Billionaire Pretends To Be A Regular Customer. He Falls For A Woman Who Has No Idea Who He Is.
A Secret Beyond the Coffee Shop
Natalie regretted saying yes the moment she stepped out of the cafe. The air was thick with the scent of rain on pavement. Streetlights cast a soft glow over the sidewalk.
Liam stood beside her, hands tucked into his dark coat, watching her with an unreadable expression. She had agreed too quickly. She hardly knew him.
“You’re overthinking,” he said, as if he could read her mind. Natalie folded her arms.
“How do you know?” she asked.
“I can see it on your face,” his lips twitched.
Before she could reply, a sleek black car with tinted windows rolled up. It did not belong on this side of town. The driver stepped out, nodding toward Liam. Natalie frowned.
“That’s your ride?” she asked.
“Yes,” he replied.
She hesitated. No one who frequented her cafe could afford that car. Liam offered no explanation. She did not ask.
She slid into the passenger seat, sinking into expensive leather. This was a mistake, yet she did not tell him to turn the car around.
The restaurant was nothing like the places Natalie usually ate. The lighting was dim and intimate. Soft music whispered luxury. The staff moved with precision in crisp uniforms.
A Maître d’ greeted Liam by name. Natalie’s stomach twisted. She had assumed they would go somewhere casual, like a diner or a burger spot. This was a different world.
“You come here often?” she asked at their private table.
“Occasionally,” Liam admitted, pulling out her chair.
She sat stiffly. Across from her, he looked completely at ease. He belonged here. That only raised more questions.
“You never told me what you do,” she said, tightening her grip on the menu.
Liam leaned back, studying her. “I work in business.”
“That’s vague,” she noted.
“I like to keep things simple,” he smirked.
Natalie narrowed her eyes. He was hiding something. She focused on the menu and nearly choked at the prices.
“You’re joking,” she muttered.
“Something wrong?” Liam asked, unconcerned.
“These prices are insane,” she gaped.
“Order whatever you want,” he said. Natalie was not about to let him spend a fortune. She picked the cheapest option.
Dinner was strange. Liam asked real questions. He wanted to know about her past, her dreams, and why she stayed in the city.
He listened. For a moment, she almost forgot something did not add up. Then the bill came. Liam did not even glance at it before sliding his card across.
There was no hesitation. Natalie knew he was not just another customer. On the drive back, she was silent, piecing things together.
When they pulled up to her apartment, she hesitated. She should ask who he really was.
“Thanks for dinner,” she said instead.
“Natalie,” his voice stopped her. She met his gaze. It was intense, as if he wanted to say more.
“You don’t have to thank me,” he said. He nodded a silent good night. She slipped out of the car.
Her mind raced as she climbed the stairs. Liam was wealthy—the kind of wealthy that made people act differently. She had no idea what to do with that information.
The next morning, Liam did not come to the cafe. Natalie told herself she did not care. By noon, she was restless.
When the bell finally chimed, she saw him standing there. He was casually dressed. Relief shot through her, which she hated. She turned to the espresso machine.
“You’re late,” she said, forcing her voice to stay even.
“I figured I’d change things up again,” he said.
“Right, because you love spontaneity,” she glanced at him.
He smirked. She handed over his coffee. Their fingers brushed. Neither of them moved.
“Natalie,” he started.
The door swung open. A man in an expensive suit strode in. Liam stiffened. The man looked like he belonged in a boardroom, not a coffee shop.
“You weren’t at the office this morning,” the man said.
“I had other things to do,” Liam replied.
The man turned to Natalie. “And you must be the reason for that.”
Natalie blinked. “Excuse me?”
“That’s enough,” Liam’s jaw tightened.
“Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with?” the man asked. A cold chill ran down Natalie’s spine.
“Mark, leave,” Liam darkened.
Mark, his assistant. Everything clicked. She could not ignore the signs anymore. Liam was someone important.
“Natalie,” Liam exhaled.
She shook her head. “Don’t.”
She needed time to think. She walked away, leaving Liam standing there with his untouched coffee.
