A Chance Encounter – Cecilia Meets Kenze When Her Cab Breaks Down
The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the busy streets as Cecilia leaned back in the cab, exhausted from her long day. It had been one of those overwhelming afternoons filled with back-to-back meetings, endless errands, and the constant struggle of keeping everything in order.
She just wanted to get home.
As she glanced out the window, her mind wandered. Life had been a whirlwind since her parents' passing. She and her sisters had learned to be strong, but sometimes, the weight of responsibility was suffocating.
She sighed and checked her phone. The battery was at 8%.
Just great.
That was when it happened.
The cab suddenly jerked, sputtered, and rolled to a slow stop on the side of the road.
The driver frowned, turning the key in the ignition again, but the car refused to start. With a frustrated sigh, he got out, muttering to himself.
Cecilia groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Not today.
She reached for her phone to call another ride, but the low battery warning flashed at her. Before she could do anything, the phone died completely.
"Perfect," she muttered under her breath.
She looked around. They were on a less crowded part of the road, and although cars occasionally passed by, no one seemed to notice their situation.
The driver returned, looking irritated. "I think it's the engine. I'll have to call for help, but it might take a while."
Cecilia sighed. "How long is a while?"
He scratched his head. "Could be an hour... maybe two."
Cecilia groaned again. She was already drained, and now she was stranded with no way to call for assistance.
Then, as if the universe had a twisted sense of humor, a sleek black car slowed down beside them.
The window rolled down, and a familiar voice called out.
"Well, well... what do we have here?"
Cecilia turned sharply.
Kenze.
Of all people.
She had met him only a few times before-mostly when he was with Mabel. He was charming, overly smooth, and far too confident for her liking. Cecilia had always kept her distance, something about him feeling... off.
But right now, she had no choice but to acknowledge him.
"You look like you could use some help," Kenze said, his tone laced with amusement.
Cecilia sighed, crossing her arms. "I'll be fine. The driver is handling it."
Kenze chuckled. "Sure doesn't look like it."
She glanced at the driver, who was now struggling to explain the situation to a mechanic over the phone.
Kenze leaned against his car, watching her with that signature smirk. "Let me guess. Phone's dead?"
Cecilia hesitated. She hated the idea of accepting help from him, but at this point, what choice did she have?
"Yeah," she admitted reluctantly.
Kenze pulled out his phone. "I can call someone for you. Or... I can give you a ride home."
Cecilia blinked. "A ride?"
He shrugged. "Unless you prefer waiting on this deserted road for two hours?"
Cecilia hesitated. Every instinct told her not to trust him, but right now, standing there in the dimming light with no other options, she found herself nodding.
"Fine," she said. "But no funny business."
Kenze chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it."
An Unexpected Ride
Cecilia got into his car, making sure to leave some distance between them. Kenze glanced at her, amused.
"Relax, I don't bite," he teased.
Cecilia rolled her eyes. "Just drive."
As they pulled onto the main road, silence settled between them. Cecilia kept her gaze fixed on the window, watching the city lights blur past.
"You don't like me much, do you?" Kenze said suddenly.
Cecilia glanced at him, slightly caught off guard. "What makes you say that?"
He smirked. "You barely talk to me when I'm around. And when you do, it's usually short and... sharp."
Cecilia shrugged. "I don't dislike you. I just don't know you."
Kenze nodded, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. "Fair enough."
For a moment, silence returned. Then, in an unexpected shift, Kenze's voice turned more serious.
"You know, I lost my parents too."
Cecilia turned to him, surprised.
"I was younger," he continued, eyes still on the road. "But I remember the feeling. Like the ground was pulled from under me."
Cecilia's guarded expression faltered slightly.
She hadn't expected this.
"I get it," he said. "Having to be strong all the time. Taking care of everything while everyone assumes you've got it handled."
Cecilia swallowed. It was strange-he was saying things she rarely admitted out loud.
"Yeah," she said quietly. "It's exhausting."
Kenze glanced at her, a softer expression in his eyes. "It doesn't have to be."
Cecilia looked away, unsure how to respond. She wasn't used to this side of him. The smooth talker, the flirt-that was the Kenze she knew. But this? This was different.
And that made him dangerous.
The Seed of Doubt
By the time they reached her home, Cecilia was still lost in thought.
"Well," Kenze said, shifting the car into park, "you made it back in one piece."
Cecilia turned to him. "Yeah... thanks for the ride."
Kenze grinned. "Anytime."
She hesitated before getting out. Something about their conversation lingered in her mind. For the first time, she wasn't sure if she had misjudged him.
And that doubt?
That was exactly what Kenze had wanted.
The Beginning of Trust
Cecilia replayed their conversation in her mind that night. She had spent so long assuming Kenze was just another charming playboy, but today, he had been... human.
Maybe she had been wrong about him.
Maybe he wasn't as bad as she thought.
And maybe, just maybe, she could finally let her guard down.
But what she didn't realize was that the moment she let that thought take root, Kenze had already won.