It feels like forever since I've been outside. The sun was hitting my face and I winced at the brightness of it. I feel like a vampire coming out of hiding from the shadows.

The sidewalk we were on was not that busy, nor was it empty. The little coffee shop we're heading to is just a five minute walk, so it would have been useless and stupid to drive there and waste gas.

Chopard is just a step behind me, he doesn't make the move to speed up to walk alongside me, which is fine, because I can keep a close eye on him from the corner of my eye.

Further behind Chopard is the bodyguard, my personal one. Anytime I need to step out of the office for something like this, I am to be escorted by him.

Then from the corner of my eyes, I see Chopard moving to my left as he takes the side of where cars are traveling, moving me towards the building side. I don't know why he did that, but now I'm more suspicious than ever.

Now he's walking side to side with me, our suits glazing each other occasionally.

Normally, I would like my space in these times, but there is hardly any space for us to move. If I move, then other people walking would be in my space, and if Chopard moves, then he would be in the street and possibly get hit by other cars.

I rather just stick to this and the occasional touching of our fabric for now.

Almost reaching the coffee shop, seeing it up ahead in eyesight, I hear a throat being cleared close to me.

"So" Chopard started out, putting his hands into his pockets, "Why do you need security to walk around with you? The shop is just a five minute walk"

I have to say, he's good, he's acting like he's genuinely asking me why I need security, but I know the real reason he's asking.

He's asking because if he plans to take me out right here and right now, then the bodyguard would be in the way of his evil plan. He convinces me why I shouldn't need a bodyguard, hence why he stated the shop is a few minutes walk.

I bet he paid someone off to try and kill me.

I can picture a hitman hiding in the shadows of the building, just waiting to strike whenever there is a chance. Or a sniper, just hanging around on the roof of a high building, looking at me or my bodyguard through the eye shot.

I know I'm probably being dramatic but I can't take any chances, there's a history of CEOs or powerful business leaders getting killed off because of their power and other people wanting to take that away.

I made the mistake of going out alone when my company started surpassing other companies and all I can say is that it did not turn out well.

Despite my suspicious about the question, I answered, "Well, it's not like all these people around me don't have bad intentions, in fact, why don't I just take a stroll everyday with a bodyguard and let's see what happens"

I know it was so unnecessary to be sarcastic about the question, but in an underlying tone, I have to let him know that I won't bring my guard now, that would be stupid of–

My train of thoughts stopped midway, as something or someone caught my eye. A person pointing a camera directly towards me and Chopard.

They don't even try to hide that they're taking pictures. That's their job, to take pictures without consent so they earn a decent paycheck.

Paparazzis, the only reason why I dislike my job now, I can't even go outside without some idiot trying to get my attention to make me look into the camera, or just non stop following me until I go inside somewhere.

But it could be worse, celebrities have to deal with tens of hundreds of them, whilst I only deal with two, three at max.

A blessing in disguise, I guess.

Thank god we are almost there, I felt like this walk took longer than usual, also considering the amount of people on the sidewalk.

As the paparazzi is still taking photos or videos of us, from the corner of my eye, I see that Chopard is startled by seeing this, he tries his best not to be seen or captured in the photo by covering his face with his hand.

But we are in broad daylight, so there's no hiding at this point.

As we finally made it to the coffee shop, the guy then leaves as he's not allowed to take photos inside private property.

My bodyguard goes into the corner of the shop and stands by, observing the surroundings, and making sure that there are no threats.

Some people looked at us as we walked in, probably being curious about the guy in a black and white suit walking in a coffee shop and standing in the corner.

As soon as some workers saw me walk in, they immediately started to clean up a table of two for us, stating that our table would be reserved just for us.

Chopard looks stunned as everything unfolds in front of his eyes, not a word has left his mouth ever since he asked that question.

Unlike the paparazzis, there are some perks to being a successful CEO, like being able to walk into a small shop and the workers treat you like royalty, unlike all the other paying customers.

The difference between me and the regular customers is that I've been their sponsor since they opened, which was a good move on my part when I started my career, because the coffee shop has been gaining massive success, my name and my company is connected to it.

And resulting in that, I can practically do whatever I want in here and the owner is just going to look away.

But given that thought, I'm not a monster, I'm not just going to tore up the place or completely close it down just because I feel like it. I hardly come in here.

We headed to the counter to order but Chopard tried to get to the back of the already long line, but I ignored him as I headed straight to the front.

Chopard must have seen that I wasn't following him to the back, so he shyly scooted past people as he slid right by my side.

He was about to speak but I cut him off as I ordered, "I would like a small black coffee, please"

The cashier nodded and put on her customer service face as I turned to Chopard, expecting him to order, but no. He stays silent as he continues looking between me, the cashier and the long line of people that don't look very happy right now.

Not that I give a shit about other people anyways.

"Ms. Cantrell" He said suddenly, probably coming out of the realization that a lot of people are waiting on him, "We just cut the line, these people are looking kind of angry"

"Chopard" I said slowly, making him turn to face me. I locked eyes with him as I said, "Does it look like I give a shit right now?"

His eyes widened as he took in my response to his observation.

"My time is more important and plus" I paused, "This is just a little coffee break, we'll be in and out"

That statement might come back to bite me in the ass later, but I don't care.

In this day of age, like I said before, kindness gets you nowhere. It gets you betrayed, hurt and deeply wounded.

I have no time to worry about other people in this world, I'm only going to do things that will benefit me and my life. Yes, I will be selfish, but that is how you win in this world. Some people may not accept the truth, others cannot bear the thought that being selfish is the only thing raising you to the top.

If I were to cater to everyone else and be so kind that people would walk all over me, then I wouldn't be anywhere in life, I wouldn't have my company or people. I would probably be working a dead end job, making some other old guy rich.

Getting sucked into the patriarchy like many other people.

I refused to go down that path, so I worked hard for what I have now. No way I'm going to diminish that by caring about a line at a coffee shop.

And speaking of the line in here, I know everyone is wanting to say something or throwing something at me, but they can't, they can if they want to, but that just means more trouble for them rather than me.

I guess most of them know who I am, and how ruthless I will become when it comes to blatant disrespect.

So all they can do is put their ego aside, and stay quiet about me cutting a line and saying that my time is more important.

Which it is, I'm the CEO of a large global company, I probably worked more hours than anyone standing here.

That sounded so tone deaf thinking about it, but I'm not going to discard the work I put into building my empire and my wealth.

As I caught myself thinking about all that, I realized that Liam has been silent since I said that, he just stares at the floor, like he's actually shocked that I said that.

He must have noticed that I'm staring at him, waiting for him to order what he wants.

"Oh-um" He looks up at the menu, deciding what he wants, "I'll have a black coffee as well"

The cashier nodded as she rang up the orders.

Chopard then reached into his pocket and for a second, I was confused, maybe he was tired of waiting and he was going to pull out a knife and stab me right here and right now.

Before I can turn to my bodyguard, he pulls out his wallet, quickly sliding out his card, and tries to hand it to the cashier.

Before I can correct his mistakes, I have to take a second to calm myself down, he's quick, I thought, he can pull anything out from his pocket within a split second.

Now I have to keep an eye out for that as well.

Snapping myself from my thoughts, the cashier is looking between me and Chopard, unsure if she should take his card or not. A little bit of sweat merges onto her forehead as if time is running out and if it does, the whole shop is going to explode.

I opened my mouth to spare the cashier the awkwardness, and Chopard the embarrassment.

"It's automatic, Chopard" Looking at his face, he seems not to get it, "When I get something here, it goes on my bill automatically, and it gets send to the company"

Chopard gasped quietly as he quickly put his card away. A slight tint of pink appears on his face as he looks down to spare himself more embarrassment.

The cashier then rings up our drinks, and leaves the counter for a second, Chopard doesn't say anything more as the girl comes back and hands us our coffee.

"Have a good day!" she says excitedly.

I nodded as me and Chopard started heading towards our reserved table. Whilst heading over there to sit down, I looked beyond the line of people that are no doubt angry at me for cutting the line.

As a response, I just smirk as I held my coffee up, and nodded my head as a form of 'fuck you too'.

Now I have to see what Chopard wants to know about me.

Wondering what's he going to ask...

-Summer Roe