The café was filled with a quiet buzz. A cool breeze from outside seeped through the large windows, contrasting with the warm atmosphere of the café. Inside, the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans filled the air, while the steam rising from the cups on the wooden tables added a delicate warmth to the melancholy ambiance.
Scharline sat by the window, one leg crossed over the other, slowly sipping her coffee. Her long, slender fingers wrapped around the porcelain cup, and the dark red polish on her nails was a striking detail. Her long, silky dark hair cascaded over her shoulders and down the thin straps of her pale green dress. The sunlight accentuated her sharp features - her slightly smudged matte lipstick and defined cheekbones gave her a natural yet striking appeal.
Lisa's voice blended into the surrounding murmur, bringing Scharline back to reality. "You know, I saw Jessica the other day." Lisa's voice was full of excitement. Stirring her coffee, she looked at Scharline and spoke with a dramatic air. "You know how she always has that smug attitude, but now she's taken it to another level! Apparently she's seeing someone new... someone rich and older. Ah, Schar, if only you were a little smarter about these things. The most important thing in a relationship is stability - at least financially.
Scharline rolled her eyes. Lisa's words no longer surprised her; she always talked about wealth, luxury, and the good life. For Lisa, everything was measured in terms of financial security. Scharline took a sip of her coffee, carefully filtering Lisa's words. As the warm liquid slid down her throat, a faint, amused smile touched the corner of her lips, hiding a trace of irony.
"Is life really all about money, Lisa?" she murmured, turning her gaze outside to watch the hurried footsteps of people on the street. "If you secure everything, how will you live the rest of your life?"
Lisa raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips. "Freedom comes with money, Schar. Stop your romantic dreams and wake up to the real world."
Scharline traced her fingers along the edge of her coffee mug. There was something in her eyes that Lisa couldn't understand - deep, carrying traces of the past, thoughts that even she hadn't fully unraveled. Was life really just about money and stability, or was it just a journey to its inevitable end?
"The important thing is to be happy, Lisa," Scharline said with a faint smile before bringing her coffee to her lips. Her eyes narrowed slightly and her expression was amused yet thoughtful. She spoke the words easily, but she wasn't sure if she had really silenced the doubt inside her.
Lisa studied her carefully, raising her eyebrows slightly and tilting her head. "Can you be happy without money, Schar?" she asked, her tone confident but with a hint of challenge.
Scharline didn't answer. She turned her gaze back outside, twirling the cup lightly in her hands. Across the street, a man walked briskly, hands in his pockets, head down. Who knew, maybe Lisa was right. Perhaps happiness without money was an illusion. But something inside her refused to believe Lisa's simple equation.
Braun sat silently across from her, watching Scharline's every move out of the corner of his eye, listening to the conversation without participating, waiting. He was the type of man who never rushed, always waiting for the right moment.
Scharline could feel Braun's gaze - it was impossible to ignore. She wasn't unfamiliar with looks like that. Many men had pursued her before, tried to get her attention. But Braun... Right now he was the only one close enough, the only one trying to stay at her side.
Braun leaned forward slightly in his chair. His voice was low and soft, as if he only wanted her to hear it. "Schar," he said with a faint smile. "Forget what Lisa says. If you really want to be happy, all you have to do is choose the right man."
Scharline weighed his words, fixed her gaze on him, the amused glint in her eyes still present. "Oh, so that would be you?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
Braun chuckled softly, his voice brimming with confidence, yet with a hint of challenge. "You said it, not me."
Scharline's lips curled slightly. This was a game she knew well. But she wondered - how well would Braun play?
Just then, the cafe door opened. A rush of cool air swept in, the metal bell ringing softly as heavy footsteps approached. Ethan entered.
Scharline's eyes instinctively followed him, and for a brief moment her mind was pulled back in time. Ethan
He was the kind of man many young men aspired to be. Money, status, women - he had it all. Most importantly, he knew how to get what he wanted. His ambition quickly propelled him into the business world, making a name for himself despite his young age. He worked at a modeling agency, but quickly gained influence in the industry. His company, known for recruiting new girls, had already built a strong reputation.
As Scharline looked at Ethan, memories flooded back. Back then, everything had seemed easier... or so she thought.
Lisa's eyes lit up the moment she noticed him and she turned to Braun. "Look who just walked in... our handsome prince."
Ethan lined up to order his coffee, and Lisa wasted no time taking advantage of the gossip opportunity. Her voice dropped slightly, but her excitement was obvious. "Did you guys hear? Ethan and a few others have started a company. Something called 'Hotgirls.' They're making a fortune. Bringing in new girls and setting them up in the industry."
Braun let out a mocking laugh. To him, businesses like these always looked glamorous on the outside, but were doomed to rot from the inside. "Oh, new dolls to play with?" he scoffed, raising an eyebrow.
Lisa ignored his mocking tone and waved her hand dismissively. "Say what you will, but they're making serious money. And from what I hear, the girls aren't making peanuts either."
Scharline remained silent, but she listened carefully, especially when money was mentioned... A growing urge stirred within her. She resisted the temptation to ask, "How much? But the questions in her mind grew.
When will I finally have a comfortable life? When will my financial struggles end so I can do what I really want? These thoughts swirled inside her, wrapping around her like a vortex. No matter how free she lived, financial reality always loomed over her.
As Lisa and Braun continued their conversation, Scharline kept her eyes on Ethan. Maybe she had been looking in the wrong place all along... Or maybe the right time just hadn't come yet.
Scharline took a deep breath and tried to silence the thoughts that were consuming her. She scolded herself - she shouldn't be thinking about these things. The past no longer mattered. But Lisa's words echoed in her head.
She knew Ethan. He wasn't just a name or a distant figure. He had once been Tom's friend. Their families had been business partners for a while. Their fathers had joined forces for a big project. But then... something happened. And that partnership ended abruptly.
Why? She had never found out. She was too young then, and the world seemed less complicated. But she remembered one thing - her mother and Celeste's heated argument. Words bouncing off the walls, anger rising, their meanings unclear to her young mind.
She had never questioned it. It had faded into the mist of the past like an irrelevant detail. But now, seeing Ethan here, right in front of her... There was no trace of regret in his eyes. No remnants of an old bond. No memories of the past.
Scharline looked away and tightened her grip on her coffee mug. The cold porcelain pressed against her fingertips as she tried to suppress the unease swelling inside her.
Lisa's voice brought her back to the present.
"This business is huge, Schar. Ethan and his boys are rolling in money!"
Braun chuckled derisively. "I don't care. These things always happen in this business. The only question is who wins and who loses."
Scharline tried to focus on their conversation, but her mind remained fixated on Ethan's presence. Seeing him again had stirred something in her.
And deep down she knew.
This wasn't going to be easy. Her heart raced with a mixture of anticipation and fear. Ethan had been more than just another player in the industry; he was a force, a presence that demanded attention. Memories of their last encounter flooded back, each one tinged with unresolved emotions and half-spoken words. She could still picture his intense gaze, the way it seemed to see through her defenses. Lisa continued, her voice rising as she outlined the potential for growth and profit, but Scharline found it hard to focus on numbers or strategy. Instead, she felt drawn into an internal battle - a conflict between staying focused on her ambitions and being swept away by old feelings that threatened to derail everything she'd worked for. She took a deep breath, steeling herself against the storm of emotions swirling inside. If this deal was going to succeed, she'd have to navigate these waters carefully - balancing ambition and desire without losing sight of who she was or what she wanted. This time would be different; she'd make sure of it.
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