Ahyan looked around he is amazed, he leaned back in his chair looking at Mahdia who is fidgeting with the pepper stand. He looked at her shaking fingers and then at her, why is she nervous? he decided to make her comfortable.

'So, you run this place single-handedly?' he said. She nodded her head.

'My Brother had started this café. I was fifteen then. I love baking so I started experimenting here.' Mahdia said.

Ahyan nodded his head, so she had been baking since fifteen, interesting.

'Where is your brother now?' he asked. He is interested in meeting her brother. Mahdia's smile faded and her expression turned into a sad one. Ahyan noticed this and he straightened in his seat.

'He is no more.' Mahdia said blinking back her tears. Ahyan felt terrible when he heard this.

'I am sorry, I didn't know.' He said. Mahdia wiped a tear from the back of her index finger and forced a smile. Every time she thinks about her brother, she gets emotional. She was closest to her brother and then her sister-in-law.

'Don't be. You didn't know.' She said.

Ahyan extended his hand and placed his palm over hers and Mahdia felt her heart skip a beat yet again, he smiled at her.

'Your brother will be very proud of you. You are doing an excellent job.' He assured her.

Mahdia leaned forward, a playful smile on her lips, 'How do you know?' she raised her left eyebrow.

Ahyan leaned back, he smiled back at her, 'Food last night was amazing.' He said. Mahdia blushed hearing a compliment from him.

The two then spoke random stuff till their order came. Ahyan being the silent type was quiet most of the time and Mahdia the one talking. Mahdia watched Ahyan carefully as he picked up his fork and took a bite of Clafoutis. He looked up at her and she quickly looked away fidgeting with her fork.

'How is it?' she asked unable to take his silence and over that his expressionless face while eating the Clafoutis.

'It is good.' He nodded his head

'Well have this, custard tart. I have made it.' she said forwarding him the tart, out of nervousness she nearly dropped it but thanks to Ahyan's quick reflex it was avoided.

'So-Sorry.' She said

'Relax, don't be tensed. I don't bite.' Ahyan said. Mahdia blinked for few seconds before getting what he said. She chuckled. Ahyan frowned, he just cracked a joke? He never cracks jokes.

Mahdia chewed the inside of her lower lip as he took a bite of her custard tart. Ahyan smiled feeling the delicacy melt in his mouth.

'Amazing. Even that Cla-Clafo...'

'Clafoutis.' Mahdia corrected him with a smile.

'Yeah, that. It was also good.' He complimented. Mahdi felt proud. As he had the food and coffee, Mahdia admired him. But her trance was broken when Ahyan pointed out that her phone has been continuously beeping.

'Huh! Oh.' Mahdia fished out her phone, an embarrassed look on her face. Ahyan smiled shaking his head.

Lydia: Hello, Madam. Have you forgotten you have a café to run?

There are at least five such messages from her. As Mahdia checked her phone Ahyan kept looking at her. For the first time, he is leisurely looking at her. His gaze paused on her tiny glistening nose stud, it not only gave her an exotic look but also made her look sexy.

Ahyan frowned shaking his head, why is he thinking like that about a girl he hardly knows.

'I need to go.' Mahdia stood up, Ahyan looked away from the handle of the coffee mug and at her. He nodded his head. Mahdia turned to leave but then turned around quickly.

'Hey, what happened to your deal?' she asked. As she was about to leave, she reminded that after last night's fiasco Ahyan might have lost his deal.

'The deal is still on. Nathan has been kicked out from his own company and the new CEO is interested.' Ahyan said placing his coffee mug back on the table. Mahdia nodded, she thought for a while and added, 'If you want I can make you meet some hoteliers, I know some, few. If it could be of any help.' She said.

Ahyan smiled at her standing up. He is done with his food and drink.

'Thank you.' he said gratefully. Mahdia blushed.

As she turned Ahyan called for a waiter, 'Bill please.'

'No, you don't have to. It's complimentary.' Mahdia said.

'Arey, It's okay. You had already given us a complimentary breakfast that day.' Ahyan reminded Mahdia. She recollected that day she had gotten him complimentary breakfast and messed up also by dropping juice over Ahyan. She felt embarrassed.

'Okay then.' Ahyan said placing his wallet back into his jeans pocket. Mahdia looked up at him. Now they are standing few steps away she noticed he is good 4 to 5 inches taller than her, perfect couple height difference. She blushed.

'See you again, some day.' He said

She nodded, 'Bye!'

'Bye.' Ahyan smiled at her. She watched him as he took his overcoat from behind the chair and wear it.

As he tied his muffler she asked, 'For how long are you going to stay in Paris?'

'Hmm...' Ahyan thought for a while, 'Perhaps for one more week. Can't ignore work back home too.' He said.

Mahdia felt her heart sink with the thought that he will be leaving soon. He turned to leave when she stopped him again, he patiently turned around.

'I can show you around if you are interested.' She shrugged trying to sound casual.

'Why not!' Ahyan took out his business card and a pen. Mahdia watched him as he scribbled a number. Once done, he forwarded it to Mahdia, 'Here, my personal number.' He smiled at her.

Gosh! Please stop smiling else I will turn into a jelly, Mahdia thought dreamily. She took the card from him smiling. Ahyan then turned around and walked away. She watched him go with a broad smile on her lips. She wished he turned around once before leaving but he didn't. She sighed in defeat. Just then she felt a roll of tissue paper hit the back her head.

'Oww...' she massaged her head and turned around, a fuming Lydia stood by the cash counter with her arms folded across her chest. Mahdia looked around, everyone had paused what they were doing and gaped at Mahdia and Lydia.

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So, what you guys think, is it start of something special between our leads? 

How was the chapter, do tell me in the comments?