Chapter Two – A Heart Rejected
Grace Sullivan wiped away a tear as she scrubbed the counter in the dimly lit café. The café was her sanctuary, the one place where she could escape the constant reminders of her failures. Her ragged apron, worn from years of use, clung to her slender frame. The café was barely hanging on, much like her life.
The rain outside had driven a handful of customers in, but the place was still mostly empty. The hum of the espresso machine was the only sound filling the silence. Grace couldn't help but notice how quiet it was today—too quiet. She had gotten used to the noise, the bustling of customers, the clink of coffee mugs, but today it felt different. More oppressive.
The door chimed as a man stepped inside. She glanced up without thinking.
Daniel Kingsley.
She froze for a second, staring at the tall, well-dressed man who had just walked in. His presence commanded attention. Dark, sharp features, a tailored suit that screamed wealth—he looked like a man who had everything anyone could ever want.
But as his eyes scanned the room, their gaze settled on her. It was brief, almost like an accident. But for some reason, it felt like it lasted much longer.
She quickly turned back to her work, shaking her head. Not today.
She had learned long ago to avoid men like him. Men who thought they could rescue women from their mistakes.
Grace had made too many of those to count.
Her past was littered with bad choices, broken relationships, and a father who had walked out on her and her mother when she was only seven. The scars of abandonment ran deeper than the skin—inside, where nobody could see. And now, as an adult, it seemed like everyone who came into her life eventually walked out, too.
She heard footsteps approaching. Grace held her breath, not wanting to face whatever conversation this stranger might start. But then, his voice cut through the air, low and smooth.
"Excuse me."
She turned reluctantly, only to be met with a warm smile. He wasn't smiling in the way most rich men did—like they were doing her a favor by even speaking to her. This man looked almost… genuine.
"Are you Grace Sullivan?" he asked, his voice oddly familiar.
She blinked, taken aback. "Yes, I am. But I—"
"I'm Daniel Kingsley." He extended his hand, his smile not faltering. "I've heard a lot about you."
Grace narrowed her eyes, hesitant. She didn't know what he meant by "heard a lot." She had no business with a man like him.
"I—I'm not sure how I can help you."
Daniel didn't seem fazed by her coldness. "I heard you have a gift," he said. "A talent for making the best coffee in the city. I'd like to offer you a job at my company. A better one."
Grace's heart skipped a beat. Job offers from strangers were rare—especially from billionaires.
"I don't think you understand," she said, struggling to mask her disbelief. "I'm just a barista. I—"
"You're much more than that," Daniel interrupted gently. "I've been told you have a story. One that deserves to be heard. And I want to give you a chance to rebuild."
Grace felt her breath catch. The words hit too close to the pain she tried so hard to bury. She had been told a hundred times before that she could start fresh, but every time she tried, life had a way of slamming her back down.
Her walls were up, and she wasn't about to let some stranger—no matter how handsome or wealthy—break them down.
"I'm fine here, thank you," she said firmly, turning back to the counter.
But Daniel didn't leave. Instead, he leaned in slightly, his voice softer now, as if he could sense the depth of her pain.
"You don't have to do this alone, Grace. God has a plan for you. And I believe you're about to find out what that is."
Grace froze, her hands trembling as she wiped the counter. She didn't know why, but something about his words stirred something deep within her. It was as though a part of her—one she had long forgotten—had just awakened.
"Who… who told you that?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Daniel smiled again, though this time it wasn't just a polite gesture. There was something more. Something deeper.
"A man I know," he said, his eyes softening. "He told me you were the one."
Grace's heart skipped a beat. She had heard the whispers of fate, but they had always been distant. Now, they felt far too close.
She couldn't understand it, but something told her that this man—this stranger—was part of a bigger picture she couldn't see yet.
But she wasn't ready for that. Not yet.
"I'm not the one," she replied quietly, shaking her head. "You've got the wrong person."
Daniel's eyes never wavered. "We'll see."
With that, he turned and left the café, leaving Grace to ponder his words.
End of Chapter Two