The Stranger

The Stranger



Something broke, and a violet solution spilled onto the white floor.

“This is the second one this month, Kate!” someone yelled from behind the computer.

“I’m sorry, I’ll clean it up. No need to worry.” Kate grabbed a mop and started cleaning her second broken flask while her ponytail swung with every move.

Madeline turned to face the incident, but it was yet another failed titration. Her eyes darted toward the clock, which showed 5 p.m. Yet another unsuccessful experiment, but at least she was going home without breaking anything. She packed quickly, eager to assemble the new furniture in her apartment. Before running out the door, she turned to face her colleagues, her coat in her hands.

“I’m heading home. I have a lot to do.”

Marcus looked at her without standing up, his knee acting up again.

“Don’t forget to read the article!”

She nodded before leaving the lab, carefully closing the door. She hated when people slammed doors. Her mother used to do it every time she was angry.

The weather was chilly, and she soon regretted not bringing a hat. At least she could grab a coffee to warm her up and give her the energy for her chores.

The best coffee in town happened to be close to her home. The door opened with its usual beeping sound, and soon, her lungs filled with the rich aroma of roasted coffee. She didn’t usually drink much coffee, especially at this hour, but between late-night work and house chores, she didn’t have much of a choice.

When it was Madeline’s turn to order, she was greeted by Ophelia's bright smile.

“Hi, girl! What can I get you?”

“Hi, Ophelia. Just a long espresso,” Madeline said, rummaging through her purse for her debit card while her order was being prepared.

From behind her, a warm voice sent goosebumps down her neck.

“Long night?”

The stranger towered over her, watching her with a small smile. She straightened her back, letting go of her purse as she searched for words.

“Sort of.” Her eyes scanned him from head to toe for a few moments until she realized she was staring. A voice from afar drew her attention back to Ophelia.

“Long espresso coming up!” The waitress extended the hot drink, her white nails sparkling under the soft light, creating a beautiful contrast with her warm brown skin.

“Thank you! I’m paying by card.”

“I’m sorry, but the POS isn’t working right now. We haven’t had time to put up a sign yet. I’m sorry.”

Madeline shook her head, her cheeks turning red. “But I don’t have any cash right now.”

“No problem, I’ll pay for this one. And a cappuccino, please.” The stranger’s voice was calm, but it sent another wave of shivers down her spine. If she had been red before, she was now a tomato. Her voice cracked at his kindness.

“You really don’t have to. Thanks.”

He didn’t break eye contact while studying her. His gaze travelled from her messy bun to the lab coat she clutched tightly, then to the research paper she carried.

“You seem to have misunderstood me.” His expression remained stoic. “It wasn’t a question. Drink your coffee or it will get cold.”

She grabbed her cup and locked eyes with him again. “Thank you!” She forced a smile, trying to shake off her embarrassment. “Have a good night!”

Her body was hot, and her palms were sweaty by the time she left the shop. Now, the cold weather was a blessing, washing away her flustered state. She pulled out a chair from an outside table and sat down, opening her paper. Taking a deep breath, she relaxed and dived into her work, sipping her espresso. The coffee shop door rang a few times as customers came and went, but she remained focused on her article—until another chair scraped against the pavement.

“Kind of cold to be reading outside.” That voice again. Her heart skipped a beat. The stranger seemed to have more plans for tonight, but she had reached her quota for embarrassment. Still, she turned to face him once more, warmth creeping back into her cheeks.

Under the golden glow of the shop lights, his brown eyes resembled the espresso she was drinking—only they burned hotter. His hair was tousled, either from the light wind or a long day of work. She caught herself, once again, analysing this stranger far too much.

She cleared her dry throat. “The music is too loud inside.”

He took a moment before responding. “Want me to tell them to turn it off?”

She froze. Whatever game he was playing, it was new to her. She gathered her courage and closed the article. “Don’t bother. Thank you again for the drink.”

“No problem. It would have been wasted, and I hate wasted coffee.”

“So, you’re a coffee lover.” She turned slightly to see him better.

He stood and moved closer. Within a second, he was kneeling before her, his gaze locked onto hers. Shadows danced in his eyes, and a chill ran down her spine.

“Wouldn’t say a lover, but I appreciate good things.” He stood back up and held something out. Thick green veins covered his arm. “You dropped this.”

Her once-white coat was now stained with mud. She grabbed it and shoved it into her purse with trembling hands.

“Thank you. You’ve helped me a few times so far.”

He took a step back, giving them some space. “My pleasure.” He pointed to an empty seat. “May I?”

She cleared the table, making room. “Yes.”

He moved with the grace of a panther, his presence exuding confidence. She snapped back to reality when his lips moved, but she hadn’t heard a word.

“…this paper.”

She blinked a few times, catching her breath. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” Before he could answer, she searched for an excuse. “I have a lot on my mind right now.”

A smirk appeared on his face, accentuating his sharp features, his sculpted jaw, and the small cut on his left eyebrow.

“I can tell.” He leaned back in his seat. “I asked what the paper is about.”

“It’s about biotechnology. Why?” She sipped her now-cold coffee, which no longer tasted right on an empty stomach.

“It seemed interesting.” Another moment passed as they sat there, drinks in hand, their eyes locked.

Her phone vibrated, buzzing against the table. The familiar ringtone sent a wave of anxiety through her.

Her research leader. Another task.

“I’m sorry, but I have to answer this.” She rose quickly, gathering her things. “Thank you again for everything.”

He remained seated, watching her. A few strands of hair clung to her lips, and an urge to brush them away stirred in his chest. He restrained himself and looked at her for the last time.

“Don’t mention it. Have a good one.”

This time, she smiled for real, and something sparkled in her green eyes. It sent shivers through his body, and a warm, honey-like feeling seeped into his heart.

Madeline turned her back and marched toward her apartment. The phone rang persistently until she finally picked it up.

“Good evening, professor.”

A hoarse voice on the other end of the call answered. “Hi, Madeline. Sorry for bothering you, but I have a great opportunity for you.”

Her chest rose heavily with anticipation, and the void in her stomach deepened.

“What can I do for you, professor?”

“You know how our team needs resources before the end of this month? There might be a solution. CleanAir called, and they want to invest in our research.”

That was it. Finally, someone answered their prayers. Hope tingled in her neck and hands. However, the professor never called to share good news. She tightened her grip on the phone while he proceeded.

“I would like you to join me. They may have a new position and need young people willing to learn.”

Her steps slowed as she let the words sink in. Her throat wouldn’t let any air enter her lungs. After three years of being only a technician, her professor finally gave her something to hold on to. She swallowed, but her throat remained dry.

“Of course. Sounds great.” She shook her head. Who responds like that to a job offer?

The tone of the old man changed, as if she could sense his smile through the phone. “Good. I will email you the details. Have a good afternoon!”

The call ended suddenly, and the news finally hit her. Hundreds of questions filled her head, causing a headache. What if she wasn’t smart enough? Or not good enough? That was the worst. She could always learn more, but she could never compete.

The apartment door opened with a creak just as an email popped up on her phone. Her hands trembled as she read every word. It was too soon. She couldn’t prepare for tomorrow morning fast enough.

Her clothes fell off one by one as she pondered the request. At least the location was very close to her home, and she could grab her favourite drink while being there.

Her body sank into the soft bed. Her mind was a torture cell. Everything that had happened that day played like a movie in her head, but she kept coming back to the stranger from the coffee shop.

She reached for her notebook and a pen she had stolen from the lab. His face was still vivid in her head, but her pen was nowhere to be found. Karma wasn’t a real thing, but in that moment, she didn’t rule it out.

She couldn’t fight her heavy eyelids and fell into a deep sleep with her thoughts still pinned on the stranger and the meeting.

The new day smiled through the bedroom windows. Madeline reached for her phone, shielding her eyes from the bright light. She woke up a few minutes before her alarm would go off.

Her mind was already weighed down by today’s meeting. The cold water on her face felt like a splash of tranquillity. Her routine was followed by a quick skincare routine and an outfit she had planned in her head before going to sleep.

Thirty minutes remained until the 9 a.m. meeting, and she chose to indulge in a much-needed espresso before everyone showed up. The meeting place happened to be the same coffee shop she always went to, so at least comfort was on her side.

The wooden door opened with the same familiar sound as always, and she already felt at home. In the morning, there were always more people, but luckily for her, most of them took their drinks to go.

She bought the same drink as always and found a square table with a "Reserved" sign on it, just as the email mentioned. Madeline sank into the soft chair and took the first sip of espresso. She lost herself in the burnt taste that covered her tongue like silk.

Suddenly, a low voice shattered her moment of silence.

“Good morning.” The silhouette emerged from behind her. Her eyes travelled upward until they met the same brown eyes of the stranger. “You dropped this last night.” A white pen appeared in his hand—the same one she needed to draw him.

Her blood grew warm. “Thank you so much.” She held out her hand, and for a millisecond, their hands touched. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to send all her blood rushing to her face and hands.

He didn’t take his eyes off her as he came closer. “May I?” For a moment, she didn’t realize what he was asking until his hand hovered above a chair.

She put down her coffee. “I have a meeting in twenty minutes.” At that moment, she wished she didn’t.

However, the stranger moved the chair and sat down without making a sound. “That’s all right. Me too.”

She picked up her drink again. “Be my guest then. I won’t mind a distraction.”

His face lit up with a smile. Maybe it was the most beautiful smile she had ever seen.

“Why so stressed?” He leaned back.

“I have an important meeting.” She took another sip. “What about you?”

“I could say the same.”

They drank in silence while people came and went. Her curiosity started to stick to her mind like an annoying sibling.

“Can I help you?” Usually, she wasn’t bold, but her interest was at its peak. There were no signals of danger from him, but his intentions were not clear.

“Maybe you could.” He stalled. His hands were drawing circles on the mug while the sun kissed every freckle on his nose.

“How?” Her cup remained glued to her pink glossy lips, marking the whiteness of the material with her lip’s patterns. He couldn’t take his eyes off them. It was almost unfair that the cup was so close to them.

“You could help me get to know you better.”

Finally, she smiled. He had hoped to see that smile again, as it had been the last thing he thought about before going to bed.

“I have only five minutes left.”

The smile faded, taking something from him. He wasn’t done with it.

“Would you like to go out with me and help me?”

Once again, he won, only this time he got something more. A laugh. It was everything he wanted to hear from now on.

She furrowed her brows and took a long sip.

“When?”

If there was coffee in his mug, he had forgotten about it. He might have even forgotten why he was there. For all he knew, he was there to see her.

He cleared his throat. “Tonight at 6.”

Finally, the now pink-stained cup left her lips. She leaned forward. “I’m Madeline.”

Before he could reach her hand and shake it, two voices approached them.

A familiar one caught her attention. “You’re here early.”

Her professor was beaming in a way she had never seen. By his side was a woman with short blonde hair and a suit, who held out a hand. “Hello, I am Cornelia, a former colleague of your professor.”

She shook her warm hand. “I’m Madeline. Nice to meet you.”

Cornelia’s eyes shifted quickly to the stranger. “Glad to see you here so early.”

Madeline turned to face him as he extended his hand. “I’m Julian. We are here to talk about our future.”

Madeline froze. His hot flesh against her icy fingers made goosebumps appear all over her neck.

Everybody took a seat and Cornelia laid down a few papers on the table while Julian continued to study Madeline.

“Let’s start then.”