035

Stephanie and two of her most trusted and reliable subordinates at the office arrived at the long-awaited business meeting. Through the large windows of the cafe where they had gone for breakfast, Stephanie admired the environment; she could not deny how serene and beautiful it was everywhere. She was so engrossed in talking to her friends while appreciating her surroundings that she did not notice the lone figure sitting a few tables away from her and whose eyes had been fixed on her since she walked into the cafe. His eyes never left her face for once and he had no intent on leaving even though he was done with his food and drink and needed to head back to his hotel room because he had to go through his briefs for the last time before his scheduled meeting which would be taking place in an hour.

He watched as she laughed, and made silly faces at her companions. She looked healthy, happy, and more sophisticated than he remembered. Her innocence was gone, replaced by a harder and ster