Sleep eluded me that night, a turbulent torrent of unsettling memories from my past plaguing my dreams. The shredded remnants of a damning document lay discarded in the trash, yet its weight remained, leaving me utterly drained.

Stepping into the morning sunlight, I opened the living room shades, my eyes heavy with weariness. Thoughts of reaching out to Amy crossed my mind, but anxiety clenched my heart. I fretted that she might unearth a connection to my hidden history. For now, I sought my phone.

After two rings, Amy's voice greeted me, "Hey, I was just about to call you," concern woven into her words. My eyes welled up, the sincerity in her voice touching me deeply.

"Amy, I'm so sorry... I—"

"Before you say anything, just know I care about you. You don't have to share if you're not ready."

"I don't deserve your understanding. But no, I received a call from my work, saying they needed someone to replace for the night shift," the dishonesty left a bitter aftertaste.

"I didn't want to leave you hanging, so I rushed home. I was worried and shocked, and I ended up taking a cab to speak with her," I sighed, the lie's weight bearing down on me.

"I get it, but never do that again! I thought something dreadful had happened, or worse," her voice trembled with the echo of her fear.

"If it weren't for that man delivering the message, I would've called the police!"

"I apologize, Amy. He... he's someone I recognized from the bar, we exchanged a few words... and we both made poor decisions based on trust," the confession spilled out, the truth a painful revelation.

"Well, it's in the past now. As long as you're safe and know you can always confide in me. I trust you as an adult, but don't vanish like that again, you troublemaker!" A hint of playfulness returned to her tone.

Smiling, I replied, "I'm sorry again, and I'm relieved you got home safely too."

"I'll swing by later this week, alright? I need to visit my parents from Sunday to Thursday... keep in touch, okay?" She asked with a reassuring tone.

"Absolutely, Amy. Please take care, and remember you can reach out anytime. Love you."

"Love you more. See you soon," and our call ended.

The weight slowly lifted; Amy was safe. But the lie still gnawed at me. Changing into fresh clothes, I returned to my room.

His eyes, a memory etched into my mind – the arrogance, the control – a shiver ran down my spine. I'd never admit it aloud, but he was undeniably handsome. I began to understand why the world was captivated by Callum Black. Regrettably, his influence and power were the shackles confining me.

Shaking off my thoughts, I readied myself for the day, hoping a visit to my cherished coffee shop might distract me from my ruminations, though the endeavor seemed futile.

Exiting the cab, I thanked the driver. The coffee shop was just a short ride away, and as I stepped inside, the aroma of coffee and pastries enveloped me. Placing my order, my attention was drawn to the TV, where Callum Black was delivering a speech about bolstering the local economy.

My heart quickened at his image, a physical reaction I loathed. "Gianna, your order's up," the barista's voice snapped me back. I collected my order and settled at a table away from the TV.

A shadow caught my attention, and I looked up to meet the gaze of a stranger – tall, lean, with captivating golden-brown eyes. A soft smile curved his lips as he spoke, "Pardon my intrusion, but I couldn't help but notice a beautiful lady sitting alone. May I have the honor of your number?"

Smiling, I played along, amused by his flirtatious approach. "I was always told not to talk to strangers."

His grin widened, introducing himself as Asher and expressing his desire to know my name. "Gianna. My name is Gianna," I replied, shaking his hand with a chuckle.

He requested my number, a hopeful glint in his eyes. Deciding to ease his nerves, I agreed, sharing my number. With a cheerful wish for a great day, he left, leaving me intrigued by the unexpected encounter.