Chapter Text
The premiere would be that weekend, and distraction was the last thing Lee wanted. Since arriving in London a month ago, he’d spent nearly all his time at the theatre or at the hotel. When he wasn’t rehearsing, he wandered the surrounding streets to clear his head. He’d been to London many times before, but not to this part of the city.
One evening, he found a mid-sized café not far from the hotel. What he didn’t know, until he walked inside, was that Hannah, Tom’s girlfriend, worked there. She stands behind the counter, taking payment from a customer, her hair tied in a simple ponytail, a green apron over a T-shirt, and grey jeans. Even without make-up, she was beautiful. The café wasn’t crowded, busy enough to feel alive, but quiet enough that she couldn’t try anything. When she notices him approaching the counter, she smiles brightly. Lee didn’t smile back. He wasn’t here for conversation. He wanted caffeine and silence.
“Hi, Lee. What can I get you?”
“A cup of coffee. Black.”
She turns, grabs a cup from the shelf, pours the coffee, and then returns to the counter. After stating the price, she watched him pay.
“I didn’t know you worked here,” He says before taking the cup.
“About a year,” She replies. “Haven’t you been here before?”
“No. I just happened to walk by.” He lifts the cup in a gesture of thanks and walks away.
He settles at a corner table. After the first sip, he pulls out his phone and begins scrolling. A quiet few minutes pass before he senses someone standing in front of him. He looks up.
“May I sit down?” Hannah says
He glances around the café; no new customers have entered, and no one is waiting.
“Are you allowed?” He asks.
“I’m on break.”
“…Okay.” He returns his attention to his phone.
She sat, folding her hands, studying him with a softness that made him uncomfortable. He refused to meet her eyes. She leans forward, elbows on the table.
“How are rehearsals going?” She asks after a pause.
“Fine.” That was all he offers, and he immediately looks back at his screen.
He sips his coffee. She tries to glance at the phone, but the overhead lights wash out the display.
“How’s the coffee?” She tries again, forcing warmth into her voice.
“Good.” Still nothing more.
She wasn’t oblivious; he didn’t want her there. But she stayed anyway. She’d been too forward when she’d gone to the theatre to see him. She’d known it was wrong, but something about him made her reckless. It wasn’t his good looks or his height; those were bonuses. It was the way he carried himself. The quiet gravity. Even though she barely knew him, she felt drawn.
“Do you live nearby?” She asks casually, hoping the question sounds innocent.
“I don’t want to tell you that,” He says without looking up. “You might stalk me there, too.”
Her eyes widen.
“Stalking? I don’t do that. I respect your space.”
“Oh? It didn’t look that way when we met at the theatre.” His tone is dry, edged with sarcasm.
“I’m sorry,” She murmurs. “Maybe I got too close. I didn’t mean to, but… You have that effect on me.” She smiles as if confessing a harmless truth.
“I get that a lot. Don’t think that’s something new.”
“That’s not what I meant. A man like you… I’m sure you get plenty of attention.”
He sighs softly, pushing back his chair.
“I’m sorry, but I have to go.”
He slips his phone into his jacket and stands. She quickly rises too, stepping in front of him before he could pass. She tilts her head up to meet his eyes, and without heels, she feels so small beside him.
“If you need a guide around London,” She offers gently, “You can get in touch.”
“Sorry. I don’t need one.” He steps around her and walks out.
She watches him go, a small, secret smile tugging at her lips before she returns to the counter.
On his way back to the hotel, Lee replays the encounter in his mind. He knew exactly what she was trying to do, and so far, he hadn’t fallen for her advances. If she weren’t taken, things might have been different. His charm had always been both a curse and a blessing. But he couldn’t let anything interfere with his work. Not now. Not when the premiere was so close. Things could turn badly if he weren’t careful.