Bound by Chance

nd a half-empty mug of coffee. Her alarm blared loudly, but Emma was already awake, her head buried in a novel that wasn't even on her college syllabu

me job at the café and her demanding classes, Emma hardly had time to breathe, let alone think about her fleeting encou

students. Emma's best friend, Lily, spotted her immediately. With her

n," Lily teased, fallin

se strand of hair behind her ear. "And may

s, another brooding hero?

smile. "Maybe. Speaking of brooding, you won'

eyes sparkled

her voice low as if utterin

k? Billionaire CEO of Blackstone Enterpris

own outside, and he came in for water. H

richest men in the country, and all you

as arrogant, as you'd expect, but there was s

he start of their lecture. They hurried to their seats in the crowded

day, we'll be discussing artificial intelligence and its impact

he ones that blended technology and creativity, but today, she struggled to focus. Her thoughts kept drift

ere miles away. Don't tell me you're

'm not! I was ju

ou coming to the library later? We

promised. "Just let me

ah, who was busy taking inventory in the back, and settled into her routine. The monotony

e door jingled, and Emma looked up, her heart sk

him look almost approachable, but the intensity in his gaze was unchanged.

she asked, f

been an attempt at a smile. "Apparently, y

ps breaking down," Emma quipped

ed-a deep, rich sound that cau

Emma asked, feeling

said, glancing around the café

ing the steaming cup in front of him.

bill, his fingers brushing he

ed, then nod

ught, his sharp features softening as he stared out the window

Adrian asked suddenly, his voice

by the question. "All the

nstead, he took a sip of his coffe

phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen,

said, though she wasn

l figure disappearing into the crowd. Emma watched him go,

ed, emerging from the back r

barely above a whispe

back to Adrian. There was a vulnerability in his eyes today, a glimpse of something deeper beneath his