Chapter 3
8:00 AM, weekend morning rush at Grind & Bloom.
The espresso machine hissed like an angry snake, and the line of customers stretched all the way to the door. I was already sweating, frantically steaming milk for what felt like the hundredth latte of the morning.
"Ava, table twelve needs their mocha!" Tony shouted from behind the register.
I was about to respond when Ryan elegantly glided past me, carrying the most perfect mocha I'd ever seen. The customer's eyes literally lit up when he set it down.
"Oh my God, this latte art is pure artwork!"
I froze. Three days ago, Ryan couldn't even figure out which button turned on the coffee machine. Now he was creating professional-grade latte art?
"When did you learn that?" I whispered when he returned to the counter.
He gave me that bashful smile that made my knees weak. "I watched YouTube tutorials last night. Practiced until very late."
He turned to wipe down tables, moving with the fluid grace of a trained server. My suspicions flared again, but watching his focused profile, that inexplicable flutter in my chest overpowered my rational mind.
Suddenly, a Wall Street suit at table six slammed his hand down.
"This coffee is terrible! I want my money back!"
The entire café fell silent. Every customer turned to stare. Tony's face went pale – this kind of complaint could destroy a small business's reputation.
I started to approach, but Ryan was already there.
"Sir, I completely understand your frustration." His voice was smooth and professional. "Allow me to craft you something special."
In that moment, Ryan carried himself with an almost natural authority, like... like those business executives I saw on television.
Five minutes later, the demanding customer took one sip of Ryan's remake and his expression transformed completely.
"Now THIS is quality! Young man, you have real talent."
He even left an extra tip. Tony looked at Ryan like he'd discovered buried treasure.
I walked over to Ryan and pulled out those Bang & Olufsen headphones from my bag. "Your headphones... they look expensive for something you found."
Ryan's eyes flickered for just a moment. "Sometimes people throw away valuable things. Like opportunities for kindness."
His answer was so cleverly evasive that I found myself speechless.
6:00 PM. Ryan mysteriously invited me to "somewhere special."
On the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian walkway, golden sunset light danced on the East River while Manhattan's skyline began twinkling with scattered lights in the distance.
"How did you know about this perfect spot?" I marveled at the breathtaking view. "Most tourists never find it."
Ryan leaned against the railing, his gaze distant. "I've spent a lot of time walking the city... when you have nowhere to go, you discover hidden gems."
On our way here, he'd accurately named every street, even knew which restaurants opened in which years.
"Tell me about your dreams," Ryan suddenly turned to me.
I hesitated. "I want to get my MBA, maybe start my own business someday. Help people like Tony make their small dreams come true."
"What about you? What did you dream of before..." I stopped, unsure how to address his past.
Ryan was quiet for a long time. "I dreamed of finding someone who would love me for who I really am, not for what I have or don't have."
He turned toward me, his eyes serious. "Sometimes I feel like you're too good to be true."
"I feel the same about you," my voice was barely a whisper. "You saved me in more ways than one."
Sunset painted warm light between us. Ryan gently touched my cheek, and I closed my eyes.
Our first kiss was more tender than I'd imagined.
In that moment, I didn't want to think about any of it.
9:30 PM in my apartment living room.
My coffee table was buried under tuition bills and the café's financial statements – numbers that made my head pound.
"I might have to drop my advanced finance course," I sighed. "I just can't afford it right now."
Ryan watched my exhausted expression, and something in his eyes looked almost pained.
He suddenly reached into his jacket pocket with apparent excitement, pulling out a thick envelope. "What if I told you I found something today? A lot of cash, no ID with it."
My eyes widened. The envelope contained at least five thousand dollars in cash.
"Ryan, that's too much money for coincidence. Where did it really come from?"
His expression turned serious. "Does it matter? Someone lost it, and now it can help your dreams come true."
Every alarm bell in my head was ringing. Five thousand in cash, Bang & Olufsen headphones, professional coffee skills, elegant mannerisms... who was this man really?
But looking at those bills, looking at Ryan's sincere eyes, I finally nodded.
"Thank you," I said quietly. "But I'll pay you back every penny."
Ryan took my hand. "You've already given me more than money could buy."
I could see the internal struggle in Ryan's eyes. Part of me wanted him to tell me everything, to explain away all these inconsistencies that were driving me crazy.
"I know I'm not good enough for you," he finally said. "But what we have is real. Please believe that."
Looking at the pain in his eyes, I touched his face gently. "I do believe you. But promises are built on trust."
Every instinct told me Ryan was hiding something massive. Yet, cradled in his arms and enveloped by a sense of safety unlike any I had ever experienced, I came to the realization that I was falling for a man who might not even be real.
12:45 AM in my bedroom.
The shrill phone ring jolted me awake. The screen showed "Mom - Emergency."
"Mom?" I was instantly alert.
My mother's trembling voice came through: "Ava, honey, we need to talk. The business... oh God, your father..."
I could hear Dad's anxious voice in the background: "Tell her about the creditors! The lawyers!"
"Mom? MOM? What's happening?" My heart was racing.
The call suddenly cut off.
Ryan woke up from the noise, seeing my panicked expression. "Hey, what's wrong? Talk to me."
My phone buzzed with a text: "Flight booked. Arriving tomorrow. Don't panic, but we might lose everything."
Ryan's arms wrapped around me, his voice unusually firm. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
I leaned against his chest, feeling his strong, steady heartbeat. I had no idea this embrace belonged to one of New York's most powerful families.