  After a long two minutes, Benson was seen through the windshield of the luxury black seCary. Before Benson could get out and open the door for him, he rushed to the passenger side, getting into the car.

  

      "Is everything alright Mr. Brown? You look like you're in a rush. Any emergencies I should inform the security about?" Benson said with a concerned expression on his face.

  

      "Coffeeshop! Now."

  

      Confused, Benson did as he was told. Turning the car around the block, he began to travel up the street.

  

      "Where the hell are you going?! Nancy's! I want to go to Nancy's Cakes & Coffee!! Southbound now."

  

      "I'm afraid Nancy's shuts down at 5 Mr. Brown. If coffee is what you would like, the Starbucks up north is open late."

  

      "Turn the car around and I should not have to repeat myself!" Kevin's tone was dead serious. Although he had known 

  Upset. Moody. Depressed. That's exactly how Lily was feeling right now.

  

      Yesterday, after waiting eagerly practically all day long, Kevin had not returned. There was never a day he missed going to the coffeeshop and something about his absence made Lily feel almost lonely. She had grown accustomed to having Kevin come around, giving her sweet smiles and asking for her suggestions.

  

      Her mind was basically flooded with weird emotions all day long. And that was driving her crazy. So crazy that she ended up with a nasty headache. It wasn't long before Elle noticed her struggling to focus and asked about her welbeings. Concerned, she sent her back home to rest.

  

      * * *

  

      Today was a fresh new day. Lily's headache was better but her mood was still the same. It had been hours since they opened but Kevin was no where to be found. Ignoring his absence, Lily

  "Yeah." Shrugging uninterested. “That’s me."

  

      "Mr. Brown, it's such an honor to meet you." Lily smiled softly but noticed how the he seemed displeased with the mention if his last name.

  

      "Like I said before, please call me Kevin."

  

      "Nice to meet you Kevin." At the sound of his first name rolling off of Lily's tongue, Kevin's eyes turned at shade darker as he looked at Lily, a faint smile playing on his lips.

  

      "And you must be?" His eagerness to find her name add been high since the day he caught her in his arms.

  

      "Oh! So silly of me." Cleaning her hands. "Hi, I'm Lily. Lily Rose." Lily smiled and held out a hand in front of Kevin, who effortlessly took it into his own, shaking it gently as if she was made of glass. Lily's hand fit perfectly in Kevin's. They were softer than what she expected and to this she smiled once more. Kevin stopped shaking her hand but hadn't let go. Her hands were perfectly warm and so tender that he wished to never let them go. Unfortunately, the clearing of someone's throat cause the both of them to suddenly let go and take a step back.

  

      A grinning Elle was standing by the back door with a tray of warm bagels in her hands. She had a smirk plastered to her face as she looked between Lily and Kevin. Without saying any words, she made her way past Kevin, placing the bagels onto the displays and then left.

  

      Kevin waited for her to leave before he turned his attention back to Lily, who's face was flushed and she was looking toward the ground and playing with her fingers.

  

      "Lily." The way her name rolled off of his tongue sent shivers down her spine and sparks flying in her heart. It was so perfect. As if her name was meant to be spoken by this very man. As if her name was made for him to say it.

  

      She quickly looked up to meet his gaze, but like always, his eyes were already on her. "Kevin."

  

      "Lily, it's a beau-----" Just as Kevin was about to complete his sentence, he was interrupted by the same man that Lily had seen the day before, presumably his driver.

  

      The man rushed to Kevin, with a phone held in one of his hands. "Mr. Brown, there is an------"

  

      "How many times do I have to tell you not to interrupt me while I am in a conversation!?!" Kevin was beyond furious. If there was one thing he hated most, it was being interrupted. Lily noticed the way his smile vanished and how the brightness in his eyes turn cold and icy. Her own smiled dimmed a little, seeing such rash changes in this man.

  

      "I'm extremely sorry Mr. Brown, but there is an urgent press conference with the CEO of Thompson & Co. announcing the new projects for next year."

  

      "And why was I not informed this morning when I specifically asked for the schedule?!" By now, every last bit of patience had left Kevin. He was beyond pissed with the interruption.

  

      "I do apologize, Candy accidentally deleted the event from your schedule while rescudeling the Lewis Enterprise meeting you had this morning."

  

      Lily watched has Kevin's hands clenched into a fist. She could tell that he was trying to calm his anger down. After running his hands through his hair a couple of times, and creating a messy look, Kevin turned his attention back to her as she watched with wide eyes.

  

      Before speaking however, he took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself down, afraid to burst his anger out of the innocent girl at the register. His eyes softened and the brightness returned once more. "I do apologize to you.......Lily."

  

      Guilt was evident in his words but Lily could not understand why. Why was he apologized to Lily? Although she was confused, she let it pass. Lily could tell that he was stressed out and being CEO surely didn't help his stress levels come down. "Not a problem Kevin. I'll be out with your coffee in just a minute."

  

      "I'm really sorry for the inconvenience, but I will have to take a leave here. I hope to see you tomorrow?"

  

      The way his eyes darkened asking Lily such as simple question cause butterflies to burst in her stomach. She had no idea why a CEO of such a big company was firstly apologizing to her and second, why he actually wanted to see her again tomorrow. Putting her thoughts aside for the millionth time that day, Lily presented a patient Kevin with a bright smile. "Yeah."

  

      After getting one last look of her, Kevin turned hot on his heel and headed straight out the door with a scowl on his face. Benson followed quickly behind him and soon, both men had disappeared from Lily's view. But not her mind.

  

      After the men had left, Lily had emerged herself into her normal workload. Since Caiden was taking an off day, it was just her and Elle in the cafe. It was about time for closing and the cafe was empty. Lily shuffled through each of the tables, picking up leftovers and wiping off the last bits of crumbles. As she was engrossed in her work, Elle came out from behind with the keys and her purse.

  

      "Time to close?" Lily asked as she threw away the trash and wiped off her hands.

  

      "Yeah, I'm heading out. I actually have to get a couple of things from the store." Elle said as she miraculously typed away on her phone.

  

      "Ok, let's walk out. I'll just grab my things." Lily rushed to the counter, grabbing her phone and bag.

  

      They both exited the cafe and Elle locked up the door. The air was beginning to get chilly as they prepared for winter to hit. Fall was just about done and with that, it would be another year since Lily had been alone. Past memories flowed through her mind before Elle's voice brought her back to reality.

  

      "So...." Elle trailed off with a hint of amusement in her eyes and a smirk on her face.

  

      Lily remained confused at the random appearance of her friend. "So?"

  

      "Oh come on Lily! Stop acting so innocent! You know what I'm trying to hint at!"

  

      "What?"

  

      "That man! Who by the way, is totally head over heels for you!" Elle gushes as they walked out of the parking lot and to the street. Elle always parked on the streets as the cafe parking was too small and it got too crowded at times. To make it easier for the customers, she would always take a sacrifice and walk the extra block.

  

      "For your information, he was clearly not wearing any heels!" Lily defended as images of Kevin appeared back in front of her eyes.

  

      "Oh please Lily, you know very well what I'm talking about! Spill! Who is he?"

  

      "Kevin Brown. The CEO of Brown Inc." Lily looked up at the sky that was now changing colors. The little stars were becoming to come back out from their hiding and amongst these stars, Lily searched for two familiar ones.

  

      "THE CEO!? And you're telling me now?! We've been serving the CEO himself for the last couple of days? But why on earth would he come here? I mean doesn't he have a personal assistant or servant to do that crap for him?" Lily signed at Elle's remark. Maybe she too had wondered the same things, but she knew better then to get involved with men like these. And plus, she had more important things to worry about.

  

      "How am I supposed to know? He's been coming here and I've been serving him. That's all."

  

      However, Elle never took no as an answer. "Clearly that is not all! There must be some reason he's coming here."

  

      "Why does there have to be a reason? Maybe he just wants a cup of coffee?" Lily said, shrugging it off. I mean why else would anyone go to a coffee shop anyways?

  

      "Lily, he's the freaking CEO! And not only that but he's the CEO of Brown Inc! That's the company who's always in the media for a hot headed and very sexy CEO!"

  

      "Who knows." Lily said looking back up at the sky. By now they had reached Elle's car.

  

      "Do you want a ride home Lily? It's getting pretty dark anyways."

  

      Although it was a good idea, Lily couldn't possible accept it. She hated being a burden on people. "No it's ok. And plus, don't you have to go shopping?"

  

      "It's ok. I'm going in the direction of your apartment anyways."

  

      Thinking about it one more time, Lily gently nodded. Smiling, Elle unlocked the car and the both of them got in. "Thank you."

  

      "For you a thousand times!" Elle said in a dramatic way before blaring the music and driving down the streets, laughing and giggling with Lily.

  

      Maybe life wasn't so bad after all. With that thought in mind, Lily smiled.

After a long two minutes, Benson was seen through the windshield of the luxury black seCary. Before Benson could get out and open the door for him, he rushed to the passenger side, getting into the car.
  
      "Is everything alright Mr. Brown? You look like you're in a rush. Any emergencies I should inform the security about?" Benson said with a concerned expression on his face.
  
      "Coffeeshop! Now."
  
      Confused, Benson did as he was told. Turning the car around the block, he began to travel up the street.
  
      "Where the hell are you going?! Nancy's! I want to go to Nancy's Cakes & Coffee!! Southbound now."
  
      "I'm afraid Nancy's shuts down at 5 Mr. Brown. If coffee is what you would like, the Starbucks up north is open late."
  
      "Turn the car around and I should not have to repeat myself!" Kevin's tone was dead serious. Although he had known Benson for the longest time, he hated when he had to repeat his orders. And if he made up 

Chapter 7