Kai was taken aback by the man's striking appearance. He possessed a well-toned body that perfectly complemented the black suit he wore. His broad shoulders were accentuated by the black overcoat he wore and his ginger coloured hair neatly styled back added sophistication to his well-defined facial features. The thin golden-framed glasses perched on his nose bridge added a touch of professionalism to his overall demeanour.
Though Aiden was handsome... and hot on his side, he couldn't quite match the refined presence of this man. Probably because he had not fully matured.
Kai brushed off the man's imperious presence and glanced back at Ava only to see that she was still frozen, and he heaved a sigh,
"Ava. It's been a while." He greeted with a charming smile when he reached the counter.
Ava blinked twice trying to bring herself back to reality and gulped down the lump in her throat before smiling back awkwardly,
"Donovan. It's nice to see you, too."
"You just graduated college right? How are things going with you?"
"It's okay, thanks for asking."
"Isn't Aunt available today?" The man named Donovan glanced around the cafe searching for the elderly couple.
"She stepped out with dad for a while. So is there anything I can get you?"
"A coffee cake and cappuccino with extra whipped cream."
"Is there anything else you want?"
"No, that'll be all." He replied.
Ava nodded with a smile and went to the prep area and placed the cup of already steamed milk under the electric mixer and turned it on. Kai stood beside her watching the process of making a cappuccino but his attention was far from what was in front of him. The eyes that bore holes into his back made it really hard to concentrate. How rude of him to make his gaze so obvious.
Unable to bear the intense and creepy gaze anymore, he turned to Donovan who still stood by the counter and offered him a bright smile but his eyes said otherwise,
"Could you please have your seat, we'll be right with you."
"I'm sorry if you feel uncomfortable, you just look really familiar, is all. Have we perhaps met before?" Kai rose a brow,
"I don't think so. No." He replied with a rude undertone so the other could take the hint and buzz off.
"Ah, I must have be mistaken. Carry on" The other bowed and made his way to the seat directly in front of the counter and took out his phone from his pocket when he was seated. Kai saw this and clicked his tongue, of all tables to choose.
"He's a friend of my brothers and he usually frequents this place so you'll be seeing much of him." Ava explained as if sensing his distaste for the man and went on to making the coffee for his drink.
It was as if she was telling him to be nice to the professor because he was part of their family. Judging from how dazed she looked when he had walked in, Kai was a hundred percent sure she had feelings for him.
"Donny, I was expecting you." They heard the voice of the elderly lady say from behind.
"Aunty, how are you today?"
"I told you not to call me that. I am not that old."
"I'm sorry aunty."
"There you go again. You're doing this on purpose aren't you? You're not too old to have me pull your ears." They weren't loud but Ava and Kai could hear their conversation since they were not too far from the counter.
"My mother pretty much dotes on him too so." Said Ava.
Kai unconsciously turned back to steal a glance at them but then immediately regretted it when his eyes met with Donovan's hazel ones, and the latter smiled at him politely,
"Here," Ava's voice drew his attention and he turned to her. She handed him the white tray with Donovan's requested meal on it, and a crease settled between his brows.
"Why are you giving it to me?" She leaned in and whispered in his ears
"In case you haven't noticed, I freeze up every time I see him." Oh, he noticed all right. Kai let out a teasing smile
"Really? Hehehe."
"Don't laugh or I'll kill you." She threatened and Kai whimpered.
"- I'm sorry miss." His non-existent bunny ears drooped
"Good, now go on minion." She commanded playfully,
Kai waited until Mrs Lyn was done speaking with the man before he finally went to deliver the meal so he wouldn't interrupt their conversation. He walked up to him and carefully placed the cake and drink in front of him,
"Enjoy your meal." He bowed and was about to leave when the other pulled his attention back,
"Oh, I remember now. You bumped into me yesterday."
Kai scratched his cheek with his index finger... he vaguely remembered hitting someone on his way out the other day but it was only for a split second and he didn't even pay attention to who it was. So that was him?
"Ah. Sorry about that. You have quite the memory."
"Oh I'd never forget a pretty face." Kai flushed from the unexpected comment coming from someone with a face like his but his defence was still as high as ever,
"I appreciate but I am a boy."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."
"It's okay. I get it a lot and I don't mind." Donovan glanced down at the clothes Kai wore and raised a brow.
"You don't have the uniform. Aren't you a worker?"
"No I'm actually an apprentice."
"I didn't know aunty took apprentices."
"It's not until next week. I begged to start early."
"A hard worker I see." He smiled and this time Kai smiled back.
"Kai?" Ava called from behind the counter when she noticed he was taking too long to just serve a meal.
"I have to leave so she won't think I'm slacking off. Enjoy your meal sir." Kai bowed again
"See you next time Kai." Strangely, the way he called his name sent a chill down the merman but he quickly shrugged it off and hurried back to his post behind the counter.
.
The knock on the door woke Aiden up from his short doze and he quickly sat up and removed the piece of paper that stuck on his face.
"Come in." He answered and the door was pushed open. On the other side stood a man in a black suit with cropped black hair and a scar running down from his forehead to his left eye. He was the COO and supposed deputy or Mr Clein. Behind him stood a woman with an elegant fringe and a simple white dress on with a note pad in her hand. His secretary.
"It's morning, sir." The deputy informed knowing well that the young master had pulled an all nighter just to get the remaining paper work done.
"Thank you for reminding me. What's my schedule this week Lauren."
"The owners of the casino hotel would like your opinion on an idea they have and requested you meet with them on Thursday. And on Friday, you have a meeting with Mr. Ayame Kyosuke concerning the automotive industry that's still in construction."
Damn old man creating businesses here and there and leaving them for him to run! Aiden sighed and stood up from the swivel chair. He took his overcoat off the coat rack by his work desk and slipped his arms into it
"I'm taking today and the next two days off. Tell Vance and Vladimir to postpone the meeting till next week cause I won't make it, and I'll make sure to meet with Mr. Ayame."
He met with the twins two weeks ago so he was sure this was just another one of their excuses to pry in his personal matters.
"There are a few more e-documents that requires your signature, sir." The deputy informed,
"Send it through email. You can have the day off too Caesar." He said to the deputy and with that he left.
He got into the elevator and made his way out of the edifice.
Aiden had purposely taken the days off to make up for the times he hadn't been home. Kai didn't like sleeping alone from what he noted and he had made him do that, more than once too. Perhaps he would stop at a flower shop and get him a bouquet of roses to apologise.
He got into his Bentley which he recently coated black and drove out of the parking lot.
At the end, he bought a box of cookies and chocolate to go with the large bouquet of roses. Kai wouldn't be able to resist sweets. He parked the car in the open garage and got down with the items in his hand.
Soon he was greeted by the helper who still had her apron around her waist and she assisted him with the bouquet and chocolate boxes.
Usually, Kai was the one to see him first each time he came home, was he really that angry? Or perhaps he was just asleep.
"Where's Kai?"
"The young sir wasn't home when I got here sir."