I could feel the sun burning my skin, though it was hard to tell if it was the heat or just my embarrassment flaring up. I hadn’t gone out with anyone in a long time, and now here I was, walking alongside him. Joseph. It almost felt too perfect, like a dream. Well, perfect except for one glaring thing.

"Joseph," I started, forcing a smile that barely concealed my irritation. "Why is your butler coming with us?" I couldn’t help but shoot a sideways glance at the tall man dressed impeccably in black, walking just a few steps behind us. I mean, sure, he’s a butler, and butlers are always around, but… this is supposed to be a date. Where’s the privacy?

Joseph chuckled, the sound light and carefree as if he didn’t notice my growing annoyance. "Elysia, Sebastian isn’t just a butler. He’s also my bodyguard. He used to be in the special forces of our country."

I blinked, not quite processing what he said. "Excuse me?" I shot another look at Sebastian, who met my gaze with a calm, unreadable expression. A soldier? The man who was holding an umbrella over us just moments ago, a war-trained soldier?

Joseph laughed again, clearly amused by my confusion. "I don’t know what you’re thinking, but..." He reached out and brushed my hair back, his touch gentle yet full of pride. "Sebastian isn’t just any butler. He’s the best. He can cook, protect, and… basically do everything."

I couldn’t help but stare at Joseph, who seemed completely unfazed by the situation. Here I was, expecting a normal date—just the two of us, maybe some awkward conversation over coffee—and instead, I got a special forces-trained multitasking butler as a third wheel. Fantastic.

Still, there was something about the way Joseph smiled, the way he proudly spoke about Sebastian, that made my irritation fade just a little. I mean, how could I stay mad? This whole thing was absurd. But maybe that was just part of the charm.

"Well, if he's as amazing as you say," I sighed, surrendering to the situation, "I guess I'll just have to get used to it."

Joseph grinned, leaning closer to whisper, "Don't worry. I'll make sure you still get my full attention."

Ok… ok... I thought to myself, trying to shift gears. Then, suddenly, I got a brilliant idea.

"You know what, let's just sit and… " I paused, putting my hand to my head in an exaggerated motion, like a damsel fainting in some old movie. "I remember now," I said with a sly smile. "There's a good ice cream store near the corner of this park. I'll go grab us some."

I watched his expression carefully, hoping he'd fall for it. Please buy it...

Joseph's response came without hesitation. "Don't worry. I can have Sebastian get the ice cream. Which flavor do you like?"

Yes! I mentally cheered. He didn’t even question how I knew about the store. "Vanilla is fine," I replied, smiling brightly.

"Sebastian, get us some ice cream. There’s supposed to be a shop near the corner of this park," Joseph said, handing his butler a sleek black credit card like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"And buy yourself something nice, Sebastian," he added with a wide grin, his teeth practically sparkling.

"Yes, Mr. Joseph," Sebastian replied calmly, nodding as if this was an everyday occurrence. I blinked, still trying to wrap my head around how casual he was about it all.

I couldn’t help but wonder if all stores accepted credit cards, but that was beside the point. The plan worked. Finally, I had Joseph all to myself and since the store actually does not exist, it will take a while before Sebastian comes back.

Joseph is such a gentleman—kind, caring, though a little strange with his constant praise for Sebastian. Really proud of that butler, I mused. But whatever, minor details. Now, here we were, sitting together, just the two of us. The moment I had been waiting for.

But... how do I start a conversation? My mind drew a blank. I waited for him to say something, hoping the gentleman would break the ice. But he didn’t speak. He just kept looking into my eyes, those deep, lingering stares that made my heart race. What is he thinking?

Before I could figure it out, he reached out and gently lifted my chin. His hand was smooth, soft, like it had been washed in the most luxurious soaps. I couldn’t help but wonder, Is that what premium soap feels like? And his hair—it looks so perfect, like one of those models in the magazines. What kind of shampoo does he use?

Wait... Focus, Elysia.

He was leaning closer. What? My breath caught in my throat. This couldn’t be happening. He wouldn’t actually... would he? I could feel my face heating up, my blush giving away my nerves. He’s just teasing, right? He’s probably going to stop, laugh, and say it was all a joke. Yeah, that must be it. A gentleman like him wouldn’t...

But he didn’t stop. He kept leaning closer, and my heart pounded in my chest.

No way!

Instinctively, I pushed my hand against his chest, stopping him. "No!" I blurted out, my voice shaky.

I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, my heart racing, as I stammered, "Ahh, ahh... sorry!" Without another thought, I bolted, running away from the situation as fast as my legs could carry me.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The world around me blurred. My mind was consumed by one thing: He almost kissed me. His face was so close, his breath—not even a hint of bad smell. The way his lips were just inches from mine... Ahh! I could feel my face burning even more, and I picked up my pace. I was barely paying attention to where I was running, bumping into people along the park's path.

What am I doing? I thought, trying to shake the memory from my head. Just breathe, Elysia...

Suddenly—bam! I collided hard with someone, sending both of us tumbling to the ground. The impact sent a jolt through my body, and I groaned, "Ouch, ouch..." I rubbed my sore hips, blinking away the embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry... It’s my fault!" I turned to face the unfortunate victim of my reckless sprint.

And then I froze.

"Y-you..." I pointed, eyes wide in disbelief. "You're the new neighbor!"

The man—sat there, staring at me with a mix of confusion and irritation. Of course, he had every right to be angry; I had just knocked him over in broad daylight. But why did it have to be him of all people? What are the odds?!

"I’m your neighbor from the other day," I mumbled, feeling my face flush as the memory of our awkward encounter flooded back. Fantastic—yet another embarrassing moment to add to the list.

I fidgeted for a second, then decided I should at least try to fix things. Scrambling to my feet, I stretched out my hand toward him, hoping it would help smooth things over. "I didn’t properly introduce myself last time. I’m Elysia."

He paused, his gaze flicking down to my hand before, with a brief hesitation, finally shaking it. His grip was cool and steady, his voice flat and almost mechanical as he said, "Azazel. Nice to meet you."

The way he said it, like it was rehearsed or obligatory, made my nerves tingle. But I tried to smile through it, even though my mind was racing.

His expressionless face made it impossible to gauge his mood, but at least he wasn’t angry or yelling at me for tackling him. The awkward silence hung between us for a moment.

"I can't stay any longer. I have to go," he said abruptly, turning to leave.

As he walked away, I muttered under my breath, "I guess I’ll just head home then..." But before I could even take a step, a familiar voice called out, one I knew too well—Joseph.

“Elysia, wait!! Sebastian, stop her!” he shouted, his voice carrying urgency as he approached with unsettling speed.

My heart leaped, and instinctively, I turned to run. But before I could get far, Sebastian—his ever-loyal, ever-creepy butler—emerged from a bush like he’d been waiting there the entire time. Seriously? Does this guy do everything? In mere seconds, he had caught up to me, his strong arms wrapping around me like I was some sort of runaway criminal.

“Let me go!” I hissed under my breath as people started to stare, my face flushing in humiliation. Of course, this is happening in front of a crowd.

“Sebastian, take her to the car,” Joseph commanded with an authority that only added fuel to my frustration.

Before I could react, Sebastian covered my mouth with a piece of wool—wool! Who even carries that around? With people looking on in bewilderment, I could only think, Does no one find this strange? But then, Sebastian pulled out a badge from his pocket, flashing it confidently.

“Citizens, do not worry. I am actually with the police,” he announced and revealing a badge. The crowd seemed to relax, nodding in understanding as I was forcibly dragged to Joseph’s sleek car. Was that badge even real?

As soon as we entered the car, Sebastian removed the wool from my mouth. Fury rose in my chest.

“What the hell was that?!” I snapped, my voice shaking with anger.

Joseph leaned back in the seat, exhaling calmly. “Elysia, calm down. Why did you run away? And more importantly—why did you reject my kiss?”

Was he serious? My heart pounded, my mind whirling. Does he not realize how out of line this is? “It’s our first date, and you wanted to—” I paused, trying to keep my composure. “You wanted to hook up? Maria told me you were a gentleman, not some kind of—"

“A hooker?” He laughed lightly, shaking his head. “Elysia, I’m serious. I see you and I see a woman with strength, leadership, and independence.”

I blinked in disbelief. He was talking like he knew me, like we had some deep connection. We’d just met this morning, for crying out loud!

“If I tried to kiss you, it’s because I thought we had something special—a connection. I thought you felt the same way, that we were a match. I can give you anything you want, Elysia.” shaking his black card in his right hand.

I stared at him, my heart caught between confusion and irritation. “I’m not interested in your money, Joseph.”

“I know that.” His tone softened, and he leaned closer, but this time, his eyes were gentle, earnest. “That’s why I’m drawn to you. I see it in your eyes, your face—you don’t care about that. I want to be with someone like you.”

I hesitated, unsure of what to say. The whirlwind of emotions from the day—the surprise, the embarrassment, the sudden intimacy—it was all too much. “I… I do want something too,” I admitted quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “But you’re moving way too fast. I just met you, and to be honest, I haven’t been on many dates before. I want to feel comfortable, to take things slow. You know?”

Joseph’s expression softened even further, his gaze meeting mine with a tenderness that made my heart stutter. “Sure,” he said, nodding gently. “We’ll go at your pace, Elysia. I didn’t mean to rush things.”

The tension in the car lifted, but my mind still raced. What did this all mean? I was relieved for the moment, but a knot of uncertainty stayed with me. This whirlwind romance, this strange pull between us—it was all too fast, too intense. What would come next?

I swallowed hard and took a deep breath, my voice steady but soft. “Can you drop me off at home? I don’t want to continue for today.”

He hesitated for a moment, searching my face, but then gave a small, understanding smile. “Sure. Sebastian, drive, please. Her address is on the monitor. You’ll find it with the GPS.”

Sebastian nodded, and Joseph slid from his seat to join me in the back. That was when I knew he’d try to force more conversation, more of that awkward connection we were building. I could feel his efforts, his genuine attempts, but right now, I wasn’t ready.

I stared out the window, watching the trees blur by. The park was so peaceful, so calm. A perfect contrast to the storm swirling inside me. Then, impulsively, the words slipped from my lips before I could stop them.

“You know what? Don’t worry about it. I think I’ll stay in the park for a while. I need to be alone... I’ll make my way back home.”

Joseph blinked, clearly surprised. “You... want to stay here?” His eyes narrowed, concern flashing across his face. “I can’t just leave you alone. There are stalkers out there, Elysia.”

I waved my hand dismissively, a small laugh escaping despite the tightness in my chest. “No, really, I’ll be fine.”

He reached out, his hand brushing mine, and a jolt of something—fear? anticipation?—shot through me. But I quickly pulled my hand away, breaking the contact. “I’ll be fine,” I repeated, firmer this time.

Before he could say another word, I opened the car door and stepped out into the cool air. As I walked towards the park, I could feel Joseph’s gaze on me, but I didn’t look back. This time, I needed space. Time to think. To breathe.

And as I reentered the park, I realized how much I longed for that calm—away from the whirlwind of emotions, the strange but alluring man, and the butler who seemed capable of anything. For now, I just wanted to be me. Alone, at peace... at least for a little while.