As the afternoon sun cast a mellow glow through the café windows, you found yourself going through the motions of your usual cleaning routine, the soft scraping of chair legs against the floor and the gentle clinking of dishes being the only sounds that broke the tranquil silence. Your mind wandered as you cleared the tables, wiping down the surfaces until they shone, a tinge of melancholy lingering in your thoughts. The café had been particularly quiet today, with only a handful of customers gracing the cozy space, leaving you with an unsettling sense of emptiness. Lost in your thoughts, you hardly noticed when the bell above the door chimed softly, announcing the arrival of a new patron. As you turned to greet them, your breath caught in your throat, eyes widening slightly as you took in the sight before you. The man who stood just inside the doorway was undeniably adult, his presence commanding attention despite his quiet demeanor.

He was dressed impeccably, a crisp dark blue shirt tucked neatly into a pair of tailored gray suit pants that hugged his well-maintained physique in all the right places. Over his shirt, he wore a dark gray suit coat, the fine fabric speaking to his refined taste and the care with which he took his appearance. A black tie, knotted with practiced ease, completed his ensemble, the dark shade a stark contrast to the lighter hues of his outfit.

As he took a step further into the café, the floorboards creaking softly beneath his polished dress shoes, the man's gaze met yours. His eyes, a piercing blue that seemed to hold the depth of the ocean on a clear day, regarded you with a calm intensity that sent a shiver down your spine. There was a certain aura about him, a quiet confidence and an air of sophistication that spoke of a man who had not only made a success of himself but had also developed a certain level of wisdom and maturity along the way.

"Excuse me, miss..." he said, his voice a low, calm baritone that seemed to resonate through the quiet café. "Is this café still open?"