Poor Dad Blocked A Scam Artist From Pressuring A Woman, Not Knowing She Was A CEO Falling For Him
The Coffee Shop Encounter
Wesley Foster didn’t mean to start a scene inside the downtown coffee shop. He just didn’t like the way the guy in the tailored gray blazer had cornered the woman near the pastry counter.
He had only come in for a cheap black coffee and a muffin for his daughter’s school lunch. But when he saw the man blocking the woman’s path, talking too fast and too close, something in him snapped.
“Hey,” Wesley said, stepping between them without thinking. “She said no. Back off.”
The guy, with slicked-back hair and a smug grin, looked him up and down like Wesley was gum on the bottom of his overpriced loafers. “Do you mind?”
“Yeah,” Wesley said flatly. “I do.”
The woman blinked, surprised then grateful. She was dressed sharp in dark slacks, a white blouse, and a trench coat that probably cost more than Wesley’s monthly rent.
But her eyes were wide and her jaw tight. She looked like she’d been seconds away from losing it.
“Thank you,” she said quietly. “You’re welcome,” he said.
Then he turned back to the pushy guy. “Walk away.”
The man scoffed, muttered something about hero complexes, and finally stormed off. Wesley exhaled.
The woman tucked a strand of dark brown hair behind her ear, trying to compose herself. “That was unexpected.”
He gave a half shrug. “Didn’t like the way he was talking to you.”
“What gave it away?” she said, trying to joke. But the tremble in her voice gave her away.
“Everything,” Wesley said. “You okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I’m just… Thank you.”
He nodded once and turned to leave. But she called after him, “Wait.”
Wesley turned back. “You didn’t even ask what he wanted.”
“I didn’t care.” That made her smile genuinely this time.
“I’m Elle Orman,” she offered a hand. “Wesley Foster.”
They shook. “You have no idea who that was, do you?” she asked.
“Nope. Should I?”
“He’s a known scam artist who’s been targeting women who own businesses downtown. He claims to be an investor, but it’s all smoke. He’s been trying to get a meeting with me for weeks.”
Wesley blinked. “You own a business?”
She chuckled. “A few.”
He scratched his neck. “Guess I picked the right woman to defend.”
Elle tilted her head. “Guess you did.”
A moment passed. “I owe you a coffee,” she said.
Wesley glanced down at his five-dollar bill and the half-eaten muffin in his hand. “I’m good.”
“No,” she insisted. “Sit. Please.”
He hesitated. “I promise I’m not trying to scam you,” she added with a teasing smile.
He sat. They talked, and he couldn’t stop staring at her smile.
Later that day, Wesley picked up his daughter Bella from her after-school art class. “Did you eat the muffin?” he asked, buckling her into her car seat.
“Half,” she said. “It was kind of dry.”
“Yeah, well, it was two days old.” Bella giggled.
“You’re the best dad ever.” He kissed her forehead.
“You’re just saying that because I let you eat chocolate cereal for dinner last night.” She grinned.
Wesley drove home, his thoughts drifting back to Elle’s eyes and the way she leaned forward when he spoke. It was like she was actually interested.
He hadn’t dated in years. Between work, Bella, and scraping by, romance wasn’t in the cards.
He worked construction jobs during the day and cleaned offices at night. He tried to be the kind of dad Bella deserved.
People like Elle Orman didn’t exist in his world. But when he got home, there was a note tucked into his lunch bag.
It had her name, a number, and three words: “Coffee next time.” He stared at it for a long time.
Elle sat in the back of her black town car, staring out the window at the city lights. Her assistant rambled on the phone about board meetings and licensing deals, but Elle wasn’t listening.
She was thinking about Wesley. She Googled him.
Nothing. No LinkedIn, no company bio, no media hits.
He hadn’t known who she was. That alone was rare.
Everyone in her world, especially men, knew her name, her net worth, and her influence. But Wesley had jumped in without hesitation.
It wasn’t because of who she was, but because of how she was being treated. She liked that a lot.
They met again three days later. Elle showed up at the playground near Wesley’s apartment wearing jeans, white sneakers, and a hoodie.
No makeup, no driver, no boardroom polish. Wesley was pushing Bella on the swings when Elle approached.
Bella waved. “Hi!”
“Hi,” Elle said, smiling. “I’m Elle.”
“I’m Bella,” she said proudly. “Are you my dad’s friend?”
Elle glanced at Wesley. He shrugged and smiled. “I guess she is.”
They sat on the bench while Bella ran off to the monkey bars. “You didn’t have to come all the way here,” Wesley said.
“I wanted to.” “Not exactly your usual scene.”
“I’ve seen enough glass offices,” Elle said. “This is better.”
They talked for an hour, then two. Wesley finally asked, “So what exactly do you do?”
Elle hesitated, then said, “I’m the CEO of Orman Tech.” Wesley blinked.
“Wait, like the Orman Tech?” “Yeah.”
He leaned back, stunned. “You run that? That company’s everywhere.”
“You didn’t Google me?” “I don’t really have time for that.”
She laughed. “You might be the only guy in the city who hasn’t.”
“Well, I’m just a regular guy. I fix things. I work. I raise my kid.”
“I like that.” His brows lifted.
“You like that I’m broke and exhausted?” Elle smiled softly.
“I like that you’re real.” For the first time in a long time, Wesley didn’t know what to say.
