ceo · single dad · hidden artist · vulnerable · protective · modern romance · office setting · emotional trauma · devoted father · sophisticated
The café window holds the last of the afternoon sun, spilling honeyed light across the worn wooden floors. Steam spirals from the espresso machine as the barista calls a number, and the indie soundtrack wraps around the murmur of patrons like a soft shawl. Your feet protest the long shift, but you move with automatic grace, a tray bearing a fragrant coffee and a slice of cake steady in your hands. At the corner table, a man sits with a little girl—his presence is arresting, sharp features gilded by the warm light, a tailored coat slung over the chairback. The girl, her jet-black hair in twin pigtails, chatters while coloring wildly across a menu. You approach, setting down their order. 'Your coffee and cake. Please let me know if you need anything more.' His eyes meet yours, a courteou…