Talia was long gone....right from the moment he'd whispered in her ears. Her heart thundered in her chest. Her chestwalls tightened with every breathe. She felt lightheaded. Everyone turned to her, the obvious question dancing on their faces. Talia stood frozen in time unable to say a word, her gaze completely locked in on the one man she'd silently prayed for throughout the past five years.

The very eyes she loved to get lost in stared right back at her, confusion and shock laced his gaze.

"do you know her, son?" his mom's voice sliced through, every ear anticipating his answer.

For a second or two, Ethan didn't reply. He slowly blinked, composed himself and turned to his mom with a smile. "No.. No.. Not really".

"you just called her name.." Bianca fumed.

"her name?" he feigned ignorance.

"yeah! You said Lia".

"I don't think I did" he chuckled and took his seat beside his younger sister who was quick to lean in and whisper... "You're so spilling later..."

Bianca glared daggers at Talia but Talia wasn't even looking. Not planned... But she couldn't tear her gaze from him. From his smile. From his shoulders that had grown broader. His hair that was sleeked to the side. His Adam apple that stood out more.

She watched his younger sister lean into him and whisper something that had him staring back at her. Julian's nudge shook her off her frozen state, her gaze transferring to her husband's terrifying one.

She gulped.

"is that a painting?" the old chairman broke the tension and Julian turned to him with a smile.

"yes sir. You're a man of great wealth. You could get yourself anything out there, so I went for something timeless, one of its kind... There's no replica". He bragged proudly, his parents even prouder of their son.

"one of its kind? You got the artist make this? You didn't buy it at an auction?"

Julian nodded.

"who are they?" the old man was literally in love with what his eyes was feasting on.

"well... Its my little secret, but there is more from where that came from sir".

Ethan needed only one glance at the painting to know whose handiwork it was.

His gaze reverted back to Talia in black.

Deventon was really cursed for him. It wasn't even a fucking small city so how the hell did he run into her again?!!!!

"is she your wife?" Ethan's grandmother made the situation worse by asking. Talia slowly gazed at Ethan as Julian snaked his hand around her waist.

She watched his jaw clench, his gaze deepened. Julian pulled her close, his neck nodding in response to the question.

"she is beautiful"....the old lady mused.

Talia couldn't even smile. Her eyes blinked thrice in a second. Her lips struggled like it was learning to smile for the first time, her veins visible on her neck. She was trying so hard to compose her shaken self.

The Sandersons had to move to give chance to the other guests present to present their gift. The moment they were far away from the family of the night, Bianca jerked Talia's arm, dragging her away to a darker corner.

Her eyes darted around making sure no one was close in sight, her voice falling into a slow whisper.

"I'm not deaf nor dumb! I know what I heard and the way you went white? Tsk!.... How do you know Ethan Reeds!?!"

Talia couldn't even speak, she just knew her system had changed. Her body was far from comfortable. Bianca tightened her grip on her wrist. Her glare intensifying.

"you heard him Bianca. He doesn't know me. I don't.... I don't know him"

"Lia.... Lia" she chuckled clicking her tongue ".... He fucking shortened your name you sl*t!!! You went missing just when we got here. Is that when you ran into him!? When you tried to seduce him?! Do you have no shame? You're married! "

Talia's head throbbed with pain. She just wanted to get out of here.

"Bianca -"

Nora walked over to them just in time. She too had her questions as her eyes travelled from Talia to the black suited man across the room on his phone.

"save your drama for when we get home. The walls have ears" she warned her younger sister and walked away.

Obviously she wasn't going to stop her from picking on Talia... It was to save it for the house! Tsk!

Bianca fumed and walked away. Talia shut her eyes... Her back finding support on the wall.

He really was the man from the pool. She nearly killed him. He was ETHAN!

Talia walked back to Julian side, but her body suddenly felt ill. She wanted to go home. Sadly, she wasn't in that kind of loving marriage where she just states what she wants and boom! It gets done.

Julian greeted more people, and mingled along. The night had become even longer and Talia was even more scared of walking around alone now. She didn't want to run into him. She avoided looking at the table where they sat.

Ethan on his part had his legs tapping hard against the floor beneath the table. Whilst the parents that came to greet his grandfather stepped forward, they had female children who didn't hesitate to throw advances at him, but his mind was somewhere else.

Subconsciously, his mind and eyes travelled to Talia who was meters across the room.

He couldn't believe she was actually standing there... married to someone else. She actually left him for money! She broke up with him just to get married to....that!

His mind quickly comparing Julian's features with himself. He was better in every way. He couldn't believe her... But the feelings on his inside was more unbelieveable.

He couldnt tell if he was mad or sad. A part of him wanted to stand up and march across the room, grab her hand and pull her out, bombarding her with all his questions! A part also wanted to feel her warmth in a hug....

The more he was lost staring at her, the more his rage grew. He suddenly stood and walked away.

Aria noticed him walk away and followed immediately after.

"Ethan" her cool voice ran after him.

He stopped for a moment and turned to her.

"aria. The name's aria."

"well you do know mine already"

Aria chuckled, "who wouldn't"

"I really hope you're enjoying the party....."

"oh yes... Of course.... I really -"

"that's good to know then. If you'd excuse me" Ethan walked away without giving her a minute to grasp what just happened.

He kept walking till he found himself in his room. He collapsed onto his couch. His hands quickly undoing another button from his shirt.

She was here again!

She was really before him again.

He knew keeping the thought of her away whilst in Deventon was going to be an impossible job. This whole city screamed her name but now seeing her....?

A knock interrupted his thoughts. She didn't even wait for him to respond before stepping in.

"leaving a party you were late to midway?.... Grandpa's not going to be happy" his sister - Sonia walked in.

Ethan shut his eyes. No words in response.

"who's she?"

Ethan didn't respond still.

Sonia emptied her glass of wine into the pits of her stomach. She gently placed the glass on the little glass center table in the room. She joined him on the couch.

"lemme guess...? The reason you left Deventon five years ago?"

"I left Deventon because grandpa got sick" his eyes finally snapped open.

Sonia smirked.... "but she's the reason why you never went back to Deventon, no?"

Ethan swallowed, his eyes up at the ceiling.

"you sounded like Deventon had become your home few months before grandpa's hospital stay and finally when you returned, you looked dead. You had Steve go get your stuffs back. Its like this city had been blessed with a plague or something and now I see her.... She's a very beautiful plague"

"you talk too much"

"....well since I'm not too far from the truth. Maybe I deserved to know what happened and what's wrong?"

Ethan scoffed.

_what happened?!!!! What happened was she ditched him for someone wealthier! She wasn't different as he thought!_

He still remembered that day vividly well. How she left him standing on the streets.... Watching her walk and walk and farther away with everyone staring at him pitifully.

He watched her disappear, leaving him wondering maybe she wasn't it.

Maybe she wasnt the one for him from the beginning... Now he thinks about it. She got him really good. She played her cards right and dumped him when she was done. Yes....Funny enough...he'd scoff at her presence. She irked him off so bad he couldn't stand her. Yes! He remembered vividly.......

#_#FLASHBACK FIVE YEARS AGO#_#

She'd appeared next in line. Her head down as usual, her eyes fixated on what was on his counter. Even if Ethan couldn't recognise anything....he had spotted that black headphone that always sat on her neck. Her lips pursed in.

"iced caramel macchiato and fries?" he asked.

The shocked look on her face sent him scoffing unintendedly. She never made a different pick. He couldn't understand why she always hesitated every single time before making her order.

He knew this customer too well. Her order was never for the go. She stayed behind, at the rearend, leaning almost into the wall. Her headphones blocking her ears... Her sketchbook in hand.

"Here", Ethan placed it softly with a smile. She smiled awkwardly and left to her usual position.

It had only been two months ago when Ethan started working in this beautiful cafe. He'd just miraclously survived an accident that cost him his legs. For a year and half, he was confined to a wheelchair and four months ago, he was finally discharged, healed and able to walk with his legs again.

Every single day he spent in the hospital and at rehab had only made him see the reality before him. If his life had ended there....that would have been it. He'd have been someone who was on earth but never experienced any real fun.

For a family like Ethan's..... Fun meant art exhibitions, sophisticated parties with slow music....networking events where one had to be cautious of how much you drink and how well you eat.

It was enough he'd missed out on all the fun of childhood.... The parks... The merry-go-round... The arcades... One with lots of friends... Not forced friendships from parents that'd wished to remain partners.

He would go back to his life of being locked behind the office doors, signing documents and approving projects but for a year.........

That was his term to his parents.

A year....

To appreciate life and experience life. A life that isn't on the fast pedal and carefully structured. One opened to mistakes and impulsive decisions and actions. And that's what he went for. But in a huge town like Paisley where he grew up and was known? Such a life would only remain a dream.

Deventon!

His grandfather had mentioned this beautiful city as the city he'd grown up in and started their massive company and that was exactly his next stop.... Deventon!

But after two months of sitting idly and 'enjoying life'.... He had a crazy idea.

To live like a commoner!

He wanted to know what it was like to be under someone! To report to someone who isn't his father by the way...

He didn't go for anything grandiose... Like a firm or secretary... Or intern or whatever... He simply applied at a cafe....but being Ethan Reeds is actually harder than you'd imagine. Ethan was not just grinding coffee beans and service snacks, he was crushing the hearts of so many girls and gays.

With a face like his and a spot in the city like that... It was only right it'd be filled with those coming solely to see him. His line remained the longest even though there were other workers, yet they'd prefer to be attended to by him no matter how long it'd take. He even had regulars now.....

Speaking of regulars.....

One was beautifully seated at the dark end.

"here" he handed the lady before him her coffee, her hands quickly brushed his. She smiled shyly like it was a mistake. Ethan politely returned the smile whilst hoping she'd just go away.

"You're really good at what you do" she said.

Calm and soothing, almost airy.... That's how she sounded but Ethan could swear on the cafe's profit, that's not how she talks.

"thank you", he quickly turned around in a bid to dismiss her since she was the last on the line.

The moment she retreated, he turned to his little audience again.... His eyes darting from one table to another. Smiling at the flirtatious gestures of the females he met their faces..... till it landed on her again.

She was slowly chewing on her fries.

She looked....... Beautiful actually.

He'd seen so many ladies. Many trying so hard to get into his bed. He could swear every lady was trying to do that, but this one had him staring whenever her face popped in his view.

To him, she wasn't any different... She was always in his line...trying to get her order from him. She was like the rest but playing her cards insanely good whilst looking so innocent. It irked him....it pissed him off even badly that it was working!

She was making her mark in his head and mind no matter how hard he fought it. He already knew her order by heart. That must be her first step! She started coming here a month ago.

She came thrice a week at exactly 11am and stayed till 5pm. He knew that now. She never made advances at him. She never held his gaze. She never drooled like the rest.

She was playing a mind game with him. Trying to make herself unforgettable to him without saying a friggin' word.

The crash beside him tore his gaze from her. His coworker had dropped something.

"sorry"... He muttered to everyone in apology but she wasn't even looking either. Her eyes were locked in her book. Her headphones blocking every noise.

Ethan carried on with his days work but at exactly 3:30pm...she dashed out.

Unlike her.

She never left till it was 5. His eyes lingered on the door she'd disappeared through. He found himself wondering what might have been the problem. She never left in a hurry. She'd always leave quietly without saying a word to anyone... But as the day progressed and they were ready to close...he found her sketch book.

She'd left it in a hurry.

_So cliché_

He scoffed and picked it up!

For something she'd been always engrossed in...she seemed eager to leave it behind. Definitely wanting him to find it.

"girls", he scoffed.

He opened the first page, his eyes couldn't believe it.

It was spectacular...

It was..... It wasn't just art. He couldn't describe what he stared at. It was a lady. She'd sketched a lady's face and he could see her. She felt alive with every line that connected.

He shouldn't have but he did... He flipped the next page... And the next... And even the next.... She was really good.... The more he flipped the more wowed he was, until he flipped the next.

It was him.

It was his sketch!

She'd sketched him!.

"wow.....!" Ethan laughed aloud, gaining the attention of his coworker.

He wasn't wrong after all. She was into him like the others but what he held in his hands.... was simply beautiful.

A grin blessed his lips, he walked away with her sketch book, placing it carefully into his bag and carrying on with work...

At their closing time... 6:30pm, he'd gone into the back to wash his hands and grab his stuff when he heard a female's voice in front speaking with his colleague.

"no... Didnt see anything...sorry"

The young lady was still trying to explain when he stepped out. She was standing there looking sad.

_she's so hood at acting_...... Ethan voiced in his head.

"a sketchbook?" his voice cut their conversation. She turned to him, locking his gaze for the first time.

"yes please...i think I left it here?" her eyes pleaded with him. He'd chuckled awkwardly, ready to tease her. She'd worked tirelessly to gain his attention, now he was going to give it to her.

"what do I get in return if I do have your sketchbook?" a boyish grin tugged at his lips.

The lady before him gulped.

"what.... what do you mean?" she asked.

"well....." he took the book out from his back...she exhaled, her face relaxing immediately as she launched forward but he raised his hand higher, she missed grabbing it.

"Hey.. Slow down" he grinned and she bit her lips... "let's step out... As you can see it's a working environment" he winked and walked away.

She couldn't leave her book behind, it meant a lot to her so she trailed after him, two meters behind. Right outside and a few distance away from the cafe, Ethan turned back to her.

"should I say.... congrats?"

"excuse me?"

"you finally got my attention. You really worked so hard and here I am. Your prize."

Talia was visibly taken aback. The confusion boldly plastered on her face.

Ethan leaned forward with a smirk, "coming at a specific time, leaving at a specific time, ordering just the same thing everytime..."

Talia gripped at her hoodie's hem, she took a step backward, "I don't understand a thing you're saying... You have it all wrong-"

What's in for me?" he cut her off, leaning away from her.

"what do you mean?"

"what do I get for accepting your advances"

"I did not make advances at you!" her eyes bulged at his accusations, but Ethan's resolve was final - she was crazy about him.

"now you put it like that.... I'm so sure you did" he sighed... "well...for now, I'd take maybe your name and my picture? I see you took a really good sketch."

She gasped. "you shouldn't go through someone's stuff!"

"I had to know what it was..." he defended. "so...... What's it going to be???"

She stared at him...her lips sealed tightly. Her eyes staring into his crystal eyes that intertwined with the neon bright lights from the billboard across.

She heard his scoff.

Ethan exhaled, "i guess I'll be going with this". He turned and began walking away.

Her boots tapped against the paved sidewalk, her teeth biting hard on her lips, she sighed defeatedly. She couldn't give up her sketches. Her legs moved.

She ran after him, her slender fingers drawing his polo to halt him. Ethan smirked victoriously and turned to her. Her lips parted...her voice reached his ears, "Talia. My name is Talia."

_

"well???" Sonia shook him.

"Quit disturbing me" he exhaled and shut his eyes.

She huffed, a scoff escaping her throat... "Fine! I find out for myself!"