Sophia couldn't stop staring at the check. It was crumpled now, folded and refolded in her pocket as if she needed to keep checking it was real. The man had barely hesitated when he wrote it, smiled politely, and walked out with her painting.
She should have felt ecstatic, but something about it gnawed at her. The letter. The prediction. Someone had known.
Back in her apartment, she unearthed the crumpled letter from the trash. She smoothed it out on her tiny kitchen table and read it again:
*"Tomorrow, someone will buy your painting. Trust this as the first step of many."*
Her hands trembled slightly. Was it just a coincidence? Could it be a lucky guess? She shook her head, trying to brush off the unease creeping up her spine.
That night, just as she was finishing her late dinner a pitiful bowl of instant noodles another knock came at her door. Sophia froze.
For a long moment, she didn't move. The knock came again, more insistent this time. Heart pounding, she walked to the door and opened it.
Just like before, the hallway was empty. But there it was again a cream-colored envelope, identical to the first.
Her pulse quickened as she picked it up and ripped it open. The message inside was just as brief:
*"Tomorrow, you will meet Adrian Steele. He will change your life."*
Adrian Steele? The name sounded vaguely familiar. She frowned, pulling out her phone and searching his name.
Her breath caught. Adrian Steele wasn't just anyone he was *the* Adrian Steele, billionaire CEO of Steele Industries. He was a household name, often featured in business magazines and tabloids. But what would a man like that have to do with her?
The next day, Sophia couldn't shake the letter's prediction as she went about her routine. She even dressed a little nicer for her shift at the coffee shop, though she told herself it was ridiculous to think a billionaire would randomly show up there.
By the afternoon, she had nearly convinced herself the letter was meaningless. But then, as the bell above the door jingled, she looked up and felt the world tilt.
He walked in like he owned the place, exuding an air of confidence that turned heads. He was taller than she'd imagined, with sharp features and piercing gray eyes. He glanced around the room briefly before his gaze landed on her and didn't move.
Sophia froze, her heart racing as he approached the counter.
"You're Sophia Harris," he said, his voice smooth and authoritative. It wasn't a question.
She swallowed hard, unsure whether to confirm or run. "Yes, that's me. Can I help you?"
Adrian Steele offered a small smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'd like to discuss your art."
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