My jaw drops. “Oh.” Shit. “Oh, no.”
Of all the stupid Wattpad-coded single girl stories! I did not have CEO on the bucket list.
With a shaky exhale, I walk out to the van and nearly get clipped by a biker.
“Watch it, bro!” he warns without stopping.
“I’m NOT YOUR BRO!” I yell back a bit too aggressively, then I calmly get into my van and drive to the bakery.
After I park, I climb out and head toward the building. That’s when the sound of someone running in my direction reaches me. I turn quickly and assume a stance that can only be described as something from Kung Fu Panda. But it’s just a jogger, feet rhythmically pounding the pavement. Embarrassed, I power walk the rest of the way to the bakery and fling open the door. The bell clangs above me.
Ashton looks up from behind the counter and stops.
“Ella?”
I just stand there for a second. I set my bag down. I try to take a breath that actually reaches my lungs.
“You okay?” she asks, already stepping around the counter.
“I dropped the catering order,” I say.
She blinks. “Dropped it?”
“It went everywhere.”
Her mouth opens, then closes. “Were you hurt?”
“No. Just… very aware of myself. It’s his company,” I say.
Her eyes sharpen. “Who?”
“6B…Nathan…Elevator guy.”
“He was leading the meeting.”
Ashton’s face changes. The humor drains out of it.
“Well, that’s one way to make an entrance, Ella,” she says finally.
I lean my hands on the counter and stare at the floor.
Hours later, it’s late afternoon when the bell over the door jingles.
I look up automatically—and my pulse stutters.
Nathan walks in.
Not in his suit jacket. Sleeves rolled up. Knuckles bandaged. No one is with him. Just him.
He looks around once, then his eyes find mine.
“Hey,” he says.
“Hey,” I manage.
He comes up to the counter like any other customer. No rush. No awkward hovering.
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he says simply.
