Chapter 1

Kat is the most introverted girl you can imagine. That’s why this otherwise uneventful day hardly feels like her story.

It was a gloomy day, and for once, she felt a spark of independence. She decided to take herself out for lunch at a nice hotel. Her outfit clashed with the weather, but she didn’t care. As long as she was inside a cozy dining space, it could storm all it wanted. By the time she finished her meal, dessert, and coffee, everything would pass.

When she walked in, the place wasn’t crowded one point in her favor. She scanned the room, trying to decide where to sit: the corner, by the window, or somewhere more secluded. The goal was to build confidence eating alone in a restaurant without pushing herself so far that she’d regret it and never try again.

She chose a seat by the window. Not too visible, not too hidden. She carried a book, though realistically, she knew she probably wouldn’t read much. Soon, the waiter approached with the menu. She thanked him politely and began scanning the options, looking for something that wouldn’t be embarrassing to eat in public and wouldn’t hurt her wallet.

Finally, she made her choice and signaled the waiter.

Now, she could relax either scroll on her phone or attempt to read. Social media wasn’t appealing today. Her busy mind needed something quieter, something meaningful. She opened Substack, scrolling carefully, trying to find something that wouldn’t feel like mental junk.

Gradually, she settled into her space. Then she found something that caught her attention so much so that she lost awareness of her surroundings.

After a while, her food arrived. As she adjusted her posture, she noticed that more people had come in. One table, in particular, caught her attention.

It was a group of men laughing, relaxed, enjoying their drinks. They weren’t loud, but their presence carried. The kind of energy that naturally draws attention.

Kat was no exception.

She tried to observe them casually, one by one. They were all attractive tall, well-dressed but one of them stood out.

There was something familiar about him.

She couldn’t place it.

His brown, slightly curly hair, olive-toned skin, and deep, expressive eyes gave him a warmth that felt almost… known. When he smiled, it softened his entire face. Without realizing it, she smiled too.

Then, suddenly he looked at her.

For a second, she froze, still staring. Then reality snapped back into place. She quickly looked down at her plate, pretending she hadn’t noticed anything at all.

Her heart started racing.

She didn’t dare look up again. What if he was still watching?

If it weren’t for her introverted nature, she wouldn’t have reacted like this. She wasn’t unattractive far from it but her beauty wasn’t obvious at first glance.

She had deep chocolate-toned skin, long, voluminous hair, soft full lips, and large, expressive eyes. Her face was round, slightly chubby in a way that complemented her figure. She was curvy, balanced, and naturally symmetrical.

Individually, her features were striking. Together… they required attention.

You had to really look at her to see it. And she knew that.

She didn’t think of herself as overwhelmingly beautiful but she wasn’t insecure either. What she valued more was her sharp mind, her wit, and her sarcastic sense of humor. Though, truthfully, she didn’t always use them as much as she could.

Procrastination had its grip on her. Still… the fact that he noticed her?

It changed something.

Her quiet lunch suddenly felt… interesting.