The shattered crown of a billionaire

The soft hum of the coffee machine was the solitary sound reverberating in the warm, intimate coffee shop. At the break of day, only the committed early birds or the restless individuals were awake. The coastal town outside the wide café windows was starting to awaken, with a gentle fog from the sea settling over the calm streets. The atmosphere carried the refreshing scent of salt, along with the delightful aromas of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries.

Elise Donovan had grown used to the tranquility and silence. Actually, she had begun to depend on it. While pouring hot coffee into a ceramic cup, she ran her fingers through her dark, wavy hair and tucked loose strands behind her ears. For three years, she has resided in this town, sticking to her usual schedule and had no intention of changing it.

She wiped her hands on her apron then glanced out the window. The majority of the roads remained empty, yet the regular clients were expected to start coming in shortly, appearing gradually and consistently with their well-known expressions. That was what she preferred. Simple to predict. Safe.

The soft chime of the bell above the entrance signified the arrival of the first patron. Without looking up, she identified Mrs. Henson, the elderly woman who lives two blocks away. Each day, she would come in the morning, buy a basic black coffee and a blueberry muffin, and then sit by the window with her knitting. Mrs. Henson slowly made her way inside, a gentle smile appearing on her elderly face as she approached the counter.

"Hi Elise, my dear, and good morning." What is your current feeling today? Mrs. Henson asked with her soft, hoarse voice.

Elise replied, "I'm okay, Mrs. Henson," with a smile that was both natural and sincere. "Is this the usual sequence?"

The elderly woman chuckled as she remarked, "You are quite familiar with me."

Elise provided the customer with coffee, muffin, and served both. Typically, Mrs. Henson paid with the precise money and went to her usual table. Elise glanced at her for a moment, experiencing a blend of affection and sadness. Although she valued the elderly woman's consistent companionship, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of solitude deep within. She promptly brushed off the sensation. Emotions were a dangerous route, and she promised herself she wouldn't develop any emotional bonds with anyone. This is occurring again.

The bell above the door rang again, causing Elise's heart rate to inexplicably rise. She glanced upwards and observed a man walking into the room, a man she didn't recognize. It was a regular occurrence; from time to time, tourists explored the town, or a guest would drop in for a cup of coffee. Nevertheless, he displayed traits that made her feel uncomfortable.

He was tall and had a broad build, with dark hair that looked nearly black under the café's low lighting. His intense blue eyes sharply contrasted with his rugged look. Despite his simple outfit of jeans, a leather jacket, and a gray T-shirt, he emanated a sense of confidence and a quiet passion that made Elise's heart race.

As he reached the counter, Elise was momentarily paralyzed by the meeting of their eyes.

"Morning," he said in a gentle and smooth voice.

"Good morning," Elise replied in a hushed tone, barely above a whisper. She cleared her throat with a cough and forced herself to smile. "What do you want me to get for you?"

He asked for a simple black coffee while maintaining eye contact with her.

Elise gave a nod and began making the coffee, but she couldn't shake the feeling that his gaze was still on her. Slight tremors ran through her as she poured the hot liquid into the cup using her hands. She scolded herself for reacting that way - it was just a man getting coffee, nothing more. however, there was a specific characteristic in him that made her feel uncomfortable.

As she handed him the coffee, their fingers briefly touched, causing a surge of electricity to course through her. Her hand was quickly pulled back, her heart racing.

"Thank you," he said with a slight smile, indicating that he had noticed her reaction.

Elise whispered, "You're welcome," trying to regain her composure. The final amount will be two dollars.

She was given a five-dollar bill by him, completed the transaction, and gave him back his change. He took his coffee and moved to a table near the window, quickly looking around the café before turning his attention to the street outside.

Elise exhaled slowly, trying to calm her nerves. She did not like the lack of balance he brought into her life. She was proud of her skill in staying calm and composed in any situation. However, there was a quality in this man that made her experience vulnerability and exposure.

The café began to get crowded with its usual morning patrons, talking and laughing

Elise's mind was brimming with countless opportunities. Was he just passing by? Was he in attendance for a specific purpose or individual?

Her thought was interrupted once more as the door opened, and she looked up to see a new stranger in front of her. In his late twenties, he was a man with sandy blonde hair and wore a leather jacket that looked remarkably clean despite being outside. Confidently, he walked in and scanned the room with authority, as if searching for someone in particular.

Elise experienced a sudden knot in her stomach. She did not like this. Did she really see two unfamiliar men at her café all in one morning? That was quite a stroke of luck.

The blonde man made eye contact with the dark-haired stranger seated by the window, and they had a brief moment where they might have recognized each other. Elise was hesitant, but the tension in the room suddenly intensified.

Elise pushed herself to smile when the blonde man approached the counter.

She responded cheerfully, saying good morning.

"Morning," the man said tersely. "I would like to order a coffee, please."

As Elise made his coffee, she felt his strong gaze on her, which was distinct from the gaze of the other man. This person emitted a chilly and calculating aura. She quickly poured the coffee, her hands trembling again as she handed it to him.

She mentioned that the price would be two dollars, speaking in a lower voice than she had intended.

Silently, the man handed her the money and took his coffee, heading towards a table near the entrance. He refused to meet the gaze of the dark-haired man, but the tension in the room remained.

Elise tried to focus on her assignment, but couldn't help her mind from wandering to the two strange people. Did they have any kind of relationship or link between them? Was their reason for coming here the same? Why would that be the case?

As time went by in the morning, the café emptied out, and only Elise, Mrs. Henson, and the two men remained. Mrs. Henson was completely absorbed in her knitting, not noticing the underlying tension in the room.

Elise tidied up the counter, trying to ease her mind. She couldn't get rid of the sensation that something was on the verge of occurring, that these two men had a purpose for being there, and that purpose was connected to her.

Taking a quick look at the man with dark hair sitting by the window, she observed him. His face remained unreadable as he kept on staring at the street. At that moment, he suddenly felt her gaze and turned to look at her directly.

Elise quickly looked away, her heart pounding in her chest. She declined to allow him to disturb her peace. She had worked hard to build a calm, simple life and wasn't going to let anyone, especially a stranger, destroy it.

Nevertheless, as time went by, she couldn't shake the feeling that her past encounters were returning to trouble her again. The hidden secrets she kept would be revealed in surprising ways.

The speedy brown fox leaps over the lethargic dog.

Elise felt her stomach drop again as the bell above the door made a gentle chiming sound. This time, instead of a single person, a trio entered. Three men dressed in black suits, with serious and resolute looks. They didn't seem like tourists. It seemed like they were creating issues.

The man near the window, who had dark hair, tensely reached for something in his jacket. Elise felt her heart pounding, her thoughts telling her to run, but her body stayed still.

The men in suits looked around the room before focusing on the man with dark hair. One of the people - tall, with broad shoulders, and a scar on his face - stepped forward.

"Elijah," he said in a menacing whisper. We need to talk.

Elijah, the man with dark hair, stayed motionless and didn't move. He didn't even flinch. I have no interest.

The man who had a scar emitted a wicked laugh. I have faith that you will. We comprehend the purpose of your being here. And we know who is it.

"You are looking for what you are searching for."

Elise's heart stopped pumping.