Pride

After shopping and dressing up in a professional outfit, Phoenix stepped out of the shopping mall looking like a beautiful harmless lamb in her flattering butterfly-shaped reading glasses. Her hair was styled into a ponytail and the aura she exuded was peaceful and friendly.

She was apparelled in a sleek, well-fitted, and perfectly accentuated bright blue pantsuit, paired with an inner white lace camisole. Giving her outfit a distinctive touch, was her red stiletto heel, which was complimented by her red handbag.

Like a model about to stun the world with her captivating look, she gracefully strolled towards the road and flagged down a cab.

Ignoring a black luxurious jaguar car that was parked by the corner and signaling to get her attention, she got into the cab and instructed the cab driver to take her to De Choice cafe.

De Choice Cafe is one of Dura City's known and greatly sought-after coffee cafes. It is patronized by seventy-five percent of Duras city workforce and Its business peak is usually during the morning hours.

Men and women from different works of life visited this cafe for their breakfast and a few gossip before leaving for work.

When Phoenix arrived in front of the cafe, she delicately stepped out of the cab and smiled slyly, when she observed from the corner of her eyes that the black jaguar car trailed her to her current location.

"Interesting!" She beamed and paid the cab driver off before stepping into the cafe.

Inside the cafe, she easily camouflaged into wearing an innocent look of a pretty young girl, who just came around to grab a bite before rushing off to work.

Heads began turning and eyes gawking as Phoenix passed by. But this did not flatter her in the slightest way. Instead, she pretentiously ignored the attention she had drawn to herself. She strolled to a free table; where she quietly took a seat.

The table she strategically chose was beside the floor-to-ceiling window of the cafe, and it gave a vantage view of the bustling streets of the city.

From where she was seated, she also had ample view of the black jaguar car that trailed her cab.

She smiled wickedly when she saw a man, whom she estimated to be in his early forties, step out of the car. He said something to his chauffeur, who was holding the passenger door for him, before crossing over to the other side of the road, where the cafe was situated.

"Good morning, gorgeousness!" A male waiter smiled, revealing his unevenly shaped teeth. "Welcome to De Choice cafe. I will be waiting at your table this beautiful morning. What would you like to have?"

Phoenix smiled at the overzealously beaming waiter and said in a charming voice, "what would you recommend?"

"Ah!" The male waiter couldn't contain his joy as the gorgeous lady smiled at him. "We offer a healthy variety of pastries to wet your appetite on this menu," he graciously handed Phoenix a food menu, which was lying on the table.

"But, if I'm to suggest, then I would say you should go for the most delicious sandwich you have ever tasted, with a salad dressing by the side, and a cup of espresso."

"Hmm... Sounds delicious!" Phoenix beamed.

"That's not all, your gorgeousness!" The waiter happily sang.

"Oh really!" Phoenix suppressed a chuckle that almost escaped her parted lips.

"Yes! For dessert, I would also suggest some specially made muffins, brownies, and cookies. You can even take these desserts later at the office if you don't feel like eating them now.." The waiter bowed slightly as though he had presented an awesome speech.

"I would have all of these you've mentioned." Phoenix smiled in appreciation. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, your gorgeousness." The waiter politely excused himself to go get Phoenix's breakfast.

Just as the waiter was leaving, the man Phoenix had seen earlier cross the road walked up to her table majestically, as though he owned the cafe and everyone seated in it.

"Hello, beautiful!" The man smiled, revealing a perfect white dentition, which spoke volumes of his regular visit to his dentist.

Phoenix, pretending to be absorbed in reading the food menu, slowly looked up and stared at the man, while maintaining a straight face.

"I am Charles," the man extended his hand but after a few minutes dropped it when he observed the pretty girl's stoned expression remained unchanged.

"I can see that your table is free. So permit me to join you."

Charles took a seat opposite Phoenix uninvited. He signaled a waiter and gave her his order before refocusing his attention on Phoenix, who was back to reading her food menu as though she was reading an interesting gossip magazine.

"I didn't get your name," Charles spoke up when the awkward silence between them prolonged for more than two minutes.

"I didn't give it to you," Phoenix answered squarely from behind the food menu covering her slightly riled face. Then she dropped the food menu on the table and stared at the proud man before her.

"Hmm... I can see you're playing hard to get but don't worry, I'm a patient man." Charles smiled as he lustfully checked her out. "One thing is certain, I'll have you singing melodious tunes into my ears before the end of today." Charles bragged proudly.

"You must have achieved a lot to speak with such optimism," Phoenix's lips curved into a brief dangerous smile.

She observed that Charles was one of those types of men that loved singing about their achievements to woo a female.

"This is going to be too easy and less fun," she mused incoherently.

"What did you say?" Charles asked.

"I said you should entertain me, Mr. Charles. I'm interested to know who you are and what you're worth."

Charles beamed as though the beautiful girl had said yes to his proposal of becoming his girlfriend. It made me feel super elated and special.

"Well, My name is Charles Wigton. I am the chief executive manager of DK-Somalink conglomerate one of the leading software companies in the city, owned by the highly renowned David Kingston. Also, I'm worth billions of dollars."

"Impressive!" Phoenix's eyes sparkled as she sized up her new target.