The door clicked shut behind Zara as she stepped into the flat, the familiar warmth wrapping around her in a way that should have felt comforting.
It didn't.
Her mind was still back in that café.
"Finally," Chloe Bennett's voice rang out from the living room. "I was starting to think you ran off and found love without me."
Zara slipped off her shoes, dropping her bag by the door. "If that's what love looks like, I want no part of it."
That got Chloe's attention.
She sat up immediately, eyes narrowing with interest. "What does that mean?"
Zara walked in, placing her coffee on the table before sinking into the couch. She let out a slow breath, running a hand through her hair as if trying to physically shake off the encounter.
"There was a man," she began.
Chloe gasped. "I knew it."
"Relax," Zara said dryly. "It was not that kind of situation."
Chloe leaned forward anyway, fully invested now. "Start from the beginning."
Zara hesitated for a second, then shook her head slightly. "He cut the line."
Chloe blinked. "That's it?"
"He walked past everyone like we didn't exist," Zara continued, her tone sharpening slightly at the memory. "Ordered his coffee and stood there like it was perfectly normal."
Chloe's brows lifted slowly. "Bold."
"Rude," Zara corrected.
"And?" Chloe pressed.
"And I said something."
Chloe's grin spread immediately. "Of course you did."
Zara shot her a look. "Someone had to."
"What exactly did you say?"
"That there was a queue," Zara replied simply.
Chloe stared at her for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Zara Rahman, defender of public order. I'm proud."
Zara rolled her eyes, but there was the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of her lips. "It wasn't funny."
"Oh, it is very funny," Chloe said, still laughing. "Please tell me he argued back."
Zara paused.
And just like that, the amusement faded slightly.
"No," she said after a moment. "That's the problem."
Chloe tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
Zara leaned back, her gaze unfocused as the memory replayed itself.
"He didn't argue," she said slowly. "He just… looked at me."
Chloe's expression shifted, curiosity sharpening. "Looked at you how?"
Zara frowned slightly, searching for the right word.
"Like I was… stupid," she said finally. "Not annoying, not irrelevant. Just—a talkative."
Chloe blinked.
"Oh," she said softly.
Zara let out a quiet breath. "And then he started talking like he had all the time in the world."
"That's confidence," Chloe said.
"That's arrogance," Zara corrected.
"Same thing, different bank account," Chloe replied easily. Then she leaned forward again, eyes narrowing with interest. "Wait. Important question."
Zara already knew what was coming.
"Was he hot?"
Zara gave her a look. "That's your takeaway?"
"Answer the question."
Zara hesitated.
Just for a second.
Chloe caught it immediately.
"Oh my God," she gasped. "He was."
Zara exhaled, clearly irritated with herself. "That's not the point."
"Tall?" Chloe pressed.
Zara said nothing.
"Handsome?"
Zara picked up her coffee, taking a sip to avoid answering.
Chloe's grin widened. "Old money or new money?"
Zara lowered the cup slowly, fixing her with a flat look. "Why does that matter?"
"Because it tells me everything," Chloe said, completely serious.
Zara shook her head, but her voice came quieter this time. "Old."
Chloe froze.
Then leaned back, impressed. "Oh, you're in trouble."
"I'm not in anything," Zara said quickly.
Chloe raised a brow. "Men like that don't just exist quietly. They come with complications."
"He's not my problem," Zara replied.
But the words felt less certain than they should have.
Chloe studied her for a moment, as though she could see straight through the dismissal.
"And what happened after?" she asked.
Zara looked away briefly.
"He warned me," she said.
Chloe's brows lifted. "About?"
"My tone."
Chloe let out a short laugh. "And what did you say?"
Zara met her gaze again, calm, unbothered.
"That I don't take instructions well."
Chloe smiled slowly. "Of course you don't."
For a moment, silence settled between them.
Then Chloe's phone buzzed.
She glanced down at it, and whatever she saw made her expression shift instantly.
Interest.
Zara noticed. "What is it?"
Chloe stood up quickly, already reaching for her bag. "Nothing. Something came up."
Zara narrowed her eyes. "You're leaving?"
Chloe hesitated for half a second, then smiled, just slightly guilty. "Work calls."
Zara stared at her. "Of course, work."
Chloe ignored the tone, already moving toward the door. "I won't be long besides you've got time to prepare for your interview."
"You said that yesterday."
"And I meant it," Chloe replied, opening the door. "Things just… happened."
Zara shook her head. "You're unbelievable."
Chloe grinned. "You love me."
"I tolerate you."
"Same thing," Chloe said lightly, stepping out.
The door closed behind her.
Silence followed.
Zara sat there for a moment, her coffee warm in her hands, her thoughts drifting back despite herself.
To the café, the man then the interview.
Back to the man, the way he had looked at her like she was something he hadn't expected to find.
She exhaled slowly, shaking her head.
It didn't matter.
He didn't matter.
He was just a stranger.
"Let's prepare for the interview", she said to herself.