Lisa's stomach sank as she walked down the street, just a few blocks away from The Cozy Bookstore. Each step made her chest tighten. She had been so caught up in her brother's mess and her own tangled emotions that she'd completely forgotten she still worked there. She worked two jobs— a server at Paradise Club and at a bookstore on her days off at the Club. Her life felt like a series of storms. One never ended before another began.
She paused outside the familiar glass door. The smell of freshly printed paper and brewed tea wafted through the air, and for a fleeting moment, she wished she could step inside and leave reality behind. Taking a breath, she pushed the door open.
Barbara was at her usual spot behind the counter, chatting with a customer. The little bell above the door jingled, and when Barbara turned, her face lit up.
"Lisa! I haven't seen you in ages! How are you?"
"I'm fine," Lisa said, forcing a smile. "How about you? And Mrs. Harper—is she in?"
"Yes, she's in. We were just talking about you a while ago."
"Alright. I'll go speak to her. I... uh, actually need to resign."
Barbara's smile faltered. "Resign? What's going on? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, just dealing with a few things." Her throat tightened. "I'll still come by sometimes though."
Before Barbara could respond, a familiar warm voice floated from behind her.
"Lisa? I thought I heard your voice. Goodness, it's been too long!"
Mrs. Harper appeared. She pulled Lisa into a quick hug that smelled faintly of cinnamon and butter.
"I was beginning to think you'd quit without telling us."
"I'd never do that," Lisa said softly. "Can we talk in your office?"
"Of course, dear."
Mrs. Harper's office was small and cozy like everything else in the shop. A faint scent of baked goods lingered in the air from the pastries she always shared with customers. Stacks of old, leather-bound books covered the shelves, some titles faded beyond reading. A half-finished cup of tea sat beside a tiny vase of daisies on her desk.
"What's this about?" Mrs. Harper asked, lowering herself into her chair.
Lisa clasped her hands. "It's my job here. I need to resign."
"Oh, Lisa…" Mrs. Harper's tone softened. "You love it here. Is something wrong? You know you can always talk to me."
"I know. It's just—things are out of place right now. I can't manage everything at once."
Mrs. Harper nodded slowly, reading between the lines. "I understand. But you'll still come around, won't you?"
Lisa's chest ached. "I will. I promise."
After saying goodbye, Lisa joined Barbara again, helping with a few tasks out of habit. Two unfamiliar faces caught her eye. New employees shelving paperbacks where she used to stand. She helped them stock books, recommended a few titles to customers, and even caught herself smiling. The familiar scent of books and the calm rhythm of the store lifted her mood, if only for a moment.
When she stopped by the display table to check the new arrivals, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced down.
Leonard Kingston: We need to talk. Lily's Café, 1 p.m.
No greeting. No pleasantries. Straight to the point. Typical of him. Lisa exhaled sharply. Each time he texted, he never used a full sentence that wasn't strictly business.
She checked the wall clock—12:30. She had thirty minutes.
Lisa slung her bag over her shoulder, waved goodbye to Barbara and Mrs. Harper, and stepped back into the sunlit street.
****
Lily's Cafe
The café was softly lit, filled with the faint aroma of roasted coffee beans and vanilla. Couples murmured in corners, spoons clinking against porcelain cups. Lisa slid into a booth near the window and ordered a caramel latte. Something sweet and comforting, though her nerves made it hard to taste anything lately.
When the drink arrived, she took a sip. The warmth coated her tongue, and for a second, she sighed in relief.
Maybe I can survive this day after all.
Then came the sound of a chair scraping and a quiet throat clearing.
"I see you're enjoying the coffee," a deep voice said.
Lisa looked up sharply. Leonard stood there, immaculate as always. Black suit, hair neatly parted, dark eyes unreadable. Even in the mellow café light, he looked sharp.
She straightened in her seat. "Good afternoon, Leonard."
He sat across from her without responding to the greeting, one hand resting on the table, the other adjusting the cuff of his shirt.
"I came to discuss a few important things about the arrangement," he said, his tone clipped.
"Alright," Lisa said, her tone flat, though inside she was already bracing herself.
"I assume you read the contract thoroughly before signing it."
"Yeah?" Her tone carried more irritation than she intended.
He leaned back. "Before we proceed, I need to remind you of a clause. If you do anything to jeopardize or disrupt this arrangement, you'll be required to pay back triple the amount I paid you."
Lisa froze. Triple? She remembered reading that line or maybe she hadn't. Truthfully, she'd stopped halfway through the contract, too distracted by his ridiculous middle name.
Leonard Percival Kingston.
She'd stared at it for a full minute, trying to imagine this cold, no-nonsense man ever being called "Percy."
"Yeah… I saw that," she lied, clearing her throat.
His dark gaze lingered, his eyes skeptical. "Good. During this one-year period, you are not to date anyone. You will conduct yourself properly and avoid doing anything that could embarrass me—or my family."
Lisa rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "Right, Your Highness."
He ignored it. "There will also be public appearances. Events, dinners, family visits. And…" he paused, as if testing her reaction, "there will be a wedding. Small and private."
Lisa nearly choked on her latte. "A wedding?"
"Yes." His tone didn't waver. "It's necessary to make it believable. We can file for a divorce once the contract ends."
She blinked, feeling the walls close in. "Right. Anything else?"
"I also have a few rules."
"Of course you do," she murmured.
He continued as if she hadn't spoken. "We will not be intimate. Any affection displayed in public is purely for show. Holding hands. A touch on the back. Nothing more." His tone didn't shift.
Lisa nodded once. "Good."
Silence settled between them. The clatter of cups and soft jazz in the background suddenly felt miles away.
"That's all—for now. I'll let you know if anything else comes up."
Lisa forced a brittle smile. "Great. Can't wait."
He stood, smooth and deliberate, like a man who'd just completed a business meeting instead of dictating the terms of her new life.
"I'll leave you to your coffee. Enjoy the rest of your day."
She stared after him as he walked out, his polished shoes echoing against the tiled floor.
As if she could enjoy the rest of her day after that.
A dull ache formed in her chest.
What have I done?
She leaned back in the seat, pressing her palms flat on her thighs as the reality of her situation settled like a weight. She had just quit a job she loved, tied herself to a man she barely knew, and signed away her freedom for a year.
Her life was no longer her own. It belonged to a stranger with cold eyes and a contract.
Outside, the afternoon light filtered through the café window, warm and bright but what Lisa felt was the opposite of bright.