In which Deandre, a proper ladies man; falls for Sienna.
⚠️ This story contains mentions of domestic violence, murder, sexual abuse and romance. Reader discretion is advised.
Caution Notice: This chapter contains mentions of suicide and thoughts of suicide. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek help from a professional.
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September 19
📍The Cozy Cup Cafe
Sienna
SIENNA SET UP her laptop while Noelle waited in line to order their breakfast. She had claimed a cozy booth in the back of the café, a spot she favored for its warmth and quiet. The staff was always friendly, and the food never disappointed, making it the perfect place to get work done. In a city as bustling as New York, finding such a welcoming retreat was rare, and that's why this café felt like a breath of fresh air amidst the chaos.
Sienna powered on her laptop and immediately dove into work, responding to emails from her latest client, Dr. Aisha Kapoor—a neuroscientist and entrepreneur who had developed a groundbreaking brain-computer interface aimed at enhancing accessibility. She was preparing her her launch party of the product, and needed an event planner as her schedule had become very busy.
Naomi had referred Sienna for the project, and she couldn't have been more thrilled. Sienna had worked on plenty of meaningful projects before, but this one was something special. It wasn't just the icing on the cake—it was the whole cake.
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"Here you go, madam—one mocha iced coffee, extra cream and cane sugar for my sugar," Noelle teased, approaching the table with a big grin.
"What's with the smile?" I asked, unable to resist smiling myself, her energy contagious.
"Oh, nothing," she replied in a sing-song tone, sitting across from me and resting her chin in her hand.
"Noelle, why are you so giddy?" I giggled, taking a sip of my drink—though not before snapping a photo of the table setup for my Instagram story.
"I just really love New York," she sighed joyfully, stirring her drink with a straw before taking a sip.
"You keep up that 'bad behavior,' and you won't be back. That much I can say," I teased, watching her grin fade in an instant.
"You couldn't just let me have my moment, could you?" She chuckled, rolling her eyes. "And it's not bad behavior. I'm just standing up for myself when no one else will," she shrugged, her gaze drifting to her drink, momentarily lost in thought.
"Well, why don't you tell me your side of the story?" I asked, pausing my work to give her my full, undivided attention.
"Because you'll just tell me to tell an adult, just like my mom, dad, or every other adult I've told the situation to," she sulked. I watched her silently, sensing that whatever was happening at school was really weighing on her. Noelle is a good kid, and I knew that if she was 'acting out', it had to be with good reason.
