A million stars up in the sky, one shines brighter I cant deny.

A love so precious, a love so true,

A love that comes from me to you - Unknown

Chapter One

It was a warm morning in New York. The spring was weaving its beauty into the weather. Austin woke up with the blaring sound of alarm on his phone and turned it off the moment he located it on the bedside table. Closing his eyes, he pulled Zoe closer and snuggled into her. A smile crept on her face recognising his warmth and she held his arms that were wrapped around her waist nullifying the distance between them.

"Baby, it's 7, you should get up now or else you'll be late" she mumbled finding a comfort spot on her pillow.

Austin just hummed in reply and sighed.

"That stupid boss of mine will start barking like a dog if I'm late. Why am I still working there?" Austin started with his routine rant sitting on the bed.

"Because you love auditing and that's the best firm in the city. Now common move that lazy ass out of the bed and get ready. I'll keep the breakfast ready." Zoe said stepping out of the bed, tying her hair in a messy bun. Stomping his foot like a kid, Austin walked into the washroom.

20 minutes later when Austin walked out of the washroom, he observed that the room was clean like no one ever slept there. The sheets were without a crease, the translucent curtains were drawn making the room glow in the golden hues of the morning light, just the way he liked. The used clothes were in the basket which he left somewhere in the room when he walked in dead tired last night. And last but not the least, his clothes for the day were kept on the bed and flowers were changed in the vase next to photo frame which held a beautiful picture from their last trip. Zoe was a epitome of perfection.

"What do we have for breakfast today?" he asked walking out of the bedroom all ready to leave for the day. Wearing black formal pants with grey shirt and a black blazer, Austin was too cool to be an auditor Zoe thought to herself. His one day old stubble, his natural dark blonde hair and those deep blue eyes, he was looking like a magazine model.

"Bacon, boiled egg and Choco-chip pancakes with your favourite black coffee" Zoe placed a large quantity of food in his plate and passed it to him. She knew he would often skip his lunch drowned in work and she couldn't let him starve for whatever reason it was.

"You start, I'll be back in 5" she said walking into their room.

When Zoe walked back, she saw Austin looking at his phone, probably reading his emails from work. She rolled her eyes and snatched it from his hand making him groan in annoyance.

"It was important Zoe" he tried taking it back, but what she did next shook the living daylights within him.

Zoe was standing next to the dishwasher and put his phone inside it. She was just a click away from pressing the star button.

"Nooooooooo, please don't. its new, I brought it last month, you know how much I love that" Austin screamed to which Zoe pointed her finger gesturing him to sit on the chair.

"If you are not finishing everything on that plate, forget your phone Mr. Brooks" she said making him gulp in fear. He nodded his head in a yes like an obedient kid and finished eating in record time.

"Now, my phone please" he was ready to beg if needed for that.

Zoe stifled a laugh and pointed at the table. Austin's eyes widened in surprise. He didn't even realise when she had kept it back. He walked close to her and stood between her legs wrapping his arms around her waist.

"You know that I love you right?" he said tucking her messy hair behind her ears. Blush crept her cheeks and she nodded her head in a yes looking down. Austin couldn't believe if she was true. Her greyish blue eyes that sparkled when she sees him, her chubby rosy cheeks contrast to her milky white skin, her deliciously brown hair which was wavy and long. Everything about her fascinated him. She was a human doll who came into his mechanical boring life.

"Stop staring and go now, you'll be late otherwise" she said pushing him, but he held her hand which was on his chest. Kissing her palms, cupping her face and placing a warm kiss on her forehead, he hugged her for the last time before leaving the house not before shouting an "I love you my munchkin" as per his daily ritual.

Zoe kicked her legs and did a mini dance to express her happiness giggling like a kid. Then composing herself after looking at the clock, she finished her breakfast and dumping everything in the kitchen sink, she moved into the bathroom to get ready and leave for the day.

Everything was back in place neat and clean by the time Zoe was walking out of the house with her favourite Cuppachino in a disposable cup.

Zoe drove to her café, 'Wake up Manhattan' that sold the best coffee, cookies and croissants in the city.

She greeted her staff Sophie, Noah and Rose with a smile. The moment the sign on the door turned 'Open' people were buzzing in for the morning joe.

*********

See you next Monday!

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Until next time

Neeraja :)