Aria slept lightly that night.
Every small sound made her turn in bed.
The wind outside.
A car passing.
Footsteps in the distance.
She told herself she was just tired.
But deep down, she felt uneasy, like something was wrong and she couldn't explain why.
When morning came, she woke up with a dull headache.
"Get it together," she murmured, sitting up.
She had work. Bills. Life.
No time for strange feelings.
Adrian woke up before his alarm.
That annoyed him.
He stood by the window of his apartment, city stretching out below him.
His phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
He stared at it for a second before answering.
"Sir," a man said, low and careful. "We confirmed it. Someone is watching her."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Since when?"
"Last night. After you left the café."
Silence filled the line.
"I told you to keep my private life out of this," Adrian said finally.
"We are," the man replied. "But whoever it is… they're not being careful."
Adrian ended the call.
He didn't like this.
Not one bit.
At the café, Aria tried to focus.
The morning rush was normal—coffee orders, chatter, the smell of pastries.
Still, she felt eyes on her.
She glanced toward the window.
Nothing.
A few minutes later, she felt it again.
She turned sharply this time.
A man stood across the street, pretending to check his phone.
When their eyes met, he looked away too quickly.
Her stomach tightened.
"Why am I suddenly paranoid?" she whispered.
She shook her head and went back inside.
That afternoon, Adrian made a decision he rarely made.
He left his office early.
His assistant looked shocked. "Sir, you have—"
"I know," he said calmly. "Cancel the rest."
He drove himself this time.
Not to the office.
Not home.
To the café.
Aria was wiping the counter when she felt it again.
That presence.
Then she heard his voice.
"Long day?"
She turned.
Adrian stood there, hands in his coat pockets, looking… concerned.
"You came back," she said, surprised.
"Yes," he replied. "I wanted to check on you."
Her heart skipped, but something else rose too—relief.
"I think I'm just tired," she said quickly. "Probably imagining things."
He studied her face carefully.
"Have you noticed anyone strange?" he asked.
She hesitated. "Maybe. I don't know."
That was enough.
Adrian nodded slowly. "If you ever feel unsafe… call me."
He handed her a card.
Their fingers touched.
Again.
And again, that quiet spar
k passed between them.
Neither of them noticed the man across the street, watching through the café window.
This time, he smiled.