Bitter Love

Chapter 4:Café

As Evie settled into her favorite corner of the café, the soothing warmth of her coffee was abruptly interrupted by a jolt. The coffee spilled across the table, and she looked up to see a strikingly handsome man with piercing blue eyes and tousled brown hair, who had collided with her table.

He stood there, seemingly unaffected by the mess, his demeanor cold and aloof.

"Watch where you're going!"

Evie snapped, glaring at him.

His expression remained impassive, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

"I didn't realize the café was a minefield."

Before Evie could respond, a man in a black suit hurried over.

"I'm terribly sorry, Miss," he said, addressing the handsome stranger. "Let me help with that."

He turned to Evie. "Are you alright?"

"Just my coffee, thanks."

Evie said, still fuming.He watched with an air of detached amusement, his blue eyes scanning the café with disinterest.The suited man glanced at the young man, a hint of frustration in his expression.

"Perhaps we should be more careful in the future, sir."

He shrugged, his gaze finally settling on Evie with a touch of condescension.

"Looks like you've had a rough day."

Evie's anger flared.

"I didn't ask for your sympathy," she shot back,
"Maybe next time you'll be more considerate."

His smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered.

"Perhaps," he said coolly, "but I wouldn't count on it."

The man cleared his throat, sensing the tension.

"Let's go, sir," he said, guiding the rude guy away,
"We have other matters to attend to."

Evie watched them leave, her anger still simmering. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She couldn't believe how dismissive that guy had been. She grabbed a napkin to dab at the coffee stains on her clothes, muttering under her breath about his arrogance.

The barista, noticing her frustration, approached with a sympathetic smile.

"Are you alright? That looked pretty intense."

Evie forced a smile.

"I'll survive. Some people just don't know how to apologize."

The barista nodded knowingly.

"Yeah, that guy's a regular here. Always in a hurry, always with that assistant of his. But you're right, he could use a lesson in manners."

Evie gave a small, nonchalant shrug.

"Well, it's not my problem. I just hope I don't run into him again."

The barista chuckled.

"You and me both."As Evie settled back into her seat and opened her laptop, she tried to shake off the encounter and focus on her work. That guy had been a jerk, and that was all there was to it.

Meanwhile, outside the café, Adrien glanced back through the window. Ethan noticed his gaze and raised an eyebrow.

"Something on your mind, sir?"

Adrien shook his head slightly.

"Just thinking. Let's get going."

As they walked to the car, Adrien couldn't shake the image of Evie's fiery hazel eyes and the way she had stood up to him. It was a rare thing for someone to challenge him, and it left an impression he wasn't quite ready to admit.