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

  "Joseph," I start, forcing a smile that barely conceals my irritation. "Why is your butler coming with us?" I can’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 chuckles, the sound light and carefree as if he doesn’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 blink, not quite processing what he says. "Excuse me?" I shoot another look at Sebastian, who meets my gaze with a calm, unreadable expression. A soldier? The man who’s holding an umbrella over us just moments ago, a war-trained soldier?

  Joseph laughs again, clearly amused by my confusion. "I don’t know what you’re thinking, but..." He reaches out and brushes 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 can’t help but stare at Joseph, who seems completely unfazed by the situation. Here I am, expecting a normal date—just the two of us, maybe some awkward conversation over coffee—and instead, I get a special forces-trained multitasking butler as a third wheel. Fantastic.

  Still, there’s something about the way Joseph smiles, the way he proudly speaks about Sebastian, that makes my irritation fade just a little. I mean, how can I stay mad? This whole thing is absurd. But maybe that’s just part of the charm.

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

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

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

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

  I watch his expression carefully, hoping he’ll fall for it. Please buy it...

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

  Yes! I mentally cheer. He doesn’t even question how I know about the store. "Vanilla is fine," I reply, smiling brightly.

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

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

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

  I can’t help but wonder if all stores accept credit cards, but that’s beside the point. The plan works. Finally, I have Joseph all to myself and since the store actually doesn’t exist, it’ll 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 muse. But whatever, minor details. Now, here we are, sitting together, just the two of us. The moment I’ve been waiting for.

  But... how do I start a conversation? My mind draws a blank. I wait for him to say something, hoping the gentleman will break the ice. But he doesn’t speak. He just keeps looking into my eyes, those deep, lingering stares that make my heart race. What is he thinking?

  Before I can figure it out, he reaches out and gently lifts my chin. His hand is smooth, soft, like it’s been washed in the most luxurious soaps. I can’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’s leaning closer. What? My breath catches in my throat. This couldn’t be happening. He wouldn’t actually... would he? I can 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 doesn’t stop. He keeps leaning closer, and my heart pounds in my chest.

  No way!

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

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

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  The world around me blurs. My mind is 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 can feel my face burning even more, and I pick up my pace. I’m barely paying attention to where I’m running, bumping into people along the park’s path.

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

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

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

  And then I freeze.

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

  The man—sits there, staring at me with a mix of confusion and irritation. Of course, he has every right to be angry; I’ve 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 mumble, feeling my face flush as the memory of our awkward encounter floods back. Fantastic—yet another embarrassing moment to add to the list.

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

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

  The way he says it, like it’s rehearsed or obligatory, makes my nerves tingle. But I try to smile through it, even though my mind is racing.

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

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

  As he walks away, I mutter under my breath, "I guess I’ll just head home then..." But before I can even take a step, a familiar voice calls out, one I know too well—Joseph.

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

  My heart leaps, and instinctively, I turn to run. But before I can get far, Sebastian—his ever-loyal, ever-creepy butler—emerges from a bush like he’s been waiting there the entire time. Seriously? Does this guy do everything? In mere seconds, he catches up to me, his strong arms wrapping around me like I’m some sort of runaway criminal.

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

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

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

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

  As soon as we enter the car, Sebastian removes the wool from my mouth. Fury rises in my chest.

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

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

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

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

  I blink in disbelief. He’s talking like he knows me, like we have some deep connection. We’ve 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.” He shakes his black card in his right hand.

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

  “I know that.” His tone softens, and he leans closer, but this time, his eyes are 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 hesitate, unsure of what to say. The whirlwind of emotions from the day—the surprise, the embarrassment, the sudden intimacy—it’s all too much. “I… I do want something too,” I admit 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 softens even further, his gaze meeting mine with a tenderness that makes my heart stutter. “Sure,” he says, nodding gently. “We’ll go at your pace, Elysia. I didn’t mean to rush things.”

  The tension in the car lifts, but my mind still races. What does this all mean? I’m relieved for the moment, but a knot of uncertainty stays with me. This whirlwind romance, this strange pull between us—it’s all too fast, too intense. What will come next?

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

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

  Sebastian nods, and Joseph slides from his seat to join me in the back. That’s when I know he’ll try to force more conversation, more of that awkward connection we’re building. I can feel his efforts, his genuine attempts, but right now, I’m not ready.

  I stare out the window, watching the trees blur by. The park is so peaceful, so calm. A perfect contrast to the storm swirling inside me. Then, impulsively, the words slip from my lips before I can 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 blinks, clearly surprised. “You... want to stay here?” His eyes narrow, concern flashing across his face. “I can’t just leave you alone. There are stalkers out there, Elysia.”

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

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

  Before he can say another word, I open the car door and step out into the cool air. As I walk towards the park, I can feel Joseph’s gaze on me, but I don’t look back. This time, I need space. Time to think. To breathe.

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