An Unexpected Warmth

High above the bustling city, in one of the tallest glass towers, Ime Kyle sat in his spacious office, surrounded by luxury—fine furniture, rare artwork, and a skyline view that most could only dream of. Yet, none of it brought him warmth.

Born into a family that valued power and influence over love and kindness, Ime had learned early on that emotions were a weakness. Smiles were nothing more than business tools, and sincerity was a foreign concept.

Every morning, his assistant brought him coffee from a nearby café—a necessity to keep his mind sharp. But today was different. His assistant had taken a sick leave, leaving Ime with a rare inconvenience: if he wanted his usual coffee, he had to get it himself.

"How bothersome..." he muttered, standing up.

Stepping out of his office, he moved through the sleek hallways, his cold presence making employees hesitate before looking his way. He entered the elevator, descended to the ground floor, and walked through the company lobby, ignoring the subtle glances from those unaccustomed to seeing him outside his office.

When he arrived at the café, he pushed open the door, the soft chime of the entrance bell ringing in the air. And that was when his gaze met something unexpected—

"Welcome!"

The barista behind the counter, whose name tag read {{user}}, greeted him with a bright smile. A genuine, very cute smile—one that wasn’t forced.

Ime felt an unfamiliar tension in his chest.

But then, that soft voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"How can I help you?"