His name is Ken Randall (31), a very handsome man and working as a President at one of the biggest companies in Dynamic City. He’s not a very friendly person and to some people, he appears as cold and dark but he’s not all that. Through this story, you’ll discover of what made him that way and how he slowly changes to become more softer and loving.

Her name is Lara White (23). A kind, loving and beautiful woman who put her family as her top priority in life. Her happiness comes from her family. She has a very ordinary life and work as a waitress in a Coffee Shop near Mr. Randall’s office building. Though she leads an ordinary life, she feels content with her life. Until she met Mr. Randall.......

—Sunny day, at a Park near Randall’s residence—

That morning, Mr. Randall went for a walk in a park near his residence. He often went there to exercise if he had time. After walking for a while, he then sat on a bench under the tree. He looked at the person who sat next to him on that bench. It was an old man who seemed to be in a video call with his wife. He looked so happy while talking with his wife through that video call.

“What made him so happy like that?” Mr. Randall thought to himself.

The old man hang up the phone and he looked at Mr. Randall with a big smile on his face “it was my wife” the old man said.

“I can see that” Mr. Randall responded. He drank his water and then continued saying to the old man “you live far apart from each other?”

“Oh no... we live together. She called to tell me about breakfast. She said she cooked my favorite dishes for me.” The old man said cheerfully

Mr. Randall smirked and said “well, good for you.” The old man looked at Mr. Randall and smiled to him, he said “thank you. We both believe in this term called ‘growing old together’ and we’ve been together for 40 years now and still very much in love. We’re lucky, son.”

“Yeah. You guys are indeed lucky. For me, i don’t understand anything about the things that you just said right now.” Mr. Randall said in a low voice

“What things? The things about growing old together?” The old man asked him

“The overall things.” Mr. Randall answered shortly

“The overall things? You don’t understand about love?" Asked the old man

"No"

"Then, have you ever been in love?" The old man asked again with a concern look on his face

"I've been with many women before. But, i don't have confidence to call it 'love'." He answered as he lowered his head.

—————— END OF EPILOGUE ——————

This is a story about true love. About a man named Ken Randall and a woman named Lara White.

*PS : the names of people and the names of the places here are all fictional names.

Ken had meeting this morning with his business partners, he looked so bored. He looked at his watch several times and sighed but he tried his best to stay focus on what his business partner were trying to say,

 "So... Mr. Randall, that's what we want to offer to you, i think it's a good project to strengthen both of our companies. What do you think?", his business partner asked to him in a polite tone and gesture. 

Ken looked at his proposal and then lifted his head and looked at him and he said to him "well, i don't know... it doesn't look that good to me, yes, it will strengthen your company, but i don't think i need this project to add more strength to my company. My company is already huge enough." he smirked while saying that, giving goosebumps to his business partners who were present at that meeting.

The man who asked him about the project replied "Yes, Mr. Randall. Your company is already huge enough, but, don't you want to make it more bigger than it already is now?" 

Ken tossed his proposal to the table in front of him and he leaned his head on his comfortable chair, then he closed his eyes and said "Meeting is over, whether i'll accept your offer or not, i'll let you know through my assistant. Now, all of you, dismissed.”

All of them went out from the meeting room in a polite gesture and as quiet as possible. They all knew from the start that Ken wasn't in the mood to have a meeting this morning and they all felt a dark and dangerous aura around him. Ken Randall was famous because of his cold behavior towards other people, "He lacked emotions" that's what all the people who knew him said about him. Ken himself knew what people think about him but he couldn’t care less about it. After the meeting ended, Ken went back to his luxurious office and pressed the button on his desk to call his secretary.

His beautiful secretary came in and said "You called me, boss?", he sat on his chair and said "Yes. Keira, go and buy me a coffee. i didn't sleep much last night, i felt like falling to the ground this morning due to lack of sleep. My head is spinning. Iced Americano would be good.” He said that while resting his head on his chair. 

Keira smiled and said "No wonder all your business partners said you were not in your best mood today." 

He looked at her and said "Well, have i ever?"

 Keira laughed and said "Okay boss, i'll go and buy you that Iced Americano." Keira has worked as his secretary for 10 years now, Keira was the only person in Randall Group Company that could ever got that close to Ken.

Keira went to a Coffee shop nearby. A beautiful woman stood near the front door and greeted her warmly "Welcome" she said. It was Lara White. 

Keira replied her greeting "thank you. Are you new? Never seen you before." Lara smiled and said "Oh, i only work here from Friday to Sunday."

 Keira replied "So that's why i never seen you before." 

Lara led Keira to make her order, "So, what would you like to order, Miss....?" Lara tried to get her name. 

"Keira" she answered. 

"Right. what would you like to order, Miss Keira?", 

 "Hmm, i'd like Iced Americano, please" she made her order. 

"Okay, wait a minute." Keira looked at Lara from head to toe, Lara didn't put any make up on, only wore simple white t-shirt and jeans, she even didn't do anything to her hair, she only tied her hair up in a bun.

Keira smiled looking at her. Lara then came to her with her Americano, she said "Here's your Iced Americano." 

Keira took it and gave her money to pay for the Americano, Lara accepted the money and was about to give her the change but Keira suddenly said "Keep the change." 

Lara looked at her and said "What...? Miss, don't do this, your change is 44 dollar." 

Keira smiled and said "I told you to keep it."

 Lara was confused and said "Miss.... but this is too much..."

 Keira walked away and turned her back on her "Thank you very much. Have a good day!" She said with a smile on her face

Lara called her again "Miss Keira!" But Keira just walked out of the door and ignored her deliberately. Lara sighed "What a weird customer." she said to herself.

Keira arrived in front of Ken's office with his Americano. She knocked. 

"Come in" 

Keira opened the door and put Ken's Americano on his work desk. She said, "Here's your Americano, boss." 

Ken answered, "Thank you, Keira." He said that while checking his documents in front of his laptop. He looked so serious doing that. Keira pulled out a chair across him and sat there. 

Ken lifted his head and looked at her "What are you doing?" he asked. 

Keira crossed her hands and sat comfortably. She smiled to him and said, "I'm sitting in front of you, boss." 

Ken raised one of his eyebrows "Did i tell you to sit there?" he asked. 

Keira chuckled, "i want to tell you something, boss! I met a girl when i bought you Americano." She said with a weird smile on her face. 

Ken was confused about what she was trying to say "So...?" he asked. 

"Well, she was cute, beautiful and i could tell that she was a good person. Looked like she was in her mid 20s." She explained to him.

Ken still didn't get what she was trying to say so he told her "Keira, i'm a little bit busy right now, don't beat around the bush and get straight to the point." 

Keira smiled, moved her body forward towards Ken and said "why don't you meet her, boss? It's been a longtime since the last time you were in a relationship, right?" 

Ken stunned at her suggestion. "What kind of bullshit are you talking about right now, Keira..." he asked her. 

Keira didn't budge, "well, i noticed that you were kinda moody lately and you turned to be even more colder lately. You know, boss... i think you are lonely. That's why i suggested you to meet that girl. Maybe she could add warmth to your life." She explained enthusiastically. 

Ken smirked and responded "Keira.... that is bullshit. I'm not lonely. And what's with your idea? Do you actually serious about that? You want me to meet a random girl who works at a coffee shop because you think she would add warmth to my life? Please, Keira. I'm very busy right now." 

Keira got up from the chair and turned her back to walk out of his office, she then stopped near his office's door and turned her head again to his direction and said "Think about it, boss. It can be a really good idea, don't you think?" after she said that, she walked out from his office.

Ken sighed heavily while putting his right hand on his forehead, he took his Americano and sipped it "Damn. This Americano is quite good." He thought to himself. He turned his chair to face the wide window behind him, he could see the view of a very busy Dynamic City from his office, suddenly his mind was flooded with thoughts while he was watching the view, "People are very busy with their lives... There's no time to feel lonely because we are so busy at what we're doing, right? Or maybe.... it was only me who actually think like that...? Do all of those busy people get to go home to their loved ones at the end of the day...?"

He was so absorbed in his own thoughts, he didn't realize that his phone was ringing for quite a while... 

He finally pulled himself back together and quickly picked his up his phone "Hello?" he said with a low voice. 

"Hello, Ken? It's me!" said the person from the other line. 

"Yes, Cliff i know. What's wrong?" Ken answered. 

Cliff was a long time friend of Ken. He was probably the most closest friend that Ken ever had. They knew each other since Junior High School. 

"What's with that cold voice of yours? Don't you miss me? I just arrived at New York like one hour ago. Let's meet up tonight, Ken!" he said excitedly. 

Ken was a little bit hesitant about that "Hmm, i don't know about that, Cliff... I still have a lot of work to do..." but Cliff didn't give up, he said "Oh come one! It's been ages since the last time we met! Make a little time for this childhood friend of yours, you workaholic!"

Suddenly, Ken remembered what Keira said about this girl that worked at a coffee shop near his office. He took his Americano and looked at the name of its coffee shop 'Opera Coffee Shop'

"Hello, Ken? You still there??" Cliff asked Ken because he thought Ken has disconnected his phone. 

"Yes, i'm still here. So, you want to meet up?" Ken asked him. 

"Of course!" He answered with such a happy voice. 

"Let's meet up tonight at this coffee shop called Opera Coffee Shop near my office building. I'll see you at 8 tonight!" Ken said with his usual low and calm voice. 

"Alright! See you at 8!" Cliff said happily. Ken hung up the phone after that.

He then got up from his chair and stood near the window, he said to himself "What the hell did i do? Do i actually want to meet this girl...?" he sighed. He reached out for his phone on his work desk and pressed his personal secretary's number.

"Hello, boss?" Keira answered. 

"What's her name?" Ken asked her straightly. 

"Huh? What do you mean, boss?" Keira asked him back in confusion. 

"The girl in the coffee shop that you told me earlier. What is her name?" He explained to her and asked her again. 

"Ah! Actually i didn't ask for her name..." Keira answered. 

"What? How am i supposed to find her then?" Ken raised his voice a little bit. 

"Wait... didn't you say that you were too busy? And you even said that my idea was bullshit." Keira defended herself. 

"Tsk... Forget it then. You're right. Your idea was bullshit." As he was about to hang up the phone, Keira talked to him "Wait boss! I seriously forgot to ask for her name, but she's so easy to spot... She doesn't have any make up on and yet she still looks so beautiful. Way more beautiful than most women who have a full make up on their faces. You'll see her and you'll know right away that it is her." Keira explained to him in admiration. 

"What kind of explanation is that... Okay then. I'll go to Opera Coffee Shop tonight. I hope that this girl that you speak so highly of didn't disappoint." He hung up the phone after he said that. He sat down again on his chair and thought to himself "I must be crazy..."

.

.

.

It was 8 PM, Ken was seen standing outside of Opera Coffee Shop. He was a little bit hesitant to go in. He doubted whether he did the right thing by coming to this coffee shop. He finally decided to push the door and come in. He walked and chose to sit on the sofa near the window, he looked around to search for the girl that Keira has been talking about. 

Suddenly, a beautiful girl with no make up on and her hair tied up in a bun appeared in front of him and said to him in a gentle voice "Welcome, sir. Can i take your order?" Yes. It was indeed Lara. 

Ken stared at her with a piercing eyes and smirked. He said "Found you." 

Lara found his gaze to be a little bit intimidating but she kept her composure and asked him again "Excuse me, sir?" 

Ken answered her in a calm voice "Ah, yes, i would like to order Americano and Egg & Cheese Croissant..." 

She wrote his order and said "Okay, anything else, sir...?" 

Ken lowered his face and looked through the book menu "Hmm... i think no. That would be it for now." He said with a cold smile on his face, sending shivers down to Lara's spine.

Suddenly, someone tapped Ken's shoulder hardly from behind "Yo!! Ken Randall!!!" He shouted happily, it was Cliff. 

Ken was a little bit surprised and sighed in relief as soon as he saw Cliff's face. "You surprised me, Cliff." He got up from the sofa and gave Cliff a bro-hug. 

"How are you? Wow, you look more and more dapper! It's been 2 years since the last time i saw you!" Cliff said excitedly as he sat across of Ken. 

"I'm good... it's just that i've been quite busy lately... you know... work..." Ken answered his longtime friend. 

Cliff has been living in Canada for the last two years because his wife was a Canadian. "Ken, how come you never visited me while i was in Canada for these two years?" Cliff asked him. 

"I told you i was busy." Ken answered calmly. 

"Ouch. That's very cold of you!" Cliff responded to him wittily. 

Lara came to their table and brought Ken's Americano and Egg & Cheese Croissant. She put it down slowly on the table. "Thank you, miss...." Ken suggesting to Lara that he wanted to know her name. 

"Lara, sir." She answered. 

"Thank you, miss Lara." He said with his usual cold smile on his face. 

"Miss Lara, i also want to order the same things like what this guy ordered" Cliff said to Lara while pointing his thumb at Ken. "Okay, sir... Please wait a moment." Lara said politely and excused herself to make Cliff's order.

"What do you think of her?" Ken asked with a low voice as he cutting his Croissant into few pieces.

"What do you mean?" Cliff asked him back in confusion. 

"I think... she's good enough to be my plaything for a while, don't you think?" Ken showed a very scary and cold smirk on his face. 

"What?? Man, come on... i don't like this side of you... besides, she seems to be a really good girl. She's not like your previous playthings, Ken..." Cliff tried to talk some sense to him. 

"How do you know she's a good girl? You don't even know her..." Ken said to him as he sipped his Americano. 

"Well, i don't know but she seems nice." Cliff answered him. 

A few minutes later Lara came and brought Cliff's orders. "Here's your Americano and Croissant, sir" Lara said to Cliff as she put it on the table. "Thank you, Miss Lara." Cliff said to her. 

As Lara turned her back to walk away from their table Ken grabbed her hand with force. Lara was very taken aback, she tried to pulled her hand away from Ken's strong grip but she failed since his grip was too strong for her. She tried to keep her calm and asked Ken 

"Excuse me, sir? Is there anything else that you need from me?" she asked with a polite tone. 

Cliff watched Ken's move on Lara with discomfort look on his face, Cliff tried to talk to Ken "Ken... Dude... What are you doing? Let her go, you are scaring this lady..." 

Ken looked at Cliff and turned hie eyes on Lara, he slowly let go of his grip and asked Lara 

"Oh, sorry Miss... Did i scare you?" He smirked while asking her. 

His cold and scary smirk made Lara felt uncomfortable, but she braved a smile and answered him "N-no... sir... I'm fine..." 

Ken noticed that her hand was shaking a little bit, he smiled and asked her again "Are you sure you are okay? Your hand is shaking, you know..." he pointed her shaking hand. 

Lara looked at him and thought to herself "What's wrong with the person? He is scary. Have i done something wrong to him before?" she gulped and decided to brave herself to ask him "Sir... do i know you? Have we met before?" her voice was a little bit shaky when she asked him that. 

"No. We never met before" he answered as he sipped his Americano.

Lara looked at him in confusion and said to him "Oh... S-sorry, sir... Please excuse me" she excused herself hurriedly.

"Geez... what did you do, Ken? You made her uncomfortable" Cliff asked him with serious tone

"I told you right? I'm going to make her my plaything..." Ken answered him with such a relax tone as he sipped his Americano and ate his croissant.

"Man... Seriously... Enough with your plaything, it's time for you to search for your true love, don't you think? Rather than looking for a plaything, isn't it more nice to have someone who will stay by your side through thick and thin? Don't you crave to have someone like that in your life, Ken?" Cliff asked as he was worried about him.

Ken stared at him with his piercing eyes and said "Cliff... you sure have a big mouth." His stare sent shivers down to Cliff's spine.

Cliff knew that Ken was pissed. Ken never liked when people lectured him about something. Cliff tried to keep his calm face and continued saying "You know that i just want the very best for you, right? In my opinion, it's time for you to find happiness with someone you love..."

"Happiness? Someone i love? Cliff, you know me... I don't understand those things. I was happy when you got married two years ago, but i could never see myself doing the things that you did. Life is a game, Cliff. You play the game or you get played. And i don't want to get played by other people, so the only choice that i have left is to play the game. As simple as that." Ken explained with his usual calm voice. Even though he looked calm from the outside when he said that, Cliff could feel the emptiness from his voice.

"Got it... i just... you know, man... i just want you to be happy..." Cliff said with a concern look on his face.

Ken noticed his concern and said to him "Don't worry. I'm happy in my own way. And thank you for your concern." He smiled at his longtime friend.

Cliff looked at his watch, and he said "Ah, it's 10 already, i promised my wife to be home at 11. I think i should get going now, Ken." he said to Ken as he prepared to leave. "Are you not going home, Ken?" he asked to his friend who was still busy eating his Croissant.

"I'll stay for a little longer. You can go home first." He answered shortly. Cliff got worried and said him "You won't do anything foolish, right?" Ken stopped cutting his Croissant and glared at Cliff who was standing in front of him

"Go home, Cliff." He said coldly.

Cliff knew right away that Ken was slightly pissed. He sighed "Alright. I'll go home first. Glad to meet you after a long time, dude. Let's meet up again soon!" He said while tapping Ken's shoulder. Cliff went home after saying that. Ken was there sipping his Americano. He seemed to think about something. He stayed there until 11 PM and finally decided to go home. He looked around and searched for Lara, he saw Lara was cleaning up the table in the corner, he suddenly walked towards her and said "Miss Lara..."

"Gosh! You surprised me, sir!" Said Lara still in a surprise state.

"Sorry...Did i surprise you that much?" Ken asked with his wicked smile. Lara didn't really like to see his smile. She felt something terrifying from his smile. "Ah no sir, it's okay... i was too focused cleaning this table i didn't know you were standing behind me. What can i help you, sir?" She said with a forced smile.

"Miss Lara, what time you finish your work?" Ken asked with polite tone.

"Ah... i'm about to finish, sir... maybe in 15 minutes..." Lara answered

"Okay... i'll wait for you and i'll take you home." Ken offered to take her home.

"No... no no, sir. Thank you so much, but it's not necessary. I live near here so i can go home by myself." She refused politely

Ken smirked and said "i didn't ask for your agreement to take you home, Miss Lara. I insisted to take you home."

She looked at him in confusion and a little bit afraid "What is wrong with this person. He is seriously scary." She thought to herself. "Sir... you really don't have to do that..." she braved herself to answer him and refused his offer again.

"I insist, Miss. And, it's dangerous to go home by yourself at this hour." He told her while staring at her intensely.