Murder

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"May I have one tall caramel macchiato?" Valerie ordered at her favorite café. She glanced around as she handed her money to the cashier, casually scanning her surroundings.

The café was a very modern, clean building. The floors were a light brown wood and the tables were close to being the same. The chairs were plush and there was even comfy couches around a coffee table if you were meeting someone. The lights were a soft yellow, each hanging down from the ceiling in small glass balls.

Valerie loved to sit and watch the people that went by to pass time in her boring life when she didn't have business to attend to. She found it nice to relax in a wooden rocking chair outside of the café that had a small red pillow settled on it.

The café was on a street corner that got a lot of attention, the waiters being busy every minute. Valerie stood in the line to wait for her coffee, surveying the people around the coffee shop. She glanced at people who were on devices, taking advantage of the free wifi, people who were relaxing by themselves and people who were with a small group of others, talking to their hearts content.

"Caramel macchiato for Valerie," the woman who had taken her order called out. Valerie walked further ahead and grabbed her drink from the woman with a warm smile. She slipped a one hundred dollar bill into the tip jar, giving the woman who served her a friendly wink. The women stared at the money with large eyes, a huge smile accompanying them.

Valerie started on her way to her favorite rocking chair, a determined pep in her step. The chair she liked gave her a clear view of all the people walking by and also a nice view of a park that was diagonal to it. She could also feed some birds if she had bought a treat. Although she didn't have a treat now, the birds looked up at her with expecting beady eyes. She always felt bad when she didn't have anything for them to eat but she wasn't going to let their beady eyes guilt-trip her into waiting in the line again this time.

She didn't notice the man sitting in her favorite chair until she had stopped at his side, a small frown etched onto her lips. She was hoping to get her spot today as she hadn't been to the café in a week. That week without caffeine was one she'd rather not live again. Not that she was addicted to coffee, she just loved it enough to get one most days.

She stood by this man's side, disappointed in herself for not waking up sooner on this Sunday morning. Yes, some people would go to church but in Las Vegas, not many. Arriving at an earlier time than ten probably would've given her the seat. No one else seemed to appreciate the surplus of beauty you could see from Valerie's specific rocking chair, making it an easy target.

She was in her head when the man turned to her and startled, uttering a greeting. She noticed after he was staring for about thirty seconds. She grew shy under his gaze for her social mishap and gave him her best fake smile. She straightened herself, trying to give the impression of her elegance. "Hello."

This man was familiar to her, his blue eyes accompanying brown hair and a charming smile. She stared at him deeply as she tried to figure out who he was. She wondered if she'd seen him at her casinos or if he just had a familiar face. He seemed like he could go to a casino but only if he was forced to through business or friends.

"Valerie...?" he looked like he almost winced as he questioned her name, fearful of being wrong. Her smile turned into a genuine one at his voice. Sebastian Wright.

"Sebastian," Valerie gave a brief nod of acknowledgement. He relaxed again at his being right, his charmingly white smile making it's way back onto his face. "You're in my favorite seat," she moved to the front of him, kicking at the ground slightly. She took a sip of her macchiato and smiled down at him. "Are you married?"