The Ties of Fate

Nathan and Thomas stepped into Elena's café, a cozy space filled with the comforting aroma of coffee and the soft hum of chatter. Nathan's plan was simple: act casual and pretend their visit was purely coincidental. But as soon as Nathan saw Elena bustling behind the counter, his face lit up with a smile he couldn't hide.

"Sir," Thomas whispered, nudging him discreetly. "Tone it down. You're too obvious."

Nathan quickly composed himself, though the brightness in his eyes betrayed his excitement. "I'm fine," he muttered, brushing off Thomas's comment.

The two men found a seat near the window. Nathan pulled out his laptop, opened it, and tried to appear busy while Thomas leaned back, scanning the room. When a waitress approached to take their order, Nathan waved her off politely. "We'll wait," he said.

Moments later, Elena emerged from behind the counter with a notepad. She froze when her eyes landed on the two men near the window. Her jaw dropped slightly, and she struggled to compose herself.

"Mr. Nathan?" she said, her voice tinged with surprise.

Nathan looked up, feigning surprise of his own. "Miss. Elena! I didn't realize you worked here."

Elena narrowed her eyes, suspicion flickering in them. "Are you here to see me?"

Nathan smiled disarmingly, his tone casual. "Not at all. We just needed a quiet place to relax and work. It's a happy coincidence, that's all."

Thomas smirked, trying to hide his amusement at his boss's overly casual tone.

Elena sighed and smiled. "Well, welcome to the café. What can I get you two?"

"Two coffees," Nathan replied, his smile softening as he watched her.

She nodded, writing it down before heading back to prepare their drinks. Throughout the day, Nathan tried to focus on his laptop, but his eyes kept drifting toward Elena as she moved gracefully from table to table, greeting customers with her warm smile.

Thomas, observing his boss's obvious distraction, leaned closer and whispered, "You should just ask her out. The way you're looking at her, it's embarrassing."

Nathan shot him a warning glare. "One more word, and I'll have you transferred to the archives."

Thomas chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, boss. I'll behave."

Hours passed, and the café began to quiet down as the day drew to a close. Nathan and Thomas stayed until closing time, waiting patiently as Elena cleaned up and prepared to leave.

As she stepped outside, locking the door behind her, she turned to find Nathan and Thomas standing nearby.

"Still here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Nathan stepped forward, his voice casual but warm. "We were just leaving. Since we're heading the same way, let me take you home."

Elena hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright, thank you."

They walked to the car together, and Nathan held the door open for her with a gentlemanly flair that made her blush slightly. She slid into the back seat, and Nathan followed, sitting beside her while Thomas joined the driver in the front.

Nathan's heart raced as the car began moving. He couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment simply being near her.

"So, tell me more about yourself," he said, his tone light and curious.

Elena smiled, her guard lowering. She told him about her childhood, her dreams of becoming a model, and how she'd worked tirelessly to make ends meet. Nathan listened intently, his admiration for her growing with every word.

She paused and looked at him apologetically. "I'm sorry for not asking about your health sooner. How are you feeling?"

Nathan waved off her concern. "I'm fine now. Thanks to you, I'm better than ever."

The conversation flowed naturally, their laughter filling the car as they shared stories and bonded over small anecdotes. By the time they reached Elena's apartment, Nathan felt like he had known her forever.

When the car stopped, Nathan quickly stepped out and opened the door for her. Elena smiled at the gesture, touched by his thoughtfulness.

"Thank you, Mr. Nathan," she said softly.

"My pleasure," he replied, his voice equally gentle.

As they stood by her apartment door, they continued chatting, neither wanting the moment to end. Finally, Elena said, "You should get going. It's late, and I'm sure you've had a long day."

Nathan nodded reluctantly. "Goodnight, Miss. Elena. Get some rest."

"You too," she said, waving as she stepped inside.

As the car drove away, Thomas glanced at Nathan, who was sitting silently, a content smile on his face.

"You look like a lovestruck teenager," Thomas said, his tone laced with humor.

Nathan smirked but didn't deny it. "I've never felt this way before."

Thomas leaned back, shaking his head. "You're either falling hard for her, or you've officially lost your mind."

Nathan chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on the passing city lights. "Maybe a little of both."

As they neared Nathan's home, he felt a sense of fulfillment he hadn't experienced in years. The thought of Elena, her smile, and the way she spoke with such passion about her dreams filled his heart with warmth.

For the first time in a long while, Nathan felt truly alive.

The drive home was unusually quiet, with Thomas occasionally glancing at Nathan through the rearview mirror. Nathan, however, was lost in his own world, his face lit up with a dreamy smile that refused to fade.

"Boss, are you okay?" Thomas ventured, his tone cautious.

Nathan didn't respond. His thoughts were consumed with Elena—her radiant smile, the way her lips moved as she spoke, her graceful steps as she walked between tables in the café. Every detail about her played on a loop in his mind, captivating him completely.

Thomas smirked, trying again. "So, are you deeply in love with Elena, or do you just want to be close friends?"

I'm still waiting for an answer. Nathan's gaze was fixed on some invisible horizon, a soft chuckle escaping his lips like that of a lovestruck teenager.

By the time they reached Nathan's home, Thomas was equal parts amused and concerned. Nathan stepped out of the car with a content sigh, heading toward the entrance. As Thomas approached him to say goodnight, Nathan turned suddenly and hugged him.

"Hey, Elena," Nathan murmured, his voice unusually sweet. "Welcome to my life. I love you so much, baby. Promise me you'll never leave me forever."

Thomas froze, his eyes wide with shock. Nathan's words were heartfelt, but he was staring directly at Thomas while saying them, his mind elsewhere.

"Uh… Boss?" Thomas said hesitantly, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Nathan's dreamy smile didn't waver. Thomas gently placed his hands on Nathan's shoulders. "Don't worry, sir. You'll be fine tomorrow. All you need is a good night's rest."

Nathan chuckled and walked into the house, still grinning like a lovestruck fool. Thomas shook his head, muttering to himself, "He's gone completely crazy for her."

Inside, Nathan sank into the plush couch in his sitting room and asked for a glass of water. His maids, who had been hiding and gossiping about his behavior, scrambled into action.

Before Nathan knew it, five maids rushed toward him, each holding a glass of water. They froze when they realized they'd all brought the same thing, their faces paling as they exchanged nervous glances.

Nathan stared at them, confused. "What… is this?"

The maids fumbled for an answer, but no one dared to speak. Their usual stern boss was unpredictable tonight, and they braced themselves for a scolding.

Instead, Nathan walked calmly toward one of them—his favorite maid, Allison—and took the glass of water from her hands. He drank it slowly, then gestured for the others to return their glasses to the kitchen.

"Thank you," he said simply.

The maids blinked in surprise, exchanging relieved glances before hurrying out of the room.

"Allison," Nathan called, stopping her in her tracks.

She turned slowly, her hands trembling. "Y-yes, sir?"

"Sit down. I need to ask you something."

Allison sat stiffly on the edge of the couch, convinced she was about to lose her job. Nathan, however, spoke gently.

"Don't be afraid," he said, noticing her nervousness. "I just have a question."

Allison relaxed slightly, nodding for him to continue.

"What do ladies love most as a gift?" Nathan asked, his tone earnest.

Allison blinked, caught off guard by the question. She hesitated for a moment, glancing behind Nathan and spotting Thomas quietly sneaking into the room. He was stifling a laugh, clearly amused by the conversation.

"Sir," Allison began cautiously, "ladies love lilies, chocolates, and jewelry. But it's not just about the gift. Girls also enjoy spending time with someone they care about—like going to dinner, concerts, or the cinema."

Nathan smiled, visibly relieved by her answer. "Thank you, Allison. That's very helpful."

"You're welcome, sir," she said, standing up quickly.

As she turned to leave, Thomas cleared his throat dramatically, stepping out of the shadows.

Nathan smirked, turning to face him. "Thomas, drop the act. I know you've been standing there listening the whole time."

Thomas grinned sheepishly and shrugged. "I couldn't help it, boss. This is getting interesting."

Nathan gestured for him to come closer. "Leave your bag and go home. It's getting late."

Thomas nodded, still smiling as he gathered his things. "Goodnight, sir," he said before leaving.

Later that evening, Nathan enjoyed a quiet dinner before heading to his room. He took a long shower, allowing his thoughts to linger on Elena's face, her laugh, and the way she had made him feel alive again.

As he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, he whispered "She's different. She's everything I didn't know I needed."

With that, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, his dreams once again filled with Elena's radiant smile. For the first time in a long while, Nathan felt genuinely happy—and it was all because of her.