The ride home was... awkward, to say the least.
Luna sat in the backseat of the luxury black SUV, her bandaged arm resting carefully on her lap. The leather seats smelled of wealth — clean, sharp, too polished to be real life. Steve sat beside her, legs crossed, his gaze fixed out the window like she wasn't even there.
The silence stretched.
Luna cleared her throat. "Your grandmother… she's a strong woman."
"She's stubborn," Steve replied, his tone flat.
Luna smiled lightly. "But sweet."
Steve turned to glance at her, his brow twitching in mild surprise. She wasn't afraid of him. Or maybe, worse, she didn't care who he was. Most people fumbled their words in his presence, tried to flatter him, impress him. But not her. She just... talked.
"She could've been seriously injured today," Luna added.
"I know," he said, voice low. "She shouldn't be going out alone."
There was a beat of silence, then Luna tilted her head.
"Do you always sound this cold, or is it just a billionaire thing?"
Steve turned fully to her, brows raised. No one ever spoke to him like that.
"Excuse me?"
She gave a playful shrug. "Just asking."
Steve studied her again. She wasn't mocking him. Just... teasing, like it was a normal conversation.
"You talk too much," he muttered.
"And you talk too little."
He looked away, but Luna could've sworn she saw the edge of his lips twitch.
~~~
When the car pulled up outside her home in Eden District, Luna's eyes widened slightly. She didn't want Steve Collins seeing where she lived. It wasn't shameful, okay, maybe a little but it felt too exposing, like inviting a king into a kitchen.
She stepped out, murmured a quick "thank you," and was about to shut the door when Steve surprised her.
"What's your name?" he asked.
She blinked. "Luna."
"Luna what?"
"Luna Charlotte."
He nodded, said nothing more, and let the door close behind her.
The SUV drove off.
~~~
Inside, Grace was already home, waiting in the tiny living room. She gasped when she saw Luna.
"Jesus! Your arm! What happened?"
"Mama, calm down," Luna said, raising her good hand. "I'm okay. I'll explain."
Ashy peeked out from the corner, his eyes wide. "Did you fight somebody?"
Luna chuckled. "No, silly."
As she relayed the story from the grandmother to the hospital to Steve Collins himself,Grace's jaw slowly dropped.
"Wait... you're telling me... Steve Collins gave you a ride home?"
"Yes, ma."
Grace clutched her chest. "Ehn! And I didn't even rub powder today."
Luna laughed. "Mama! What does that have to do with anything?"
"That's my boss' boss' boss. That man doesn't even say 'good morning' in the mansion. People fear him like NEPA bill."
Luna smiled. "He's… cold. But not rude. Just very... controlled."
Grace raised a brow. "And he asked for your full name?"
Luna shrugged. "Maybe so he can blacklist me from his grandma's life."
Grace laughed and pulled her daughter into a one-armed hug. "You saved a life today. I'm proud of you, Luna."
---
Later that evening, in his penthouse apartment across the city, Steve sipped on a glass of whiskey while staring out the window.
Marcus Gregy, his childhood friend and only person who could freely enter his home, walked in with a bag of chips and a lazy grin.
"You look like a man who accidentally felt something today," Marcus teased.
Steve didn't turn. "She saved Grandma. She could've died."
"And now you're brooding by the window like you're in a romance novel. What's her name again?"
"Luna Charlotte."
Marcus sat. "You're thinking about her."
"No."
"You're lying."
Steve sighed and sipped again. "She's… different."
Marcus raised a brow. "Different like interesting-different or I-might-text-her-different?"
"I don't even have her number."
Marcus smirked. "But you have her name."
Steve shot him a look.
Marcus laughed. "Bro, don't fight it. Sometimes destiny doesn't knock. It crashes into you... like a girl diving to save your grandma."
Three days later, Luna hummed softly as she walked up the long driveway of the Collins estate, balancing a food flask in her arms. It was Saturday her day off and her mother had forgotten her reading glasses and lunch. Knowing how hard Grace worked, Luna didn't mind dropping them off. Besides, it was just a quick in-and-out.
She had never been to the mansion before only heard about it. Grace had described it like a palace.
The moment the gate opened and she stepped through, Luna understood why.
The Collins mansion looked like something from a movie. Pristine white walls, glass balconies, a fountain shaped like a lion in the center of the front yard. Even the air felt expensive.
"Ah-ah," she murmured. "Even their grass smells like air freshener."
A uniformed security man escorted her to the back entrance, where the staff moved about quickly cleaners, gardeners, cooks.
Grace was surprised but delighted to see her. "Luna! You didn't tell me you were coming!"
"You forgot your lunch and glasses. I figured you might need them."
Grace hugged her. "Thank you, baby. Just drop it inside. I'll eat later."
But Luna had barely stepped into the hallway when fate kicked the door open again.
A voice echoed from the corridor. "Mrs. Bayo, where's the updated document from yesterday?"
Luna froze mid-step.
That voice.
That tone.
She turned slowly… and there he was.
Steve Collins.
In his house. In his world. And now staring directly at her.
The confusion on his face was priceless.
"You?" he said.
Luna blinked. "Wait… this is your house?!"
Steve folded his arms. "You're… the maid's daughter?"
"Wow. And here I was, thinking you liked market girls."
Grace stepped in quickly, awkwardly. "Sir, I didn't know she'd—"
"It's fine," Steve said, still staring at Luna.
"You two know each other?" Grace asked, her voice rising in alarm.
"We've… bumped into each other," Steve said slowly.
Luna crossed her arms. "Twice."
"Three times now," he corrected, almost amused.
Grace blinked between them. "I'm lost."
Luna gave a tight smile. "Mama, meet the man whose grandmother I saved, whose car I insulted, and whose tomatoes I taught how to pick."
Steve raised a brow. "You forgot the part where you called me cold."
"I stand by that."
Silence stretched again awkward, but oddly charged.
Steve finally shook his head. "You're something else."
"And you're everywhere," Luna shot back.
Grace laughed nervously. "Maybe I should... go back to work."
Luna turned to leave. "I was just dropping food anyway."
"Wait," Steve called after her.
She paused, one hand on the door.
"You free tomorrow?"
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Lunch. My treat. You saved my grandma. Least I can do."
Luna hesitated. "Is this a reward, a thank-you... or you just like arguing with me?"
Steve gave a rare smile. "Yes."
Luna rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small grin that tugged at her lips. "I'll think about it."
She walked out before he could say more.
Steve watched her go, something inside him stirring again.
Marcus's voice echoed in his head.
"Sometimes destiny doesn't knock..."
"It crashes into you."
~~~
Luna wasn't sure why she said yes.
Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was the challenge in Steve Collins' voice. Or maybe it was because something about him beneath all the money and mystery felt… unfinished.
But she wasn't going alone.
"Tomi, wear something nice. We're crashing billionaire lunch."
Tomi nearly spat out her cereal. "Wait. Lunch with Steve Collins? As in... your billionaire crash dummy?!"
"Shhh!" Luna looked around. "Yes. But you're coming."
"Why me?"
"Because I need someone who'll kick me under the table if I start falling for his jawline."
Tomi raised an eyebrow. "Sis, if it's just his jawline you're worried about, we already lost."
~~~
Steve wasn't used to being kept waiting let alone being surprised. So when he walked into the garden terrace of Eden Crest Restaurant and saw not one, but two chairs pulled out…
His brow twitched. "Who's she?"
"I'm Tomi. Luna's emotional bodyguard."
Luna smiled sweetly. "Any Problem?"
Steve gestured toward the table, still calm. "No. Makes it more interesting."
Tomi leaned in to Luna. "He said that like he owns the restaurant."
Luna whispered back. "He probably does."
Steve sat down, still watching Luna more than her friend. "I didn't take you for someone who needed backup."
"I don't," Luna replied. "I just like to share expensive food."
~~~
The waiter came. Orders were made. And as the table filled with perfectly plated dishes, so did the conversation.
"So, Steve," Tomi asked casually, slicing her steak like a pro. "Do you always hang out with the staff's daughters or is this a seasonal promo?"
Luna choked on her drink.
Steve didn't flinch. "No. Just this one."
Tomi smirked. "Interesting."
"You've got a lot of questions," Steve said.
Tomi leaned back. "Protective friend perks. Luna is a good girl. Heart too big. Smile too soft. People like you tend to… break things."
Steve glanced at Luna, something unreadable in his eyes. "I don't plan on breaking anything."
Luna watched the exchange like a tennis match. She had never seen someone go head-to-head with Steve and live. But beneath the banter, something about him felt… different today.
Softer. More human.
She sipped her drink. "So, Mr. Billionaire, tell me something real. No company names. No net worths. Just… something you've never told the media."
Steve paused. Looked at her. Then surprised both girls.
"My parents died in a fire. I was eleven."
Silence.
Luna blinked. "I… I'm sorry."
He gave a small shrug. "I was in boarding school when it happened. That's when I moved in with Grandma. She raised me."
Tomi looked down. "That must've been hard."
Steve nodded. "It taught me that no one is promised. And that money is safer than love."
Luna's heart sank a little at that.
"That's sad," she said quietly. "And kind of lonely."
"It's functional," Steve replied.
"You don't have to choose one," Luna said, eyes locked with his. "Money and love can exist."
He didn't respond. But the silence between them was no longer awkward.
It was magnetic.
~~~
Across the restaurant, a woman watched them from a corner table.
Tall. Elegant. Red lips. Cold eyes.
Mirabel Kross. Steve's ex — or something like it. Once a business partner. Now a rival.
She stirred her wine slowly, her gaze fixed on Luna like a laser.
"Who's the girl?" she asked her assistant.
"No record of her, ma. She's not from any of the usual circles."
Mirabel's eyes narrowed. "Find out everything."
She smiled slowly. "Let's see how long she survives in his world."