. One of them reached to touch her arm, and Caelum felt his jaw tighten.
Without a second thought, he pushed his glass away, stood, and crossed the room.
"Sorry I took so long, love," he said casually, slipping an arm around the woman's shoulders. His voice was calm, controlled ..but his eyes warned the men instantly.
The woman blinked in surprise but caught on quickly. "You're late again," she replied smoothly, a hint of playfulness in her tone. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten me."
"Never," he murmured, smiling as if it were the most natural exchange in the world.
The men looked between them, frowning. "You could've said you were waiting for someone," one grumbled before the other tugged him away, muttering curses under his breath.
When they were gone, the woman let out a quiet breath and stepped back slightly.
"Thank you," she said, her voice low and calm. "I wasn't exactly looking for trouble tonight."
Caelum smiled faintly. "Didn't look like you needed saving.. until you did."
Her lips curved. "I suppose I should be grateful then."
He gestured to the empty seat beside her. "Mind if I stay for a bit? I promise I don't bite."
"Suit yourself," she said with a soft shrug. "But I get to buy the next round as thanks."
He raised a brow, amused. "Deal."
They shook hands.
"Caelum," he introduced.
"Leina Montego," she replied. " I just got back home after years abroad. Still getting used to being here again."
"Welcome back, then," he said. "How are you finding it so far?"
She gave a faint smile. "Crowded. Loud. But… familiar. It feels like a city that never forgot how to keep moving."
"I know what you mean," he said, glancing at his glass. "Sometimes it moves too fast. Makes you feel like you'll fall behind the moment you blink."
"That's exactly why I prefer silence," she said, taking another sip. "People think silence is emptiness, but for me, it's peace."
Caelum looked at her thoughtfully. "I haven't had peace in a long time."
Leina tilted her head, studying him. "You look like someone who carries too much on his shoulders."
He gave a soft, humorless laugh. "Guilty."
"Family?" she asked.
"Something like that," he admitted, swirling the drink in his hand. "When you're born with a name that means something, you start to forget who you are. You just become… what everyone expects you to be."
Leina nodded slowly. "I understand that better than you think."
She didn't elaborate, and he didn't push. Instead, the silence between them became strangely comfortable. The kind of quiet that didn't demand to be filled.
Minutes turned to hours. They talked ...about art, travel, places they both missed. About the kind of freedom that only existed in memories.
And then, laughter. Genuine, lighthearted laughter that came unexpectedly after so much heaviness. Caelum realized he hadn't laughed like that in months.
When it was close to midnight, Leina glanced at her watch and sighed. "I should go. My hotel isn't far, but it's getting late."
Caelum stood as she did. "Allow me to take you."
"That's not necessary," she said, but her smile gave away her appreciation.
"Maybe not," he replied, "but it'll make me feel better."
She hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Just this once."
Outside, the air was cool and crisp. City lights shimmered against the wet pavement as cars passed by. Caelum walked beside her, hands in his pockets, keeping pace.
At the hotel entrance, Leina turned to him. "You're surprisingly polite for someone who walks into bar fights pretending to be a boyfriend."
He chuckled. "Old habits die hard."
"Then I'll say goodnight, Mr. Vellaria," she said softly. "Thank you for the drink and for the rescue."
"Anytime," he replied.
She started to walk away but turned back briefly. "If fate's kind, maybe we'll meet again."
Caelum smiled faintly, watching her disappear through the glass doors. "Maybe we will."
------
The morning sun spilled gently through the curtains of Leina Montego's hotel suite, casting soft gold on the white linen sheets. The faint hum of the city below drifted up from the streets cars honking, vendors calling, life beginning again.
Leina stirred, her eyes blinking open to the unfamiliar ceiling. For a moment, she forgot where she was until the faint memory of last night came rushing back.
The bar.
The laughter.
And him.
Caelum Vellaria.
She sat up, brushing her hair back, a small smile tugging at her lips. It had been years since someone had made her laugh like that so easily, so unexpectedly. And yet, even as she thought of him, she shook her head, almost amused by her own foolishness.
"Get a grip, Leina," she murmured to herself. "It was just a drink."
Standing, she crossed to the window, watching sunlight reflect off the glass buildings across the skyline. There was something poetic about being back home after all these years a city she once fled from, now waiting for her return.
The Montego family had always been known for their artistry the finest designers in the kingdom, their name gracing royal wardrobes and elite banquets. But Leina never wanted to be another stitched signature in her parents' empire.
She left five years ago not just to study design, but to breathe, to live. To escape the constant parade of suitors her mother lined up, all wealthy, all powerful, all wrong.
And now, after five long years, she was finally back not as a daughter running away, but as a woman who had built her own name.
Her first thought wasn't business or family.
It was Caliste.
Her best friend. Her anchor.
It had been years since they'd seen each other — since she left without much of a goodbye, afraid that staying would break her resolve. Now, she wanted to surprise her.
Grinning at the thought, Leina slipped into a cream blouse and high-waisted trousers, tied her hair in a neat knot, and grabbed her purse. She looked effortlessly elegant as always but her heart was beating fast with excitement.
---
By the time she reached the glass tower where Caliste worked, the morning rush had begun. The lobby buzzed with people in suits, phones ringing, heels clicking against marble floors.
Leina adjusted her bag and walked toward the elevator, eyes scanning the polished metal doors reflecting the crowd around her. She hadn't texted Caliste she wanted to see the surprise on her face.
Just as the elevator chimed open, she stepped forward and bumped into someone coming out.
Hard.
"Oh..!"
Her bag slipped from her shoulder. A firm hand caught it midair.
"I'm so sorry," she said quickly, brushing back a strand of hair as she looked up. "I wasn't.."
The words froze on her lips.
Standing before her was Caelum Vellaria.
For a heartbeat, time stopped.
He looked different in the daylight no shadows, no bar lights, just the clean lines of a man too polished for his own good. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled up, a coat slung casually over his arm.
Their eyes met, and both seemed equally startled.
"Miss Montego," he said, recovering first, his voice smooth but laced with quiet surprise. "We meet again."
"Caelum," she breathed, trying to steady herself. "I didn't expect.. I mean.." She laughed softly, embarrassed. "Small world, isn't it?"
"Apparently," he said, his lips curving faintly. "Are you… visiting someone here?"
"Yes, actually," she replied, finding her composure again. "A dear friend. I thought I'd surprise her."
He nodded. "That sounds like something worth doing. I'm just heading out.. meeting with a client."
"Oh." She smiled, glancing toward the exit. "Then I won't keep you."
They stood there for a moment, neither quite knowing what to say. The faint noise of the lobby faded into the background.. the sound of their quiet heartbeat filled the pause.
Finally, she offered a polite smile. "It was… nice seeing you again, Caelum."
"The pleasure's mine," he said softly, eyes lingering a second longer than he meant to. "Take care, Leina."
And with that, he turned and walked away.. his stride calm, measured, but there was a flicker of something unreadable in his expression.
Leina watched him go, her pulse still uneven. She hadn't expected to see him again, not like this, not so soon.
When the elevator doors slid open, she exhaled, stepping inside with a quiet laugh under her breath.