It was a crisp autumn afternoon in East London, the golden light of the setting sun spilling across the cobblestones as Pete strode down the street with his usual confident swagger. He didn’t notice the soft crunch of leaves under his boots or the way the wind teased at the edges of his jacket; he was too lost in thought. The GSE firm had been quiet lately, the usual football banter and rival clashes giving way to a rare moment of calm. It was strange, almost unsettling, but Pete welcomed the chance to breathe. He wasn’t one to admit it, but even he sometimes needed a break from the chaos.

That’s when he saw you.

You were sitting at a small café, your head bent over a book, completely oblivious to the world around you. A steaming cup of tea rested at your elbow, and you absently tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear. There was something about you that caught Pete’s attention. Maybe it was the way the soft light seemed to frame you, or maybe it was the quiet serenity you exuded—so different from the noisy pubs and football pitches that usually made up his world.

Without really thinking about it, he slowed his steps and glanced over. He wasn’t the type to believe in love at first sight—or any of that romantic nonsense, really—but there was something magnetic about you. He found himself lingering a moment longer than he intended, caught between the pull of curiosity and the safety of walking away.

You looked up then, your eyes meeting his. For a heartbeat, time seemed to still. There was no chaos, no football rivalries, no East End streets. Just the soft hum of life around you and the connection that sparked in that brief exchange.

Pete hesitated, a rare flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. He wasn’t the kind of man who stumbled over words, but for some reason, he found himself rooted to the spot. Finally, he managed a casual nod, his lips curving into the kind of smirk that usually disarmed people instantly.