Shadows of the heart 18+

Chapter 2

Nathaniel Archibald stormed out of his luxurious home, his jaw clenched with anger. He hadn't eaten breakfast, too consumed by the heated argument he'd had with his father over their family business . Despite their lavish lifestyle, tensions ran high in the Archibald household, and he was tired of constantly butting heads with his father.

Hungry and frustrated, he instructed the driver to take him to his office. Along the way, he caught sight of a quaint café nestled between the bustling shops of the city. Normally, Nate wouldn't give such a place a second glance, but today, he was in desperate need of sustenance – and perhaps a distraction from his troubles.

"Stop here," Nate ordered abruptly, his voice cutting through the silence of the cab.

The driver obeyed, pulling over to the curb as Nate stepped out onto the sidewalk. Ignoring the curious glances of passersby, Nate strode purposefully towards the café, his mind still reeling from the argument with his father.

Entering the café, Nate's eyes scanned the room for an empty table. His gaze landed on a waitress – serena, according to her nametag – who was weaving her way through the crowded space, a tray of drinks balanced precariously in her hands.

"Excuse me," Nate called out, his tone curt as he flagged her down.

Serena turned towards him, her expression polite but wary. "Yes, sir? How can I help you?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle despite the underlying tension in the air.

"I'll have a black coffee," Nate replied brusquely, his patience wearing thin.

Serena nodded, scribbling down his order on her notepad before disappearing into the bustling café. Moments later, she returned with a steaming cup of coffee, setting it down on the table with practiced ease.

"Here you go, sir. Is there anything else I can get for you?" Serena asked, her eyes meeting Nate's briefly before flickering away.

Nate eyed her suspiciously, his temper simmering just beneath the surface. "No, this will be all," he replied sharply, his gaze piercing.

Serena shifted uncomfortably under his intense scrutiny, her nerves fraying with each passing second. "O-okay, just let me know if you need anything else," she mumbled, backing away slowly.

But before she could make her escape, disaster struck. With a sudden movement, Serena accidentally knocked the coffee pot, sending a stream of hot liquid cascading onto Nate's expensive coat.

Nate's eyes blazed with fury as he leapt to his feet, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "What the hell!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the café.

Serena recoiled, her heart pounding in her chest. "I-I'm so sorry, sir. It was an accident, I swear,"her eyes wide with fear.

Nate's anger flared, his frustration with his father boiling over into a blind rage. He could feel the eyes of the other patrons on him, their whispers swirling around him like a suffocating fog.

But even in the midst of his anger, Nate hesitated. There was something about Serena's trembling form, her eyes wide with fear, that gave him pause. With a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down, his fists unclenching at his sides.

"Fine," he bit out, his voice laced with barely contained fury. "Just bring me the bill."

Serena nodded, her hands shaking as she hurried to comply with his request. As Nate watched her retreat, a small voice in the back of his mind whispered that perhaps he'd been too harsh.

His anger towards his father had clouded his judgment, causing him to lash out at someone who didn't deserve it. But it wasn't the ruined coat that bothered him; coats like that came and went for someone as wealthy as him. It was the frustration of the entire incident, the way his morning had been disrupted by a simple accident.

But the feeling was fleeting, replaced once more by the burning anger that fueled his every action. With a heavy sigh, Nate sank back into his seat, his thoughts consumed by the unresolved tension that simmered between him and his father.

As he waited for the bill, Nate couldn't shake the feeling that his encounter with serena – however brief and tumultuous – was somehow fated, a harbinger of things to come.