Shadows of the heart 18+

Chapter 9

As serena unlocked the door to her apartment, a mix of emotions flooded her. Relief washed over her at the thought of apologizing to nathaniel, yet she couldn't shake the memory of his striking appearance – his well-built physique and chiseled features reminiscent of a Greek god.

"Phew, what a night," Emily muttered to herself, dropping her bag by the door.

"Why does he have to be so good-looking?" Emily muttered to herself, burying her face in her pillow.

The memory of her first night out at the club with Lily and Sarah also weighed heavily on her mind. While the camaraderie of her friends had made the experience enjoyable, it was marred by the unwelcome advances of a random stranger who had tried to force her to dance. But amidst the chaos, her unexpected interaction with Nate stood out as a peculiar blend of apprehension and relief – a confrontation she hadn't anticipated but ultimately faced head-on.

The next morning, she woke up with a sense of trepidation, dreading the inevitable questions from her friends at work.

Arriving at the café, she was greeted by Lily and Sarah, who immediately sensed her somber mood.

"Hey, serena, you okay?" Lily asked, concern etched in her voice.

She forced a smile, trying to mask her inner turmoil. "Just tired, I guess."

But her friends weren't convinced, and they pressed her for answers. "Come on, spill it," Sarah insisted, nudging Emily gently. "What happened last night? You bolted from the club so fast!"

Taking a deep breath, Emily decided to confide in them. "It's about Nate," she confessed, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Nate? Who's Nate?" Lily asked, her curiosity piqued.

Emily hesitated for a moment before revealing, "the guy I accidentally spilled coffee on at the café"

Lily and Sarah's eyes widened in realization, and they exchanged amused glances before launching into a playful barrage of teasing.

"Oh, so you even got to know his name now, huh?" Sarah teased, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"Yeah, next thing you know, you'll be exchanging love letters," Lily added, grinning.

Serena laughed, feeling the weight of her friends' teasing. "Guys, seriously?come on, don't make fun of me"

"So, spill the tea, Em. What happened after you bumped into Nate last night?"Sarah spoke up, her tone laced with curiosity.

Serena sighed, knowing she wouldn't be able to avoid their relentless questioning. "Alright, fine. I offered him a coffee as an apology, and we... talked," she confessed, her voice trailing off uncertainly.

Sarah's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Just talked? Nothing else happened?"

"Nope, just a small conversation. I guess he accepted my apology as he accepted the offer.Turns out he's not as intimidating as he seems."Serena said with a relief

The next minute serena felt her heart pounding as she saw Nate walk into the café. His face seemed unfriendly. That's why she always felt nervous around him.

Lily and Sarah urged her to go talk to him, but serena hesitated. But they pushed her forward, and before she knew it, she was standing in front of him.

Nate looked up as Serena approached, and she couldn't help but notice how handsome he was. She felt a flutter in her chest as she met his gaze.

She placed the cup of coffee on his table, ready to leave, but Nate stopped her with his cold tone. "Sit," he commanded.

She felt a lump form in her throat. This was her workplace, also she didn't want to disobey that would be rude

"It's my workplace," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I shouldn't be sitting with customers"

"I'll accept your apology," he said tersely, "but only if you sit and have a cup of coffee with me."

Unable to refuse, serena took a seat across from him, her hands trembling slightly. She tried to break the tension by asking for his name, even though she already knew it.

"What's your name?" she asked softly.

Nate's lips quirked into a faint smile. "Nathaniel Archibald," he replied, his voice smooth and low.

Emily couldn't help but find it funny how rich people always had these fancy names.

"Serena Anderson," she replied, offering him a tentative smile.

Nate nodded.Despite his cold exterior, he seemed genuinely interested in getting to know her.

"Do you study or do anything else besides this waitress job?" he queried

Serena hesitated, feeling a surge of discomfort at his probing question. "No," she replied simply, her response lacking the warmth of her usual demeanor.

Despite her extroverted nature urging her to explain her circumstances—her family's financial struggles and the time constraints imposed by her job—Serena held her tongue. After all, he was just a stranger. She approached him with a mixture of nerves and determination, her heart racing as she prepared to break the awkward silence again. "So, what do you do for a living?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

"I'm a businessman," he replied curtly, his tone clipped.

Her assumption was correct.of course, someone as wealthy-looking as him would be involved in business.
"Oh, okay," she murmured, mentally kicking herself for the awkwardness of the conversation.

As Nate rose from his seat to pay the bill, Emily's heart sank. She had hoped to cover the cost of the coffee as a gesture of goodwill, but Nate's stubborn male ego seemed to have other plans.

"The coffee's on me," she insisted, her voice tinged with determination.

Nate shook his head, his jaw set in a stubborn line. "No, I'll take care of it," he replied firmly, his tone brooking no argument.

Serena bit her lip, torn between gratitude and frustration. "But I offered you the coffee as an apology,remember?" she pointed out, her voice tinged with logic. "It's only fair that I pay."

Nate's expression softened slightly, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Fine," he relented, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You win this time."

Serena's face broke into a triumphant grin as she reached for her purse, feeling a rush of victory at having won the battle of wills with Nate.

As she handed the payment, she couldn't help but notice how Nate's demeanor had shifted. Gone was the cold, aloof man she had encountered earlier. In his place was a slightly more relaxed version, his guard momentarily lowered in the face of her persistence.

With a satisfied smile, Serena returned to her seat, basking in the warmth of her small triumph. She had faced Nate's stubbornness head-on.

Nate's departure drew near as he mentioned his impending meeting. "Well, I guess it's time for me to head out," he stated, his tone carrying a sense of urgency.

"Oh, okay," she responded

Serena's mind raced with a myriad of thoughts. "Take care," she said, her voice tinged with sincerity as she wished him well.

With a reluctant nod, Nate quickly bid goodbye. He couldn't quite explain it, but he didn't want their encounter to end just yet. Despite not having a particular motive for visiting her, he found himself hesitant to walk away.