Ryan dragged his hand through his hair, groaning low under his breath. The glow of the tablet screen still clung to his retinas, dozens of tabs open with listings—villas, flats, bungalows, even a few bizarre farmhouses, but nothing. Nothing satisfied the ghostlike demands of Kai Arden.
Hidden in plain sight, not ordinary, not fancy. Forgotten but livable. Who even thinks like that? He leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. A headache pressed behind his eyes, sharp and stubborn. He couldn't stare at another photo of polished marble floors or iron gates anymore. His entire body buzzed with restless energy.
"I need a coffee," he muttered, pushing up from the chair. Then, almost correcting himself with a sigh, "No. I need a break. A whole new brain. But coffee will do."
He shoved the tablet into his bag and slipped out of Kai's cabin. The air in the corridor felt cooler, freer, less suffocating than being under Kai's watchful, dissecting stare. Ryan's sneakers squeaked lightly against the polished floor as he made his way outside.
The city greeted him with noisy traffic horns, vendors shouting, and the usual chorus of urban life. Ryan inhaled deeply, trying to clear his head. He wasn't sure where his feet were taking him until the familiar smell hit him. Coffee. Warm, sharp, grounding. His lips curved faintly. Of course. The café.
He pushed open the glass door, the small bell above chiming softly. The place wasn't busy, just a couple near the window, a man typing furiously on a laptop, and the low hum of music from the speakers. The smell of roasted beans wrapped around him, instantly soothing.
Ryan stepped closer to the counter. There she was. Maya.
Her back was turned to him, her hair tucked loosely behind one ear, her sleeves rolled up as she moved with quiet concentration. She was at the machine, steam curling around her as she frothed milk, poured, and measured. And yet something about her felt… elsewhere. Her movements were practiced, but her mind clearly wasn't on the task. Her shoulders carried a faint tension, her head tilted like she was lost in thoughts far away.
Ryan didn't speak at first. He didn't even move. He just stood there, a step behind the counter line, his gaze fixed on her.
For a man who was used to reading Kai Arden's silence, calculating his every move, Ryan found himself disarmed by the simple sight of a girl making coffee. Not simple, his mind corrected, almost annoyed at himself. It's her.
The way a loose strand of hair slipped near her cheek. The way her hands, small but steady, guided the cup beneath the machine. The way she shifted her weight slightly, as if her mind was too full to notice her own body.
Ryan's chest tightened. He shouldn't be looking this long. He shouldn't be… adoring. That wasn't him. But his eyes wouldn't move. Finally, his voice slipped out before he could stop it. Low. Careful. Almost testing.
"Thinking something?" The words floated in the space between them. But Maya didn't turn. She didn't flinch. She didn't even seem to hear him.
Ryan blinked. For a second, he wondered if maybe he hadn't spoken at all, if the words had only stayed in his head. But no, his lips had moved. He had spoken. Still, she didn't respond.
Ryan's brows drew together, and he tilted his head, taking a step closer. Her back remained toward him, her hands moving, her body caught between muscle memory and thought. She didn't hear me.
He almost smiled. Something was about her being so lost in her thoughts that even his voice couldn't cut through it, which made his chest feel warmer.
He let himself look at her again. Longer this time. His eyes traced the faint curve of her jaw, the slope of her shoulders, the subtle way her fingers tapped the counter unconsciously. Every small detail pulled at him like a string.
For once, Ryan Bennett wasn't thinking about Kai's demands. He wasn't thinking about contracts, security systems, or impossible searches. He wasn't even thinking about his own exhaustion.
He was only thinking about her. And for a man who had spent years convincing himself he didn't need anyone, who had built walls high and wide just to keep people from getting close, the realization rattled him.
Ryan's throat worked as he tried again, softer this time, like he was speaking to himself more than her. " Maya?"
Maya jerked lightly, as if pulled out of a dream. "Uh?" She turned, her eyes widening the moment she saw him standing there. A small, startled laugh escaped her lips.
"Oh!.....hii!" she greeted, quickly placing the jug she had been holding onto the counter, almost too quickly, as though caught red-handed.
Ryan arched a brow, his tone shifting back into its usual wryness to cover the slip of gentleness. "Something else was living inside your mind."
Maya blinked at him, her lips curving into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Nothing," she said, almost too quickly. Then, softer, like she was allowing herself to admit it just a little: "Just… thinking about the media this morning. Thanks to them, I got late opening the café."
Her words spilled with the weight of mild annoyance, but Ryan noticed how she tried to brush it off casually, hiding behind that smile of hers.
Ryan tilted his head, studying her. He wasn't good with words of comfort, never had been, but he caught the way her hand lingered on the counter longer than necessary, the way her eyes flickered away from his, the way her voice softened as though admitting vulnerability in front of him was foreign.
She cleared her throat, pulling herself back into composure. "Have a seat," she said, her voice lighter now, almost playful. "I'll bring you coffee and tell you in detail."
Ryan hesitated for half a second, then nodded. He moved toward the corner table by the window, the one with warm sunlight spilling across the wood. He slipped into the chair, his body easing slightly as though the café itself breathed comfort into him. The faint hum of chatter, the soft clink of ceramic cups, and the low music felt like a shield against the chaos of his morning.
Maya returned with two steaming cups, her hands steady as she placed one in front of him. "Here," she said, sliding into the chair opposite, which Ryan had already pulled.
Ryan wrapped his fingers around the cup, letting the warmth seep into his palms. His eyes stayed on her, though always on her. "So," he drawled, "tell me how the mighty media ruined your day."
Maya laughed, the sound low and self-conscious. "Oh, you know how they are," she began, leaning slightly forward. "Some gossip headline, some nonsense speculation… and suddenly the whole parking lot was clogged. Cameras flashing, people asking questions. I couldn't even walk."
Ryan frowned slightly, his jaw tightening. Of course. The press. Always circling like vultures. He didn't say it, though. Instead, he let her talk, watching the way her expressions shifted annoyance when she spoke of the crowd, exasperation when she described their persistence, a quiet resignation when she admitted she was late opening the café.
"I mean, I shouldn't complain," she added with a shrug, her eyes dropping to the coffee. "It's part of life here, right? But sometimes it feels like…" She trailed off, her voice softening. "Like I don't get to just… breathe."
Ryan's chest tightened at her words. He knew that feeling all too well. His lips quirked, but his voice was quieter than usual, almost betraying sincerity. "Guess we're both haunted by the same kind of shadows."
Maya blinked, meeting his eyes as though surprised by the seriousness in his tone. But before either of them could unravel that thread, the café door chimed again.
And in walked Alina. She scanned the café casually at first, then her gaze caught on the corner table. Her lips curved upward immediately.
Ryan's back was to her, his tall frame unmistakable even from across the room. But it wasn't he who made her eyes light with mischief. It was the sight of Maya leaning slightly forward, her cup cradled in her hands, her expression softer than Alina had ever seen.
A grin tugged at Alina's lips. '' Miss Maya. Sitting all cozy with Mr. Boyfriend''
She didn't call out immediately. Instead, she let herself watch for a moment, her mind spinning with teasing remarks. Maya...Maya's smile looked real, unguarded in a way it rarely did when others were around.
"Well, well," she said, her tone dripping with mischief. "I didn't know this café came with a special couple's seating section."
Maya raised her hand suddenly, waving toward the door. "Alina! Come, sit with us!" she called out.
Alina blinked, caught off guard. Her smirk faltered for just a beat, but curiosity carried her forward. She strolled over, sliding into the empty seat beside Maya. Her teasing words were already lined up in her mind until her eyes landed on the man sitting across.
Her grin froze. Wait. Her gaze flicked once, twice, disbelieving. The sharp suit. The unreadable face. The PA...That's… Mr. Boyfriend?
Maya, oblivious to the brewing storm, smiled brightly. "Alina, this is Ryan Bennett, my neighbour. And Ryan, this is Alina Carter, my best friend. I know we met each other in… weird situations, so I thought we deserved a proper introduction at least."
Ryan's jaw tightened. He gave a polite nod, controlled, but his shoulders were a little too stiff.
Alina tilted her head, voice dripping with curiosity. "Neighbour, huh?" Her lips curled into a knowing smirk. while looking towards Maya, "Funny, because aren't you Kai's PA?" She said while glaring at Ryan
For the first time in the entire morning, Ryan's composure cracked. Just slightly. His gaze flickered, a pause before he answered. "...Yes." The word was clipped, careful.