Chapter 01

Layla sat on a chair, books piled neatly in front of her. Earphones covered her ears and amidst the noisy people going in and out of the cafe her eyes read quickly through paragraphs after paragraphs. Her hand reached for coffee while reading and tried to drink from it. Only to realize that it was empty.

With her concentration broken, she went to the counter to order another cup of coffee but was blocked by a tall man who ordered before her.

A bit annoyed she glanced up at the tall figure and cursed quietly.

It was a stressful week and she had been on the edge lately. Being at her 3rd year of Accountancy, everything is just more tiring, more draining, and more more. Layla was especially anxious since she was born in a family that didn't accept anything less that expected. And what was expected was always the best. She needed to top the exams.

And now, with exams nearing and her anxiousness increasing by each minute, she had become hot tempered.

She needed to study. And she needed her coffee.

After the man left she shot him a quick glance and ordered her coffee.

While waiting for it, she quickly went down her seat and scrolled through her Ipad.

"Caius!" the barista called and placed a cup on the table.

"And uhh..." he read the name on another cup. Looking at the familiar color she stood up and waited for her name to be called.

"Delilah!"

Layla quickly went to the counter and grabbed her drink. She turned around just as quickly and was shocked to see someone at close proximity.

"Ah—" he exclaimed as hot coffee spilled on his white t-shirt.

Then she realised he was that tall guy. He now stood in front of her holding his coffee away and then looking at his shirt annoyed.

"I'm sorry," She genuinely apologize. He might have irritated her before but she never intended for this to happen. "Are you alright?"

She quickly grabbed napkins from the counter and wiped at his shirt.

"It's okay,". He held her hand away. "I have an extra shirt."

He quickly went away and grabbed a gym back. Biting her lip she guiltily went back to her seat and tried to read. But then she kept on looking at the door of the comfort room. So she finally gave up and closed the book. She leaned on her chair and watched the door.

Caius went to the comfort room and quickly removed the soiled shirt. The pale skin underneath it had a visible red spot. Evidence to how hot that coffee was. He didn't wince and just put on a black t-shirt. He folded the white t-shirt and placed it on his gym bag and then went out, his coffee still in his hand and saw that a couple occupied his previous place.

A flash of annoyance passed by his eyes but was quickly gone. His blank stare returned and he quickly roamed his eyes for an empty seat and unexpectedly stopped at a girl who was staring outside.

It was that girl.

He quickly thought it over in his head and then shrugged.

It's her fault anyway.

He casually walked to her table and just as casually slid down on the seat in front of her.

She looked at him in surprise and he found it especially cute. His lips curved in a smirk as she tried to form a sentence.

"Why are you here?" she exclaimed.

"My seat got taken," he pointed at the couple that was laughing together. "It's your fault," he said with accusing eyes.

Layla sighed. "Fine," she said.

In truth, she watched come out of the bathroom and saw him looking at his previous space occupied. She just quickly averted her eyes afraid he'd caught her staring at him.

It was exam day and Layla came out of the room with a deep breath. She walked to a vending machine and took out money from her wallet.

"I must look like a freaking zombie," she muttered. She could feel her dry throat and see the dark circles on her eyes. She felt tired and worn.

"Really?" somebody said from beside her.

She whirled around only to see him with his eyebrow raised at her.

"Aside from the dark circles on your eyes you don't look much," he pointed out.

It was that guy. Memories of her spilling coffee on him plagued her mind.

It seemed like yesterday, but it has been three days.

"Hey," She lamely said.

Only now did she notice the blue eyes, straight nose, soft lips and handsome countenance. She was a bit mesmerised as she looked at him.

"We meet again," his lips curved into a faint smile.

"Indeed, we do," she said and grabbed the chocolate bar.

"See you when I see you," she gave him a wave and then walked away.

He was left staring at her fleeting figure.

"Layla, C'mon, girl!". Hadley said as she clasped her hands. Hadley was Layla's best friend ever since seventh grade.

"Exams finally ended we need to get alcohol in our systems!" she exclaimed. "Let's party at that newly opened club!"

"I wanna sleep, though," Layla pouted at her. Holding a pillow to her chest.

Both girls were inside their dorms. One lying down in bed while the other kneeling and dramatically persuading.

"Girl, we have to get wild! My brain needs fun! "

Her consistent pleading and her puppy eyes got Layla into it. Or maybe it was the mention of alcohol. Nobody knows.

"Fine," Layla pretended to be exasperated and Hadley squealed and dived into Layla hugging the air out of her.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

"Get off, ugh!" Layla pushed her away but a smile hung on her lips.

Delilah Victoria Reyes had tan skin and a height over 5'7. Her wavy black hair stopped at the middle of her back and her legs could go for miles. Bestowed with almond shaped eye further accentuated by eyeliner, pouty lips colored dark red, straight nose and an oval face shape, she was an exotic beauty. She was dressed in a white body con that ended above her knees and had a low back. The sleeves were off-shoulder and puffed. Her neck was left bare and diamond earrings dangled from her earlobes. Her white heels created a click clack sound as she walked inside the bar.

Caius who was seating on a red velvet sofa raised an eyebrow and slowly drank from the glass on his right hand. He wore a dark red satin polo with two buttons opened and black slacks. He was leaning on the sofa, his left hand placed on the armrest and his right ankle rested on his left knee. A hand held a glass of tequila and his handsome face was tilted to the side, lips curved into a seductive smirk.

He watched her go to a table with a companion of hers before roaming his eyes on the people at the club and found a few looking at her. He narrowed his eyes before placing his glass on the table in front of him and standing up.

The men seated at his table looked at him in confusion.

"Where are you going, Caius?" Devin asked him but Caius simply walked pass them.

It was convinient that the girl's friend went to the dance floor and she was left alone.

"You know three time's a charm right?" he asked her.

She quickly looked up at him in surprise. "You—"

He found her adorable expression funny. Like a startled cat.

"We keep seeing each other," he slid on the chair infront of her. "Probably because I haven't introduced myself yet."

He held a hand out. "Caius."

She took it and shook. "Layla."

"And probably because I haven't asked you out yet," he smoothly said.

Her eyes widened once again and her heart started beating faster. There he was, looking sinfully attractive that everything and everyone is merely a backdrop. He had a seductive smile to his face and his eyes bore into hers.

And he was freaking asking her out!