The city lights outside the café flickered in the early evening, casting a warm glow on the worn wooden tables where Leila sat, staring at the empty coffee cup in front of her. It had been a long day. Sami had stayed home sick, which meant she had to pick up extra hours at both jobs. Sometimes, the weight of it all felt like it might crush her, but she kept moving forward. For Sami. For her dreams.
But tonight, the café was quiet—Alex wasn't here. It had been a few days since he'd last visited. She tried not to let the thought linger. Her connection to him was... complicated.
She had started to believe in the possibility of something real between them, but doubts still crept in. Could someone like him ever truly understand someone like her?
She was snapped from her thoughts when the familiar jingle of the café doorbell rang.
Alex walked in, his tailored suit and sharp features immediately standing out against the casual atmosphere of the place. She tried to suppress the flutter of her heart, but it was useless. He was a force she couldn't ignore. He met her eyes, his usual impassive expression softening just slightly.
"Long day?" Alex asked as he made his way to the counter.
Leila nodded, forcing a smile. "You could say that."
He didn't speak at first, instead studying her carefully, as if weighing his next words. Finally, he took a step closer, lowering his voice. "Tell me what's going on, Leila. I know something's been off lately."
She hesitated, her instinct was to pull away, to guard herself. But there was something in his tone, something genuine, that made her consider opening up.
"I... it's nothing really," she said, but she knew it was a lie.
Alex's eyes narrowed in a way that was both comforting and unsettling. He wasn't buying it.
"Leila..." His voice softened, and she could feel the sincerity in it. "I'm not asking for the whole story. But I'm here, if you want to talk."
Her mind raced. She had never allowed herself to be vulnerable with anyone—not like this. But there was a part of her that felt safe with him. A small, but persistent part that believed he genuinely cared.
After a long pause, she finally spoke, her words tumbling out in a rush. "It's just... I'm tired. I'm working two jobs to keep up with bills and pay for Sami's school. Some days I feel like I'm running on empty. And I don't know if I'm doing enough, or if it's ever going to be enough."
Alex's eyes softened, his gaze becoming thoughtful. "You're doing more than enough. But you don't have to do it alone."
Leila shook her head, almost laughing bitterly. "I don't have anyone to depend on. It's just me and Sami. And I can't afford to stop."
A silence settled between them, thick with unspoken truths. For the first time, Leila felt as though she could breathe, as though someone saw her—the real her—and not just the tough exterior she had built over the years.
Alex stepped closer, his voice low but steady. "Let me help. Not just with the money, Leila. Let me be a part of your life. I'm here. And I want to see you succeed—on your own terms."
Leila's heart gave a traitorous flutter. She knew she had always prided herself on doing things by herself. But what if she could allow someone in? What if, for once, she could let someone help, without feeling like she was losing control?
She looked at Alex—really looked at him—and saw something there. Not just the billionaire, the man with all the power. But a man who, in some quiet way, understood her struggles.
"You don't have to say anything now," Alex added, his voice softening. "But when you're ready, I'll be here."
Leila nodded slowly, not trusting her voice. He wasn't asking for anything, and that made all the difference. And for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to believe that there might be a way forward.