Chapter 2 A second Glance

The sun streamed in through the big windows of Izzy's office. It was a bright morning, but Izzy wasn't in the mood to write a press release. Her thoughts drifted, again and again, to one person-David.

David.

She didn't like how much he occupied her mind. It felt like a catchy song stuck on repeat. Who was he? What did he want? And why did it seem like he understood her? It wasn't fair. They had barely talked, yet he had made a mark on her that was hard to shake off.

"Earth to Izzy!" came a cheerful voice, breaking in on her thoughts.

It was her best friend and coworker, Chloe Bennett. She leaned against the door frame with a teasing smile. Chloe was everything Izzy wasn't. She was bold, carefree, and always curious about others.

"What's with the daydreaming look?" Chloe asked, striding into the office. She plopped down on the couch, clearly ready for a chat.

"Daydreaming?" Izzy said, quickly typing some random letters to seem busy. "I'm just... focused."

"Focused on what? Daydreaming about some tall, handsome guy from the gala?" Chloe asked with a knowing grin.

Izzy sat still, fingers resting on the keyboard. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on!" Chloe rolled her eyes. "You were all googly-eyed over him! You looked like you were melting right there."

"I was not melting!" Izzy shot back, but her cheeks told the truth with a slight redden.

"Sure! Keep telling yourself that. Who was he?"

"I have no clue," Izzy sighed. "We didn't exactly chat about our lives."

"Well, you should have asked for his number! He's probably the funnest thing that has happened to you in ages," Chloe teased.

Izzy glared at her friend, but deep down, she knew Chloe wasn't entirely off base.

Before Chloe could get more playful, Izzy's phone buzzed. She grabbed it gratefully. It was her assistant reminding her about the afternoon meeting with a new client.

"Duty calls," she said, escaping Chloe's teasing look. "Catch you later!"

The meeting was at a fancy café in town. It was a spot where the rich and stylish liked to hang out. Izzy got there early and found a quiet corner table. She ordered a latte and looked around. She was ready to take notes.

And then, she saw him.

David was sitting a few tables away. He seemed relaxed, reading a newspaper. His dark eyes moved across the pages like he had not a care in the world.

Izzy felt her heart race. Should she go over and say hi? Or just ignore him? Before she could make up her mind, David looked up.

Their eyes connected, and time seemed to stand still. He didn't smile, but there was something in his gaze. There was a challenge, a question, or maybe a hint of recognition.

Izzy took a deep breath and decided to stay at her table. She didn't want him to think she was bothered. But as she pretended to take notes, she couldn't help but steal glances at him.

Just then, the waitress came over with another latte.

"I didn't order this," Izzy said, confused.

"It's from the gentleman over there," she answered, pointing at David.

Her stomach flipped. Izzy glanced at him, and he raised his cup, as if toasting her. A warm heat crept up her neck, and she fought to keep calm. She wanted to march over and ask him what he was doing, but just then, her client arrived, pulling her thoughts in another direction.

The meeting felt blurry. Izzy tried to remain professional, but her mind kept wandering back to David. He left right in the middle of it, without even saying goodbye. By the end, she felt both frustrated and distracted.

When she stepped outside, the cool air wasn't enough to calm her racing mind. She was about to call a cab when a familiar voice stopped her.

"Miss Hughes."

She turned around, and there he was, leaning against a lamppost, looking relaxed. His dark eyes were locked on her.

"David," she replied, trying to keep her guard up. "Are you following me?"

"Maybe," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. "Or maybe it's just fate."