Zayden Watts stirred his coffee while scrolling through his phone. The city outside was busy with honking cars and rushing people, but he barely noticed. He was buried in work emails and messages.
"You know, Zayden," Evelyn said, her voice snapping him out of his thoughts. It was calm, but it had that familiar tone that told him she had something on her mind.
He looked up, meeting her gaze. She stood in the kitchen doorway with her arms crossed and her brows slightly raised.
"What now, Mom?" he asked.
"I've been thinking about you. Your lifestyle." She said.
He raised an eyebrow. "What lifestyle? Mom, I work hard. I can handle myself."
"Yes, you work hard. But all these parties, dates… Zayden, you need someone responsible. A good girl."
He almost choked on his coffee. "A good girl?"
"Don't roll your eyes," she scolded gently. "I'm serious. You're smart, talented, yet you spend more time impressing people than finding someone real. You need someone who can match your drive, someone who doesn't just live for appearances."
Zayden leaned back, a playful smirk on his lips. "So now you're playing matchmaker, huh?"
Evelyn smiled, shaking her head. "Not matchmaking, just giving you an opportunity. You never know what could happen."
He groaned, but there was curiosity in his eyes. He knew his mother's instincts were usually right.
"Actually," she continued, "I was talking to Margaret Morgan today. You remember her daughter, Ava?"
He frowned slightly. "The one who got fired?" he asked, curious.
"Yes, but she's remarkable," Evelyn said. "she's hardworking, and responsible. Not like the usual crowd."
Zayden tilted his head. "Sounds too perfect."
"Not perfect," Evelyn said firmly. "Just reliable, and worth meeting."
He leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, fine. A short friendly meeting. Coffee. That's it."
" I'd drive you," Evelyn said, smiling. "Keep it casual, no pressure. Just a simple introduction."
He grinned reluctantly. "And if she bores me?"
"She won't" Evelyn said confidently. "Trust me."
The morning traffic in Manhattan was chaotic. Zayden Watts stepped out of his mother's car, adjusting his jacket. Evelyn, his mother waved him away.
"There she is," she whispered.
Zayden followed her gesture. Ava sat at a cafe table, focused on her phone. She seemed calm, different from anyone he usually met.
He adjusted his jacket again and approached the table. "Hi, Ava, I'm Zayden."
She looked up, then smiled. "Hi! You must be Evelyn's son."
"Correct," he said with a grin, holding out his hands. They shook briefly.
"I wasn't expecting anyone today," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears.
"It was Mom's idea," Zayden said. "Just coffee, a quick chat. No pressure."
Ava tilted her head, still smiling. "Alright. Coffee sounds good."
Zayden pulled out the chair across from her and sat down, placing his coffee on the table. He glanced at her, noting her calm composure.
"So," Zayden began, sipping his coffee, "do you know the city well?"
He wanted to start up a conversation. The things he had to do to please his mother, ridiculous.
"Born and raised," she said easily. "You?"
"Mostly work and travel," he admitted, "Not much time to explore."
"Well, you're missing out. Some parts of the city are underrated." Ava teased.
He raised an eyebrow. "Underrated how?"
He felt curious.
She leaned forward. "Hidden parks, small bookshops, coffee spots..."
Zayden only nodded.
They shared favorite coffee spots, and Ava added stories from her childhood in Manhattan.
She mentioned a small Italian bakery and a bookstore where she spent hours reading poetry.
"So, do you ever have a day to just walk around the city?" she asked, sipping her latte.
"Not often. And when I do, it's mostly work." He said.
She shook her head. "You're missing out. The city is alive, but not everything is in the spotlight."
They exchanged a brief look, each silently trying to read the other.
Ava glanced at her watch. "I should get going. It was nice talking with you, thanks for the coffee."
"Yeah, sure." He said quietly.
She smiled and picked up her bag. Their eyes met for a second, a spark of curiosity lingered between them.
As Ava walked away, Zayden let out a sigh of relief. I was only pretending to be nice, trying to play the gentleman because of mom. After today, Ava will probably never see me act this nice.
Back in the car, Evelyn glanced at him, her eyebrows raised. As usual.
"Well?"
He exhaled sharply, "She's… interesting. Not at all what I expected."
"That's what I meant," Evelyn said, smiling. "She's a good girl, Zayden. You should get to know her."
He nodded, a reluctant smile on his lips. "Maybe."
Evelyn drove quietly for a while, giving him room to think. Zayden looked out the window, noticing the small cafés, flower stalls, and bookshops he usually rushed past. He wondered if he had ever had a conversation that felt that simple and real, without any pressure or expectations.
After a moment, Evelyn spoke.
"You know… Ava's still looking for a job."
Zayden didn't look away from the window. "And?"
"I just thought you could consider her," she said calmly. "Your company always needs extra hands."
He turned to her, confused. "Mom, you want me to hire her?"
"I want you to give her a chance," Evelyn replied. "If she's qualified, good. If not, that's fine too. But at least see what she can do."
Zayden sighed. "This feels too much like matchmaking."
"It's not," she said lightly. "It's helping someone who needs work. Nothing more."
He rubbed his jaw, thinking it over.
"I'll think about it."
Evelyn smiled a little. "That's all I wanted."
Across the street, Ava walked out of the café and breathed in the cool morning air. The city was busy as usual, but she felt a little lighter, as if their brief chat had opened something new. She brushed her hair back and moved on with her day.
Ava walked hurriedly down the street, unaware of the black Mercedes-Benz G-Class parked a few meters away. Inside, a pair of eyes followed her every move.
But they weren't Zayden's.