Adrian’s POV 

 

“You’re breaking my heart, dude,” he said, clutching his heart melodramatically.

“Do you have one? I thought you donated it to the chick you took home last night,” I answered as I buzzed Liam.

“Oh no, I don’t give my heart to anyone. I only seek to please. Last night was the best so far,” he said as he went into his dreamland.

“Can I get anything for you both, sir?” Liam asked, coming inside in a rush, looking a little apprehensive since he knew what crime he had committed.

“Just coffee. Ask Azura to bring two cups of coffee,” I instructed as he went to do as instructed.

“Who’s Azura? What a nice name!” Theo said, chuckling as I glared at him, “Is she the one you’re obsessing over since morning?”

“I’m not. She just makes exceptional coffee,” I lied, looking at my laptop.

“That’s all? Then you wouldn’t mind me taking her for a ride?” he asked, grinning knowingly.

I got up from my seat in anger, punching the desk and glaring at him. “Don’t you dare Theo, she’s off-limits! She’s mine. Only mine,” I gritted out as Theo chuckled.

“You’re whipped man, I have to meet her. You’ve fallen bad for her,” he said, shaking his head wisely. I sighed at his diagnosis and sat down again, deep in thought. Was that what had happened to me? Was I in love? Maybe this was what they call ‘love at first sight’! I stared blankly outside the enormous glass windows, at the evening sky. 

“Theo, I don’t know. I can feel that I’ll go crazy if I don’t see her.”

He clasped his hands together excitedly.

“Yes, bro. I think you should give this a chance.”

Liam entered with a worried look. “Sir Azura’s gone for the day. Should I ask another barista to make your coffee?” he asked as I shook my head. I didn’t need anyone else’s coffee. 

“No,” I said, with disappointment coursing through me.

Theo gave me a bro hug. “I’ll be on my way, then? Call you later,” he said as I nodded and he left.

I tried to focus on my work. There were two presentations prepared by the marketing team that I had to approve of. By 8 pm, I couldn’t focus on anything, so I left the office and went to the parking lot to start my car.

As I steered out onto the streets, I saw a familiar figure walking slowly with her head down and a huge backpack on her shoulder. She was wearing a pair of jeans that fit her perfectly and a coral tank top with her long hair tied up in a bun. There was something familiar about her. She walked to the nearby bus stop and when she turned; I was transfixed to the spot, seeing that she was none other than Azura!

What was she doing here so late at night? Her duty got over three hours ago. I stopped the car right in front of her. Rolling my window down, I gazed at her. 

“I’ll drop you, get in Azura.” She stared wide-eyed at me first, then composing herself, she shook her head.

“No thanks, I’ll take the bus,” she said, trying to ignore me.

I got out of my car while all the others at the bus stop stared at me, but I didn’t care. I caught Azura by her wrist and pulled her towards the car. 

“Sir, please, I’m used to traveling by bus,” she said as I turned a deaf ear to her protests.

Opening the passenger door of my car, I helped her inside, then went around to the driver’s seat. I sat down and fixed my seat belt. I leaned towards her with my face inches from hers, and fixed her belt too, staring into her azure blue eyes, drowning in their hypnotic depths. 

“You call me that and I will kiss you so hard that you will remember my name, even in your dreams,” I whispered. My eyes dropped to her red, dewy lips, which opened slightly as she gasped at my words and her cheeks turned crimson. I didn’t know what made me say that. I was shocked myself, but it was already out of my mouth. Maybe it was because of the pent-up frustration at not seeing her after lunch.

When she looked away and out of the window in embarrassment, I started the car. “Where do you live?”

“Brooklyn, East New York, Milford Street,” she said shyly but without hesitating and I drove towards Brooklyn.

“Didn’t you get off three hours ago?” I asked, unable to stop myself.

“Yeah, I had online classes. I don’t have Wi-Fi at home. So I study in the staff room,” she said, as her simple answer had me dumbfounded.

“Do you study and go home every day at this time?” I asked, unable to keep the worry out of my mind.

“Yeah,” she said blankly.

“Don’t your parents worry about you?” I asked in confusion.

“My parents are no more,” she said, and I looked at her, feeling bad for her.

“I’m sorry Azura, I didn’t know,” I said, angry at myself for being such an insensitive fool.

“That’s okay. I didn’t mind,” she breathed, looking out of the window. I stopped my interrogations and drove her to her destination. She gave me the directions, and we reached an old shabby building. I stopped and looked around the dirty neighborhood. 

"Thank you," said Azura with a smile. Before I could say a word, she disappeared into the house as fast as her legs could carry her.

I sat there, taking in the surroundings. How could anyone live here? Was she an orphan? She was just eighteen, and exquisitely beautiful. Was this place safe for her? Did she live alone? Whom did she live with? These thoughts kept revolving in my mind as I drove back home.