Nora's POV

The smell of coffee had long stopped being comforting.

After two years working at Cinnam Brew Café, it had simply become part of the air I breathed. The burnt espresso, fresh croissants, cinnamon rolls and the constant hum of the espresso machine.

“Two cappuccinos!” the manager called from the other end of the counter.

“I got it,” I replied automatically.

My hands moved on their own now in preparing them swiftly.

The routine was familiar enough that my mind often drifted elsewhere.

Far away from this quiet little café tucked between a laundromat and a bookstore. In fact, far away from Riverdale.

“Nora.”

I glanced up.

My coworker, Jenna, was staring at me with an amused expression.

“You’re daydreaming again.”

“I'm not.”

“You poured foam into an empty cup.”

I looked down. Right.

I sighed and dumped it into the sink.

“Long day,” I muttered.

She smirked.

“It’s always a long day with you.”

I handed her the two cappuccinos and moved on to other things.

The lunch rush had passed hours ago, but the café was still busy with the usual evening crowd.

Students with their laptops, office workers grabbing coffee before heading home.

I noticed a couple sharing a slice of cheesecake by the window.

Normal, safe life.

Exactly what I needed.

“Order up!” the kitchen called.

I grabbed a tray and delivered two sandwiches to a table beside the couple.

It was cloudy outside. Obviously, it was going to rain.

Great. I still had shopping to do.

When I returned behind the counter, Jenna nudged me with her elbow.

“You’re watching the clock again.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

I glanced at the wall clock. 6:43 PM.

Seven more minutes.

“Big plans tonight?” she teased.

“No.”

“Secret boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Hidden life as a spy?”

I snorted. "Jenna, could you please let me be. You seem to always have fun invading my space."

She leaned against the counter and studied me.

“You can leave early if you want. I’ll close the register tonight.”

“You sure?” I asked.

“Yeah.” She waved her hand dismissively. “You’ve covered for me enough times.”

I felt so relieved.

“Thanks, Jenna.”

She grinned.

“Just bring me cookies tomorrow.”

“Deal. Even though you already have varieties here.”

I hurried to do my shopping for supplies. It was beginning to drizzle.

By the time I left the grocery store, the rain had turned heavy.

The streetlights reflected on the wet pavement as cars splashed past.

I pulled my jacket tighter and hurried down the sidewalk.

My phone buzzed.

I answered quickly.

“I’m on my way,” I said before the person on the other end could speak.

A pause.

Then a tired voice replied, “You’re late. Again ”

“I know. I'm sorry. I got held up at work.”

Another pause.

“Alright,” the voice said quietly. “Just hurry. I'm running out of excuses to give.”

“I will.”

I hung up and slipped the phone back into my pocket.

By the time I reached my street, my jeans were damp and my hair clung to my neck.

My apartment building stood a little way down a narrow alley between two older brick structures.

The alley was dimly lit, with only one flickering streetlamp near the entrance.

I turned into it quickly, eager to get inside. Then I stopped.

Something lay on the ground ahead. Nay, it was someone.

My heart skipped beats

A man was sprawled on the wet pavement, barely moving.

He wore only a pair of dark shorts and a white singlet that clung to his body in the rain.

For a moment I simply stood there, frozen. My first instinct was fear. I looked around quickly but the alley was empty. There was no one in sight nor voices or noise asides the sound of rain pouring.

My hand slowly moved to my phone. I should call the cops, or an ambulance. That was the best thing to do. I shakily reached for my phone while looking around frantically.

Should I just go and leave him there? What if I get into trouble?

But I wasn't sure I would be able to sleep in peace of I did that.

Just then, I noticed the man’s fingers twitched.

Oh goodness! He was alive.

I went closer to him as he said something I barely heard.

Every warning alert beeped in my head. Don’t get involved, it could be a trap. Just call for help and leave.

But then the man lifted his hand slightly, weakly beckoning on me.

Help. That’s what he was asking for.

“Damn it,” I whispered.

I rushed closer and knelt beside him. Up close, he looked worse.

His skin was pale. Rainwater ran down his face as his body trembled violently.

“Hey,” I said urgently. “Can you hear me?”

His eyes were opened slightly and they focused on me with surprising intensity despite his condition.

“Help me...” he whispered.

I looked around desperately. The alley was still empty.

“Okay,” I said quickly. “Okay, I’ve got you.”

I slipped his arm over my shoulders and tried to lift him.

He was heavier than I expected.

“Come on,” I muttered, struggling. “Help me out a little here.”

He staggered but managed to stay on his feet with my support.

Together we stumbled toward my apartment building.

Rain soaked us both by the time we reached the entrance.

I shifted his weight against the wall and as I tried to press the bell beside the superintendent’s door, but the man suddenly collapsed again. His body slid from my grip and hit the ground as he shivered violently.

“Water...” he whispered.

Water? He had just been under the rain until a few seconds ago.

I panicked and pressed the bell. The man shivered the more and closed his eyes. Or had he fainted? It seemed like the superintendent wouldn't respond on time. And this was a matter of urgency.

“Alright,” I said breathlessly. “New plan.”

I dragged him toward the elevator.

By the time we reached my apartment door, my arms were shaking.

I fumbled with my keys and shoved the door open.

I almost had to carry him, dragging him inside before kicking the door shut behind me.

He collapsed onto the floor immediately. Rainwater pooled beneath him.

For a moment I just sat there on the floor, a few feet from him, breathing hard. What had I just done?

I didn’t even know this man. He could be anyone. He could be dangerous, or a criminal. Or even worse.

He groaned softly, barely conscious.

“Stay there,” I muttered.

Not that he had much choice.

I hurried to the kitchen and heated some drinking water. Then I grabbed a huge blanket from my room.

When I returned, he was still lying on the floor exactly where I left him. I knelt beside him and draped the blanket around him, then I held the mug near his lips as he drank slowly.

Then his gaze lifted to meet mine. For a moment, even the rain seemed to be quiet. I noticed he was quite hairy, with bushy eyebrows and thick, long lashes and fine sculpted face. I hadn't been this close to a man in... years?

The rain continued pounding against the windows. He took his mouth of the cup to signify that he was okay with the water.

Then I noticed his lips move. I shivered.

Was that a smile? Or a... smirk?

Louis' POV

I expected her to come earlier but she didn't. I had positioned myself there as soon as Andy mentioned she was out of the Cafe. It was already drizzling then so I figured I won't need any more injury makeup.

Andy was my very handy PA. I never told him I would be moving to Riverdale. He heard and practically came to beg me to take him with me. He had refused to let me be my full-time loner since school days even though he was two years my junior. I had rescued him from a team of bullies back then and insulted him for being a weakling.

I disliked both the bullies and the bullied.

Ever since then, he was always around me and finally managed to land himself a job as my PA. Of course he was no longer the timid weak Andy. He was almost like my bodyguard now, strong and athletic. I wouldn't agree that he may be stronger than me though.

He was my second pair of eyes on this crazy mission of mine.

"I thought you said she was out of the Cafe," I spoke into my earpiece.

"Well yeah... I thought she was taking some short cuts but it seems she went somewhere else."

God damnit! I had barely started out with my plans and it was already crashing.

The rain increased and I sat there shivering. How ridiculous?

Whenever Andy notified me of any person other than her coming by, I would stand and pretend to be flexing my muscles and exercising there in the rain. Thank goodness the two people that passed by were too engrossed in their wet selves to give me a second or third glance.

But then, it was just so ridiculous.

However, unlike my cousin, Nathan, I wasn't a 'public' figure. I was never crazy about fame. I just wanted a simple life of luxury. So no one would recognize me here. Not with the rain and dark either.

"Are you sure you wouldn't call off this plan? You may freeze to death before she comes," Andy's voice came through the earpiece.

Honestly, I was already feeling dead. I was so cold.

But determination was one of my beautiful attributes. My employees knew how much I liked to get things done as planned. I hate to deal with excuses.

"Ten more minutes before I leave," I replied. If I wasn't frozen already by that time.

"Time's up," Andy said ten minutes later, "but hold on. I think she's coming already. Don't die on me boss."

I took position immediately. It was very hard not to shiver, but I had to stay still, for a while. I saw her come up and freeze at a spot. She had a little umbrella that was barely doing justice to the rain. She was still dripping wet and trying to hold her shopping bags together.

She studied me curiously from a distance then put her hand towards her coat pocket while looking around frantically at the same time.

Oh no! Don't call anyone. All I need is you.

It would spoil my plans so bad if someone else came around. I would literally jump up and run away. Like a coward.

I stretched out my fingers, flexing it enough for her to see that I was moving. She pulled her hand out of her pocket and hurried to my side.

She looked deeply worried. I was worried too. I wanted her to hurry and lead me to her house.

"Hurry up. Come on," I muttered. Of course, she couldn't hear me.

I noticed her hesitation. Was she planning to ditch me?

Hell no. Don't do that.

I raised my hand up slightly, weakly calling for help. At this point I was truly dying from the cold, with only a singlet and a pair of dark shorts on. I would soon be on my way to heaven.

She came closer and knelt beside me. Peering into my face.

Why was she wasting time?

"Hey,” she said, “Can you hear me?”

Urrgh! Just help me out of here already. I've never had to be in the rain like this.

“Help me...” I whispered.

She looked around desperately. There was nobody to help. Thank God.

“Okay,” she said quickly. “Okay, I’ve got you.”

She slipped my arm over my shoulders and tried to lift me.

I almost laughed. I was more than twice her weight... If I wasn't exaggerating.

“Come on, help me out a little here,” she muttered as she tried her best.

I did help. Staggered a little and took my weight off her.

We got to her building, then she turned toward the ground floor and stopped at a door. Unit 101.

Oh no, that's not it. That was not the information on her location. I was right. She was going to press the bell.

I immediately slumped on the floor nearly breaking my bones.

Ouch!

"Water..." I sort of whispered when she turned to me in alarm.

Water? How daft. If there was anything I needed right now, it was fire. Serious heat. But water was what my frozen brain had chosen to say.

She must have thought it ridiculous too, judging by the look she gave me.

Nevertheless, she rang the bell.

I closed my eyes and groaned inwardly. Why? Why?

But then she came to my side and pulled me up saying something I couldn't comprehend.

She dragged me to the elevator, and then to her apartment.

I felt so much relief that I forgot myself for a moment and rested my full weight on her.

The result was that she dropped me earlier than she should and then dropped herself a few feet away, panting for breath.

I didn't know how long she intended to sit there, just staring... perhaps thinking. I was freezing. At this rate, I could catch pneumonia. I groaned tiredly before she got up and hurried off.

She came back with a mug of water and a thick blanket. Thankfully the water was hot. I wanted to warm my hands on the mug but she was holding it up to my lips to drink. I drank slowly. I wasn't thirsty but I had asked for water and well, here it is.

I met her gaze as she fed me the water. She was even more beautiful than I had expected, her dainty nose sat perfectly on her oval face. And her lips... though pale...

I noticed she was studying mine too, and for a moment I forgot myself until I saw the look in her eyes as she shivered.

Louis' POV

She got up in a hurry, almost losing her balance.

Damn it! I had scared her.

"Who are you and what happened to you?" she asked warily.

"Louis," I replied, making my voice as weak and pathetic as possible. "I was... attacked and... robbed on my... way to..." I let my voice trail off hoping she wouldn't press further.

I was no longer comfortable lying there. I sighed and rested my head back on the floor.

Honestly, I wasn't in the mood for much talk right now. But she looked so troubled and uncertain what to do.

"I should probably call the cops or get you to the hospital so you don't get worse or die..."

I almost jerked my head up.

"No... please. I'm safe... here."

She frowned, but helped me up and led me to a comfortable couch before disappearing into one of the rooms.

By the time she was back with some clothes and blankets, I was already pretending to be asleep, so she draped the sheets around me.

A while later, I watched her step out of the apartment. Then I stripped off the wet clothes and put on the ones she had left for me.

They must be the largest size she had in her wardrobe but the trousers were too short. And the hoodie? Well, it escaped being a crop top.

Would she come back tonight? Or was she too scared to spend the night with a stranger?

She should have valuables here, she couldn’t just leave me, could she?

Come to think of it, she must be very naive to have brought me here.

My father believed in people. I learned from him too... but not in the way he intended. Vulnerability is a liability. And people? They’ll take what you offer, then turn around and use it against you.

I must have dozed off, because the next thing I knew, sunlight hit my face and I had to shield my eyes as I opened them.

Nora was opening the curtain. She looked dressed and ready to go out. She looked very relieved when I got up. Then she picked up a thermometer from the table and checked my temperature.

"Good thing, you're actually strong and healthy. You can freshen up in the bathroom." She pointed to a package on the table. "That's breakfast. Can you hurry up so we can leave. Please, I'm running late."

I frowned as I sat up slowly.

"Leave? To where?"

That was definitely a ridiculous question and she looked at me so.

"Don't you have somewhere to go? Somewhere you're coming from?" she asked.

"I was traveling... on my way... out of the country when I got robbed. I need to stay low for a while, just to make sure I'm safe."

She looked at me wearily, "Was it not a random attack? Is someone after you?"

"I'll need to confirm that to be sure." I replied.

"Will you go to the police then?"

"There will be no need to go there," I smiled at her. "The information will come to me. For the meantime, I just need you to let me stay here for a while."

She ran her hand through her hair, clearly frustrated. From where I sat, I thought she smelt good.

"Who do you say you are again?"

"Louis."

The way she stared at me, she expected more than just a monosyllabic reply.

"Louis Christopher," I added. That was all she needed... for now.

But she was still just staring at me, those eyes trying to bore into my soul.

"Look, miss..." I started to explain, I expected her to mention her name but she didn't. "Miss uhh... Your name please."

She sighed and folded her hands, "Listen, I'm sorry. But I don't know whatever it is that is your problem. I don't know you or where you're from," she walked over to pick a bag she had hung at the foyer.

"What I know is that I don't want trouble," she continued saying as she frantically searched her bag, " I'm a single lady and I already took the risk of bringing you here last night. I can't do this anymore."

"Hey, please," I said, with a very sincere tone, "I'll pay you for your help."

She handed me some bills, "I hope that will help you in any little way Mr. Christopher..."

"Just call me Louis"

"But you really have to leave. Can you hurry up please? I'm running very late."

I bowed my head, really feeling exhausted. Wasn't she being mean?

Funny how I thought she was so naive.

"Please I'm too tired to walk around now, seeking help. Just let me stay a little more," I said as I raised my head. She had to agree for Christ's sake, this was just another minor stage in my plan. Didn't think it would be this hard. I'll have to convince her.

She sighed heavily, "Can you just hurry and try to freshen up while I think of how else I can help?"

Very sluggishly, I went to the bathroom, washed up, and returned to the living area. She was just finishing a call when I came out. I could tell she was really worked up.

She picked up the meal pack and turned to me.

"Let's go."

I caught her hand as she turned toward the door. She recoiled as if I had shocked her, yanking her hand back. Why was she being so uptight?

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"Can we just go please? You can stay at my neighbour's for today."

Oh.

"Ok. Thanks but listen please. I have an offer. Let me stay here for three days. I’ll pay you enough to cover your rent for a year."

She looked at me like I had come from another planet.

I sighed, "Look it's actually a long story. But I know you're in a hurry so..."

"Can we go now? I already called the neighbor."

Damn.

We went down to the ground floor. She had to press the bell three times before the superintendent came out. He was a big man. But then he was just big... nothing more. Didn't look like someone who had strength to run half a mile.

"Hi Mike," Nora said.

Mike looked me up and down, "Is this the guy?"

Nora nodded and handed me the meal pack, "That's some food I packed for you. Maybe you can tell him about the offer you were talking to me about?"

"What offer?" Mike asked.

Just then, an elderly woman in jogging clothes came by, "Hello Mike. Hi Nora, how is my Skylar?"

"As good as ever," Nora replied brightly. Smiling for the first time since I first saw her.

The woman was about to ask her another thing when she noticed me... in my ridiculous dressing.

She was way shorter than me, otherwise her eyes would have had to travel from the very top of my head to the soles of my feet just to take me in.

Before she could say anything, Nora turned to leave in a hurry.

"I'm so late now, I gotta hurry."

The woman called her back, "Hey Nora, be careful. And try not to stay out late."

Nora frowned, "Sure. Why?"

"Heard there was an attack last night, dear. It's been a long while since something like that happened around here. Two people got robbed and hurt, and were taken to the hospital. They caught some robbers, but two got away, even after people tried to chase them down."

At that point, the three of them turned to look at me; Nora’s eyes slightly widened with shock and suspicion, Mike and the woman’s faces filled with curiosity. That was when the woman’s words about the robbery really sank in, and I knew everything had just become far more complicated than I had planned.