Love, Lies & Lattes

Kiara Sharma had precisely two rules about mornings: coffee first, conversation never. She thrived on peace, quiet, and the warm aroma of freshly brewed espresso. But this particular morning had chaos written all over it.

"Kiara, we're out of almond milk again!" shouted Ayesha from behind the counter, juggling coffee cups with practiced panic.

"Already? I just stocked yesterday!" Kiara groaned, tying up her messy curls into a makeshift bun. She surveyed Brew-tiful Days, her beloved café. Usually a haven of indie music, soft chatter, and the comforting scent of coffee beans, today it buzzed with an unusual energy. She blamed it entirely on the spectacle unfolding across the street.

"Grand opening—Espresso Empire," read the massive, gaudy sign plastered above a sleek, glassy new storefront. Balloons, bright banners, and an obnoxious crowd gathered as though the coffee gods themselves had descended.

"Traitors," she muttered, glaring at familiar customers lined up eagerly for free samples. It felt personal, a betrayal brewed bitter.

She strode outside to fix her chalkboard menu, adding a pointed jab at the competition: "Real coffee lovers drink here."

A laugh startled her. "Nice slogan. Did a child write it?"

Kiara whipped around, ready with a retort, only to collide spectacularly into a broad chest. Coffee flew from her hand, splattering over an expensive-looking white shirt.

"Oh no," she whispered, wide-eyed.

The stranger stepped back, eyes narrowed, assessing the damage. Tall, impeccably dressed, with a face sculpted for magazine covers—everything about him screamed trouble.

"Do you make a habit of attacking potential customers?" he asked, dabbing futilely at the coffee stain.

"Only when they insult my café," Kiara shot back, embarrassment fueling her sass.

He smirked, an irritatingly charming gesture. "Well, consider me warned. Though, for the record, I’m more of an espresso guy."

"Figures," she mumbled, watching him stroll confidently towards Espresso Empire. She didn't know who he was yet, but the smug look on his face already irritated her more than the spilled coffee staining her favorite apron.

Kiara turned sharply on her heel, heart pounding, her morning officially ruined—and it wasn't just because she'd wasted a perfectly good cup of coffee.