REBECCA CARLSON wasn't your ordinary twenty-seven year old woman, nor was she extraordinary, but she was unique in her own way. The girl was born and breed in Brooklyn was the daughter of Brooklyn's finest travel agent, Olivia Carlson and architect James Carlson, she could have everything she desires the most but during her teenage years, she was unlikely to be, bratty about being rich. Down-to-earth and high determination in everything she does, leads her being the top student in her school since the age of four.

People thought Rebecca would be filling her mom & dad's footsteps, she always dazzle people around with the things she does.

March 15, was the date on one of the most important meetings M&A Coorp's could held, and Rebecca was one of the employees that was lucky enough to witness it with her own hazel eyes. Yes, sitting in the large meeting room filled with intimidating people, the owner of the company itself, Marcarius and Anthony, the gay couple who built the company since 1990. That company has faced it's sour and bitter,the ups and the downs but at the moment, it was at the highest peak of it's game.

The brunette was sitting beside her boss, the bald-headed man with creepy green eyes and pedophilic smile, Mr Connor. She has been working with the devil since her days there, and being the devil himself, he had crushed Becca's dream to be a wonderful businesswoman by taking every ounce of energy she contributed to the company, handing her all of his works, taking away her credits and ideas, in other words, taking her for granted.

Now being the intern she is, she was patience enough with the devilish work of her boss. Sure, she works non-stop but the fatigueness of it was worthwhile. Her payments were fat enough to be kept for two months, who was she to complain? She had enough money to buy piles of food for her and her apartment buddy, Cassandra Bullock or known as Casie, and pay the rent three months in extend (with the share of Casie's money of course). Physically and emotionally, she was drained and tired, but financially, she was living the life. Surviving New York wasn't easy in today's economic range.

The meeting room was then filled with another fake laughter coming from these men from the same joke that was being passed around for three years and you guessed it right, it came from the one and only, Mr Connor.

Becca rolled her eyes watching the man made a fool out of himself with his crappy jokes but she knew they weren't laughing at his jokes, they were laughing at him.  His tendency to rub his bald head whenever he laughs even though he knew not even a single strand of hair was presence similarly to the absence of oxygen in space.

That was the laughing stock in the room.

 "Disgusting" she muttered under her breath.

This way always the routine, one of the couple introduce themselves to the clients, pointing out the aim of the meeting, two or three of the head executives delivering ideas in the form of presentation and at the very moment, Mr Connor, pulling out his old dusty charm; cracking up unwanted jokes, complimenting the clients before beginning spitting his shitty ideas.

Today's meeting marked as Operation Success or so it was called because managing to get a great agreement from this round, M&A Coorp's will be having a feast tonight as the project is worth 100 million dollars, one of the biggest projects Becca will witness in this company.

"....I swear I didn't know anything and "click" I just got this crazy idea the other day.. And it was..." he continued, winking towards Becca. Oh no he didn't.

"WHAT?!" Becca shrieked, widening her eyes with her hands balling into a fist.

Silence.

the room was slowly turning into a pit of deafening silence, even Mr Connor had stopped his stupid speech for it.

All confusing eyes were all on Becca, who's now gritting her teeth with heavy and fast breaths exhaling and inhaling from her nostrils. She put her left foot forward, and right, and her pace quicken, aiming towards her prey, the bald-headed man.

Realising what was happening, Mr Connor put a few steps back, gasping in terror with his hands  behind him, touching the glass wall, searching for something to protect him from the Becca the beast, as if they were any.

She threw a cold-latte that was right in front of her from the table, and splashed it onto her boss' suit, but little did she know,

it was still hot.

"Why you little bit!-" he yelled but then he was caught with another splash, this time, at his expensive Jimmy Choo's shoes.

"You listen here yer old stinky man" she hissed, pointing her index finger towards him, "for three years my life has been rotten in hell all because of you. You give away MY ideas, you took MY youth by making it filled with all your works, you lazy arse. But I had put my patience with you because I thought, I literally fucking thought, that you.. you would change..

You promised me an hour ago, you would dedicated this to me and give me some of credits for my hard work, a thank you would be suffice, Mr Connor. a fucking thank you!  You know what you are yer piece of shit? You're nothing but a lazy, selfish, arrogant, no balls bald-headed fucker." hissing out the words as if it was poison before turning her heels away from Mr Connor and taking out a CD from her bag, inserting it to the computer which immediately connects to the big screen.

She crawled up a satisfaction grin, this was worth it.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Carlson but what the hell are you doing?" Anthony asked who was silently watching the hectic moment, with his own green eyes.

"What I'm showing you right now, is what I had gathered around for three years, and I want you, all of you, in fact, know behind this kiss-arse facade Mr Connor had given you." she smiled in triumph, clicking the "start" button on the remote and slowly walking out of the room.

Mr Connor who was in the corner (pun intended) now realised what was happening, immediately pushed the stop button on the remote, but the clip didn't stop nor pause and rather, continued.

Terror was on the man's face and it suited him. He placed a deathly gaze to Becca who was now standing in front of the door, holding her files, "What did you do?"

"Something that I should have done long before." she said with a smile.

"Come back here you little minx!" he yelled, and all eyes were on Becca, again. She gave all of them an apologetic smile, explaining how this was the time to reveal the monster  Mr Connor was and the personality he potrays all along. H Hey eyes met the angry gaze of her now ex-boss, and it resulted her flipping the bird with her two hands and shouted profanities in different languages,before storming out of the room, heading towards her cubicle and gathered up her items into a box which she had prepared days ago.

For half an hour, she's been walking around, not knowing what to do. The apartment was not a choice since she rather be outside than sitting alone inside of the empty apartment. Pausing her pace, she pulled up a few inches of her sleeve, checking out the time.

3.15 p.m.

"Fucking great" she muttered.

The walk to her favourite haunt was ten minutes away from her immediate stop. Both of her arms were aching, as the minute goes by, the box became heavier and heavier. She stretched out one knee, placed the box down, before grabbing it with steady firm, blocking few of her views from her eyes.

Omph!

Soon, she realised the box was no longer in her hands, and everything seems to be splattered everywhere on the ground. "god im sorry"  continuing her apologies as she kneeled down, reaching out for the unwanted items before the passers could have the chance placing their feet onto it without no realisation and mercy.

She was just about to grab her favourite book when she felt a hand placed on top of hers by accident, where clearly the stranger with the rough palms was reaching out for it too. As soon as she looked up, her hazel eyes met a deep blue ones, deep enough one viewing this close, mesmerized and drown by the color.

And so, there she was, mesmerized by the color and the world stop for a millisecond, giving her the time to swim into the ocean, enjoying the deep blue sea.

"Ehem" a new voice throated. Instantly, Becca was snapped back to reality.

"You could take a picture if you want. Pictures tend to last longer you know" he teased. Flustered, she grabbed the book with force and shoved in into the box, not wanting to look at the gorgeous eyes' face, because Ice Cream Rebecca wasn't ready to be melt, again.

"T-Thanks, you shouldn't have. I'm s-sorry for staring, it was rude of me." she stuttered, still looking down the pavement beneath her.

"Hey, it's okay. I didn't know you were reaching for it too." the male said huskily. Damn, she thought, a pair of gorgeous eyes and owns a hot voice, what else are in store? Temptingly wanting to continue her eargasm by letting the male speaks for hours, she did something she had to do, to save her life from the awkwardness that was about to form.

"Thanks again." she looked up, quickly entered the coffee shop that was near her.  Placing her foot into the room, she instantly turned left, searching for her favourite spot that she shared with Cassie every Sunday morning after their jogs.

Empty.

 "Perfect" she grinned, before walking towards it and placed the box beside her and instantly slipped into the red-cushioned. As soon as Becca was done placing her box next to her right, she gasped.

The same deep blue eyes were staring at her deeply and now, Becca felt her gaze falls from his gorgeous eyes to his tempting lips, his extravagant candy looking lips in the exact word, creating two curves by the edges, showing a bit of teeth.

"Before you could say anything, I was a bit lost here and yes, I'm new here. No, I did not followed you because I was just entering this shop before we bumped to each other, and this is my first time setting foot in here so I thought, why don't I sit with you? Since, we knew each other, not that we knew for long but we just. Okay, i'm gonna stop now" giving out a shaky breath and gorgeous colgate smile. But then he realised, the beautiful lady infront of him was zoned out.

To be honest, all Becca heard was an angel singing, realised she was having another eargasm. She was looking at the stranger's face, and for a stranger, he sure is hot, she thought. Strong nose, killer jawline that could cut a thick meat, bushy eyebrows, brown-haired, this guy could be a model, she thought again. He wasn't that built but he wasn't that bony either, he was perfect.

Becca then snapped back to reality, again, when she felt something poking her cheeks. She realised that something was the hot stranger's finger, and his face was THIS close to hers. She tilted her head backwards, avoiding the space intruding. Fixing her posture, and clearing her throat, she put her cool sitting, giving out her best poker face she could have. "I'm sorry what did you say?" she asked in cool tone. Nice, she thought. It came out perfectly what she had in mind.

"Do you want me to sit here or not? I'm new here and I-" he was stopped by a sudden figure coming out of no where, standing beside them.

"Hi Becca!" Gwen, a local employee, said enthusiastically. Way more enthusiastic than she normally do but oh right, there was a hunk infront of them.

"What can I do for you? Do you want your regular?" she asked again, peeking the hot hunk a few times. When the hot hunk realised it, he gave her a warm smile and then, as expected, Gwen flustered. Her cheeks went red as a tomato.

"Sure, and uh-" she stopped, averting her gaze from Gwen to the hot hunk, she smiled. "Maybe he could be a good company for awhile. I have time to kill, and sitting alone drive me coo-coo." she thought.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"He would have the same as I do, Gwen. But oh, do you like strong coffee?" she asked the hunky who was watching her intently. "I adore it" he said, giving out a grin towards both of the ladies.

Becca nodded to the answer. "And Gwen, both of us would want try the famous cheesecake. Thank you" she finished, realising the hot hunk was returning her smile with eyes widen. Gwen nodded and hurriedly went back to the counter, giving the order to the chef and continued serving up customers.

"So, it's a yes?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Let's just say, this is my way to thank you your favor helping me and I want some company" she smiled, folding her arms onto the table, leaning to him closer.

"A pleasure of mine." he said, mimicking Becca, and the distance wasn't close enough as earlier but Becca could survive.

"What's your story then, Becca?" he continued.

"Becca?"

"Yeah, Becca? That is what the blonde refers you to. Unless you want me to call you, Box Girl and chicken feet because you were carrying a box and.." he teased, trailing his eyes downwards while showing off his teeth, again.

"Oh yeah right but no, me carrying a box or having bare feet is none of your business. Plus, I don't know your name... blue eye" she teased back.

"Adam, the name is Adam”

“So, tell me, what's your story with the box?" he leaned closer, prying over the box and immediately Becca cover it with her two little hands.

"What makes you think I wanna share it with you?" she cocked an eyebrow.

"Well, you did say you wanted some company and your shoulders seem stiffened." he smiled, tapping her shoulders with his finger.

Damn, he was good, she thought.

"Maybe I wanted some company in drinking coffees." she replied, tapping off Adam’s finger.

"Touche" he laughed. "Okay, you got me" he placed out two hands in the air, faking a surrender. Becca let out a laugh, this guy was good.

"If you play your cards right, maybe I would tell you," she smirked after a moment.

There were no replies from Adam at first and she thought that she was exaggerating, maybe Adam just wanted to tease..

"Let the game, begins" he smiled evilly, getting a shocking gasping and wide smile from Becca.

When their foods and beverages came, the both of them continued their silence, but it wasn't an awkward silence, rather, a warm comfortable one, as if both of the strangers knew each other for a long time.

After a few bites of the cheesecake and a short glance at the watch, Becca broke the silence.

"So what's your surname?" she asked.

Adam looked up, surprisingly. "Hall"

"Well, you surprisingly looked familiar to me" she said, tapping her chin.

Sweats were beginning to form, tickling down his temple down his cheeks. His shoulders stiffened, and the words coming out from Becca's mouth was surprisingly shocking.

"Is it me or is it just hot in here?" he asked, immediately changing the topic, fanning himself with his shirt.

"Chill geezzuss” She laughed. “I was joking by the way. If i have seen your face, I would remember. I didn’t lose to Brittany-know-it-all during the 9th grade spelling bee for nothing" .

"Yeah, i would love to believe that too" he paused "I mean, who would forget this" gesturing his free hand from his face and downwards, resulting some few steamy eyes at the back.

Ignoring the glarings, Becca continued..

"What's your story then, Adam? You told me you're new here,yeah?" she asked in between enjoying her cheesecake.

"I asked you that first, and to be fair, I think you should tell me your story" grinning heavily as he mutters the word of a winner.

Clearing her throat.. "Well, okay then" she nodded.

"Wait, really?" he asked in amazement.

"Yeah, really. Since, you already finished with your cheesecake and I already finished with mine, so why.. don't we  start now?" she grinned before giving a good glance to her watch.

"The place doesn't close for another hour, so.."

"Well, if you insist". He knew she was right, the place closed at 5.30 in the evening. The brunette in front of her took another sip of her coffee and with wide eyes, leaning closer to Adam, she started.

From the beginning.

Where she was born, to her school, her senior year, her parents, her college years, her internship, her apartment, Casie and the recent one, her job.

"...So he yelled, "come back here you little minx!" I felt like i was on some gangsta shit when i gave him the bird and I swear the japs looked at me like their eyes were about to jump out of their sockets" she laughed.

she continued talking about her ex-boss, how she would always snook in some videotape her ex-boss mischievous manners, how he talks trash about the gay couple, his clients and whatnot, because she knew he didn't deserve this job and that the company didn't deserve to have such cruel employee.

As soon as Becca finished her story, she could tell both of them enjoyed their time together cus as soon as she looked up, they were the only two left. Adam had already paid, even though Becca insisted to share equally, but in the end, she lets the boy to win that one out. 

"Oh my god, it's 5.45 p.m. I wonder why we haven't been kick out yet" Becca said in amazement.

"Actually, I tried kicking out both of you but you were so into the conversation and the boss thought, because you were our normal customer, we let you off the hook. But we're closing in ten minutes." a new voice was heard and it was Gwen, scratching the side of her head with the end of a blue pen she was holding.

"Oh! I’m so sorry Gwen!” taken by Gwen’s presence in surprise.

“We didn't realised" Becca shoot her with an apologetic smile, hurriedly pack her things.

"It's okay, you didn't do anything really. But the shop is going to close. I'm afraid you guys have to go now" 

"Sure, we'll be out in a minute" Adam replied before giving her a thank you, seeing the lady in front of him was zoned out in her own world.

“Bye! See you when I see you” Gwen waved. The pair waved her back, but deep inside Becca knew that bidding was for the jock. As soon as Gwen closed the door, the kind hearted Adam placed the box that he was willingly to carry, aside.

“Ahhh the air is sooo refreshing isn’t?” she said, stretching her arms out into the air. Adam smiled and scoffed. “You call this refreshing?”

“Hey, don’t mock Manhattan’s air. It’s nic-“ her argument was interrupted by a loud noise from a humongous truck, puffing out hazardous smoke and simultaneously flew into her lungs, resulting her to cough.

“You were saying?” he smirked and ended up both of them laughing.

Their eyes met, yet again and somehow she can't escape herself drowning into the blue sea.

"So.. I didn't get to know your story" .

Adam locked the eye-contact, he really had fun today and he wanted more of it.

"Well, you could have it on another day" he winked playfully.

Shocked to his reply, her jaw dropped. "Adam, are you a-asking me out?" she stuttered. Theres wasn't a line from Becca that didn't make him laugh and this was of course one of them.

"Oh Becca. I think you would see me in the future, thats what I'm saying. And I don't share about my life to  just a stranger." Patting her head.

"What? Hey no! I spend an hour talking about my life. If we're speaking of stranger, it's you here buddy." she replied, giving him a playful elbow at the stomach.

"Touche" he grinned.  "But I do think we'll meet again, don't you think?"

"Hmm, why don't we give out our number to each other like normal people in this urban era do, so rather than thinking, we know we'll be meeting again. Unless you don't have a phone, then, I guess I have to smoke signal you or fly you a pigeon?" she chuckled.

"That's a good way to ask for my number, Becca. Didn't knew you'd be bold enough to do it" he grinned evilly.

Always something in store, Becca thought.

"After what I told you, and about today, you're still thinking little of me?" she raised an eyebrow.

"No, I don't" he smiled.

"So, where's your phone?" she asked, pacing out her hand.

"Bossy, aren't we?" he chuckled again, before pulling out his iPhone 6 from his pocket, unlocked it and placed it onto the soft hand.

"Still belittling me, aren't we?" she mocked, pushing off the buttons before giving it back to the owner.

"Where's your phone then?" he asked in curiosity.

"Don't need it, you already have my phone number so that should be suffice." she immediately replied.

"Being hard to get, yeah?" he teased before getting a smack on the shoulder.

"Ow!" rubbing his shoulder with his left hand.

"When you're ready to tell me your part of story, you call me, okay?" she smiled. Becca took out one hand in front of her, and soon, a red cab arrived.

Before she could grab the door, the same huge hand already had opened it, and once again, the physical interaction occurred, giving out a sense of dejavu and chills down the spine.

"T-thanks" putting down her box inside of the car. But before Adam could take out his words, he was caught by a warm embrace. Since he was a few inches taller than Becca originally is, minus the heels, her hands were rounding his waist while her head was beneath his chin. Nevertheless, he pulled her closer, tightening the embrace.

"Thank you for hearing my story, I needed it" she said, secretly sniffing the cologne hung by the owner's shirt. For a hunk, he does smell good. And the warmness of the embrace, she craved for it for a very long time.

"Anytime" stroking her hair.

When they finally let go, Becca sat inside the cab, as Adam closes the door. She rolled down her window, enough to see Adam's face and torso.

"Bye"

And at the same second, the cab accelerated forward. Becca took a glance of Adam one more time and he was still waving.

And in impulse, she rolled the window down enough so that it fitted her torso out.

Adam had taken it by surprise, but laughed nevertheless.

"Becca, get inside!" he yelled, making a curve at the edge of his mouth.

Cupping her two hands beside her lips, "Still belittling me aren't we? See you again, Adam. Your story!!" she yelled wholeheartedly and quickly sat back, glancing  towards Adam, who was getting smaller and smaller in each distance.

He was still waving, and so does she.

When he was out of sight, she adjusted her seat, placing a fist on her chest, closing her eyes as the smell of Adam's cologne still lingers on her clothes.

Where soon, she realised one thing.

Home, he felt like home.

And never have Becca ever imagined, a stranger like Adam, could make her feel this way.