Chapter 1

Lena’s Point Of View

(Handsome Stranger)

With my bag crossed around my shoulder, I gingerly walked through the busy streets trying to avoid being late on my first day of work.

I had ended my night shift two hours ago, this was my morning shift in a cafe shop and I needed to be there right now.

I got to the cafe, M and N’s cafe and I pushed the glass door open.

Just as I made my way inside the cafe, I bumped into a very tall man, making his coffee spill all over me.

The coffee spilled on my hand and I winced.

“Ahhhh!” It was burning badly.

I looked at the man who I had bumped into, he was looking at his damaged cloth.

“I am so sorry sir.” I picked up the cup and apologized to him.

What did I just do? On the first day of work? I would get fired.

“I am sorry sir, I will get you a fresh cup of coffee, I am sorry for the inconvenience, it is all my fault.” I tucked a strand of my hair at the back of my ear as I apologized to him.

The man stood at the same spot and said nothing, this time around, he was staring at me and not at his cloth.

I looked around and all eyes were on me, I looked at the man and his eyes were on me, our eyes clicked and we stayed that way for some seconds. I had no idea what I was doing. Such weird eye contact.

I blinked at tried to not look at such a hot man, he gave me a weird glare.

Your in trouble Helena!

“What is your name?” I was a bit surprised at his question and skeptical about answering him, would go ahead and tell the manager to fire me?

Why was he asking me what my name was, could he not just accept my apology and buy himself a cup of coffee and get the hell out of here?

“I am Lena.” I swallowed hard and watched his face fall into a gloomy look. Was he mad?

The man was very tall and had his head full of black hair, he looked strong and could sweep me off my feet by just pushing me aside.

“I am sorry sir, I will get you another coffee.” I wanted to go get him a new cup of coffee but he walked out of the cafe with swift moves.

Crazy?

How clumsy could I be on the first day of work, I not only came late to work today, I spilled coffee on myself and ruined someone's day.

I turned my head to the counter and saw that my colleagues were staring at me like I had just committed murder. So far for the first day of work.

“I am very sorry for coming late you guys, I am sorry about that, I will head to work now.” I walked in so I could change into my uniform and start my work.

This would be a very hectic morning.

Even with the disturbing event of this morning, I did not let it get my mood ruined, the manager of the cafe gave me a strike on my first day, and my colleagues think that I would not last up to a week but I will, I will for the sake of my mother and father I just have to work here.

I pray I don't bump into more weird and crazy customers like him.

Like always, my day was so hectic and at the end of the day, I went back to a very cold home.

Mom had long gone to sleep, so I placed my bag on the table in the kitchen and checked the fridge for food. I dished a portion out, put it in the microwave, and set it to heat.

It was done and I walked to the dining, pulled a chair out and sat to eat.

Dad was in the hospital and I and mom were struggling to pay his bills and the loan we had taken.

I was done with the food and I did the dish, took my bag from the kitchen table, and walked into the room, Mom was there lying on the bed.

The poor woman was tired from stressing herself all day.

I had no night shift today and I was glad, I had my bath and got ready for sleep, laying beside my mother on the bed, and I cradled myself to sleep.

Before the sun was out, I was up, I found my way to the hospital so I could spend time with my father.

I walked into the hospital to my father's ward and met the doctor checking him up.

“Good morning doctor Fred.” I greeted as I walked into the ward.

“How are you Lena?” he asked and I gave a smile.

“I am fine, Doctor. How are you and how is my father doing?” I looked at him for a while before I took my eyes down to meet my father who looked like he was covered in ash. He looked so pale.

“I am good. As for your father, Lena, I have told you a couple of times. He needs to undergo the surgery. Giving him simple medications will not make him better." As he said this I took some strands of my hair to the back of my hair. It was a habit.

“I know that doctor Fred, it's just that things are so hard right now, I and my mom are working on it.”

“Well Lena, I have told you about it, your father is getting worse as the day goes by, we do not have much time.” I had tried to act like I was strong as I walked into the room, but a simple reminder that I had no much time left to save my father got me shaking.

“We are trying doctor Fred, we just need the hospital to understand us.” I pleaded softly.

“The hospital has tried its best Lena, it is left to you and your mother now. I will leave you with your father, have a nice day.” he smiled at me before walking out of the hospital room.

I wiped my tears and took a seat beside my father.

He laid there unconscious, God knows how long he had laid here unconscious with all these pipes attached to him.

I had missed my father and I wanted him back. I was working day and night to get him back on his feet and I know that one day I would be able to do that.

I held onto his hand as though I would never let go of it again.

“Dad we are trying our best but you have to try too. You have to fight for us, for my sake. Don't just give up. I'll be back, we will have you treated .” I wiped my eyes when I realized that I was feeling too sad, he would not like to see me sad.

“You look better today, dad. Handsome as always.”I smiled at him.

I spent a few minutes with him and got ready to start my day. I didn't want to be late on my second day at the cafe so I had to leave.

I kissed my dad goodbye and walked out of the ward.

As I got out of the hospital, I took my hand into my bag so I could take out the cash in my bag when I realized that I wasn't with my work card, without signing in with the card, I would get a deduction, I signed tiredly and looked at the watch on my wrist to see if I had enough time to go back home and grab the card and I did.

I traced my steps back to my house to get the card. Getting to the house, I pushed the door open and walked in but everything was quite different as my mother sat in the sitting room entertaining a visitor.

I paused on seeing this, my mother never had visitors come over. Why then was this man on our couch staring at her?

As I walked in, it dawned on me that I had seen this man before, he was the man from the cafe yesterday.

What was he doing here? Was he here because I spilled coffee on him?

“Mom, what's going on? What's he doing here?

“Did you come here because I spilled coffee on you?.” I was slowly getting irritated.

“Come and sit with me Lena.” my mother said softly.

“Is something wrong, mom? Why is he here?” I questioned, not taking my eyes off the handsome stranger

“Because you are going to be getting married to me, LENA” his voice was so low but it made my heart skip a thousand times, what did he mean by that?