Chapter 1: Introduction
Victoria watched the steam curl off her latte as she sipped, her mind already several steps ahead of the words she was typing. Her fingers danced over the keyboard, pouring out thoughts that had been swirling in her mind for weeks. She was in her element, tucked away in her favorite corner of the bustling coffee shop, surrounded by the comforting hum of conversations and the faint aroma of roasted beans. The air was filled with a cacophony of clinking cups and the hiss of the espresso machine, but Victoria was oblivious to it all, her focus entirely on the screen before her.
She could feel the words flowing through her, each one carefully crafted and placed, like a painter layering colors on a canvas.
"Still on that denial thing, huh?"
Victoria looked up to see Leo, the barista, leaning against the counter, a smirk playing on his lips. He was new, having started a few weeks ago, but he'd already gained a reputation for his quick wit and sharp tongue. His eyes, a warm hazel, held no malice, just genuine curiosity.
Victoria smirked back, "You're going to have to be more specific, Leo.