Chapter 17 Chapter 17
Chapter 17
The morning was calm. Celine crossed the street, holding her bag close as she made her way to the little café near Castellan Enterprise. The place had become her stop every morning before work — not because the coffee was the best, but because it felt peaceful.
The café wasn’t fancy. Just a quiet corner place with brown chairs, warm light, and the smell of fresh bread filling the air. A few people sat with laptops, some chatting softly. Celine liked that it wasn’t loud. She needed that calm before facing the elevator she hated every morning.
.
She stepped inside, joining the short line. She looked a bit tired, her hair loosely tied, her black bag hanging from her shoulder. She kept pressing her phone screen as if trying to distract herself from thinking too much.
When it got to her turn, she reached into her purse — and just then, everything slipped. Her wallet, coins, a few receipts scattered all over the floor.
“Great,” she sighed quietly, bending down quickly.
Before she could grab her wallet, someone picked it up and handed it to her.
“You dropped this.”
She looked up.
A tall man stood before her, his voice low but calm. He wore a beige shirt, slightly rolled at the sleeves, dark jeans, and a watch on his wrist. He looked neat, confident — the type of man who didn’t need to try too hard to get attention.
“Oh—thank you,” she said softly, collecting it from him.
He nodded slightly, his eyes resting on her face for a second longer than normal. Her voice had a calm tone to it, her face gentle, simple but beautiful in a natural way. Her skin looked soft, her features clean and striking without effort.
“Be careful next time,” he said, not in a harsh tone but plainly.
“I will,” she smiled a little and quickly gathered her things, moving back to the counter.
He watched as she ordered her drink. She wasn’t trying to draw attention. Her tone with the barista was polite, her smile small but real. She moved like someone who didn’t even know how pretty she was.
Sam Keystone didn’t say anything for a while. He just waited in line, his hands in his pockets. He didn’t know what exactly made him keep watching, but she caught his eye.
When he got his own order, he found himself sitting near her corner — not close enough to make it obvious, but close enough to see her clearly.
She sat by the window, stirring her drink, sometimes staring outside. She had this calm expression that made her look lost in thought.
He took a sip of his coffee and looked away, then looked again.
He wasn’t used to this — to being quietly drawn to someone. He’d met women in every setting, from luxury events to company dinners, but none had ever made him stop and just… watch.
When she stood up, ready to leave, her bag strap brushed his chair slightly.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, trying not to make eye contact.
“It’s fine,” he said. His voice came out a little deeper than he expected.
She nodded, gave a small smile, and walked toward the door.
He watched her go — the way she carried herself, simple but graceful. There was something about her that made her look like she didn’t belong in the rush of the city, like she was from somewhere calmer.
When the café door closed behind her, Sam stayed seated, eyes fixed on the window for a few seconds.
The barista called him again. “Sir, your change!”
He blinked, coming back to himself " keep the money." He said and left the shop.
Outside, he saw her walking across the street. The crowd swallowed her quickly. He could still see her from behind — small steps, neat outfit, a gentle calmness that somehow stirred something inside him.
He chuckled quietly, shaking his head. “What the hell was that,” he muttered under his breath.
He leaned against his car for a moment, watching the street. A faint smirk appeared on his lips. “If I want something,” he said quietly to himself, “I’ll get it.”
He looked down at his watch, thinking of his upcoming trip. “Monterey’s a small city,” he murmured. “I’ll definitely get you after my successful journey to France.”
Then he got into his car, still smiling faintly, though he couldn’t quite explain why.
For someone like Sam Keystone, emotions weren’t something he dealt with easily. He was the type who got what he wanted — money, business, women, respect. But that girl... she felt different.
She didn’t even look his way twice. She didn’t recognize who he was, didn’t seem impressed by his presence, didn’t care at all.
And somehow, that made him more interested.
As he drove away, her image stayed in his mind — the soft curve of her smile, the gentleness in her eyes. He tried to shake it off but couldn’t.
He didn’t know her name, but he knew one thing for sure — he was going to find her again.
He didn’t usually get intrigued so easily. But something about her calm presence pulled him in.