Sitting across from her, was Ryan in his navy three-piece suit. She had watched ever so intently when he had taken off his coat and hung it on his seat. He looked so sophisticated and gentlemanly, coupled with his slicked-back hair,
'A recipe for disaster,... ' she thought as she shook her head as if it would rid her thoughts of this man.
"Why are you shaking your head?" He asked, blowing gently at his coffee before sipping it and placing it back down on the table.
"Nothing." She berated herself internally for letting her thoughts intrude.
The table closest to the window was the one he had chosen; it seemed to be his favorite spot in the coffee shop. She couldn't have asked for more, she was liking this spot too.
"I must say, this is a good spot. If I may ask, why do you choose to sit here?" She had a sip of her coffee, looking at him for an answer
He paused and stared at the transparent glass window for a few seconds before replying
"It's my favorite spot because I like people-watching," He said, gesturing toward the busy street outside.
"So, people-watching, huh? Is that something you do often?"
He tilted his head thoughtfully. "I guess so. I find it fascinating to imagine the lives of strangers. Who they are, where they're going. It's like creating little stories in your head."
"Ah, so you're a storyteller," Serena said, her eyebrows lifting in interest.
"Maybe," He admitted with a playful shrug. "Or just someone with an overactive imagination."
"Nothing wrong with that," she said, leaning forward slightly. " So the first time I walked in here, what kind of story did you make up about me?"
Ryan studied her, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hmm… I thought to myself you were probably an accountant who had had a bad day at the office. And since I hadn't seen your pretty face despite the countless number of times I've been here, I was intrigued and wanted to get to know you better. "
Serena laughed. "That's oddly specific. How did you come up with that?"
"You were giving all the signs that day, and I am an acute observer"
"Not bad," she said, nodding appreciatively. "But what if I told you I was having a good day on this said day"
Her face fell in mock disappointment. "Don't ruin my story, Serena!"
She grinned. "Fine, fine. I'll let you have this one. But for the record, you were right, I was indeed having a bad day."
"Okay, your turn. What's your story, Serena?"
She hesitated, her fingers cradling her mug. "I work in marketing. Mostly behind the scenes, creating campaigns and strategies and hosting presentations for the company"
"That sounds cool," Ryan said. "So, you're the mastermind making brands look good"
She laughed softly. "I guess you could put it that way. It's creative, which I enjoy, but it can be draining too."
"Why draining?" he asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Because it's all about convincing people they need something, even if they don't," she said with a small shrug. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing something meaningful."
Ryan nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "I get that. It's easy to feel like what we do doesn't matter, but I think it's all about perspective. Maybe you're not just selling products; you're telling stories, connecting people to things they didn't know could make their lives better."
Serena blinked, surprised by the depth of his response. "That's… a nice way to look at it."
He smiled. "I'm a storyteller too, remember? Or at least, that's what you said."
They both laughed, the sound mingling with the soft hum of the café.
Ryan stared at the woman in front of him, the sunlight streaming through the glass cast a golden halo around her auburn hair, making her seem almost ethereal.
"So, Ryan," she said, leaning forward, "asides people watching and being the CEO of Brad companies, what else do you do?"
He hesitated for a moment before answering. "Photography. I started it as a hobby, but it's become something I love. Capturing moments, telling stories including the ones I concoct in my head through pictures—it's like freezing time."
"That's beautiful," Serena said softly. "Do you have a favorite subject to photograph?"
"People just being themselves and landscapes, mostly," he said. "But lately, I've been trying to branch out—portraits, cityscapes, that kind of thing."
Serena's eyes lit up. "You'll have to show me your work sometime."
"I'd like that," he said, his voice earnest.
"Now for the main question on my mind, how did you find out I was working at Creed Multinationals?"
"I've been waiting for this question," He laughed softly, the sound rich and genuine. "I had my secretary find out about you and when I found out you worked at Creed Multinationals, I was pleasantly surprised it was with a company we were partnering with."
"Oh, that explains it," she said, as she fluttered thinking of how he had gone through the trouble of finding her.
They fell into an easy rhythm, their conversation flowing effortlessly from one topic to the next. They talked about childhood memories, favorite books, and dream destinations. Serena shared stories of her family's quirky traditions, while Ryan recounted his misadventures in trying to learn guitar.
Hours seemed to slip away unnoticed. The café grew quieter as the morning rush faded, leaving behind only the soft clinking of cups and the faint murmur of other conversations.
"Can I ask you something?" Serena said suddenly, her tone more serious.
"Of course," Ryan replied.
"What made you ask me out for coffee?"
He paused, considering his answer. "Honestly? It was the energy around you when I first saw you. Even though you seemed to be having a bad day, it was… warm. That kind of energy is rare."
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked down at her mug. "That's probably the nicest thing anyone's said to me."
Ryan smiled softly. "Just being honest."
The moment hung between them, charged with an unspoken connection.
"Well," Serena said, breaking the silence, "I'm glad you did. This has been nice."
"Yeah, it has," Ryan agreed. "Maybe we should do it again sometime?"
"Maybe," she said, a teasing glint in her eyes. "But only if you promise to let me see some of your photos."
"Deal," he said, his grin widening.
As they gathered their things and prepared to leave, Ryan held the door open for her, stepping into the crisp evening air.
"Thanks for today," Serena said, turning to face him.
"Thank you," he replied.
For a moment, they stood there, neither wanting to say goodbye. Finally, Serena gave a small wave and began to walk away, her heart inexplicably lighter.
Ryan watched her until she disappeared around the corner, a soft smile still lingering on his lips. Something about her felt different, like the start of something he hadn't even realized he'd been waiting for.
And for the first time in a long time, he felt the spark of possibility—like the beginning of a story worth telling.