AN (5/25/23): The first few chapters of this are a little clunky in terms of POV shifts and writing style, but I promise it gets better as it goes on. I was getting back into writing fanfic when I started this (opposed to the academic style I am used to from school) but I find my groove around like six / seven. I am also in the process of editing the first half of this book to make it flow a little better! 

Auden O'Donovan had only been at her new job for a month when she was tasked with holding the annual banquet for a smaller-scale local art gallery, celebrating donors and annual members for their contribution to the art world.

Auden was not very familiar with the Dublin area, nor the museum's connections to the community. She found the job very daunting but also as an opportunity to build her name within the Dublin art scene. As an American, Auden already stuck out like a sore thumb among her coworkers. She was from the Midwest, and as a result too soft-spoken and too aware of everybody's emotions, and her resting face came off a little bitchy. To top it off, her childhood left her emotionally reserved and she struggled with making friends because of it.

Prior to her move to Dublin, Auden worked for six years to become Dr. Auden O'Donovan and earn her PhD in Art History. She even landed her dream job to teach Art History at her alumna matter, the University of Chicago. However, the world had other plans for her. The reality of life had gotten in the way of dreams, tainting them, her city, and her career. Instead of dealing with it, Auden did what she always had done: she ran. Auden took the first job overseas that gave her an offer, putting thousands of miles between her and Chicago. In Dublin, she was no longer Dr. Auden O'Donovan, Assistant Professor of Art History -- she was someone entirely new, with no connections or pre-existing history with anyone she encountered. And Auden was okay with that.

In the months leading up to the banquet, Auden dove headfirst into party planning, reading countless articles on how to manage such a large-scale event. She considered hiring a party planner, but decided against it, thinking that it would make her look weak. She wanted to prove to her co-workers that she was capable of doing her job and not some outsider.

"I think I really pulled this off," Auden remarked to her secretary on the phone. The banquet was only one day away, and to celebrate she stopped by a local coffee shop to grab coffee and pastries for herself and her secretary.

"I just confirmed with the caterer a few moments ago," Brigid remarked, her thick Irish accent rolling off her tongue. Brigid seemed to be Auden's only friend in Dublin. As her secretary, Brigid was forced to get to know Auden rather quickly and discovered that Auden was simply misunderstood. Auden was very guarded, yes, but underneath she was funny, kind-hearted and warm.

Auden smiled at the barista behind the counter when she entered. The shop was fairly empty, with only two costumers spread out between the tables of the shop. "Well, I'll be in shortly with goodies. Hold any calls until I get there, please," Auden requested before hanging up the phone and slipping it into her canvas bag.

"'Ello, what can I do ya for?" The barista asked. The girl behind the counter smiled warmly. She was a few years younger than Auden, with wild, curly red hair.

"May I get two vanilla lattes and two blueberry danishes please?" Auden asked.

The young girl nodded as she began to pack up the pastries, handing them to Auden. Auden paused for a moment, wondering how she was going to carry the food and the coffee when it was done. Clearly, she didn't think this through. "Can I get a drink carrier?" Auden inquired.

The barista nodded once more, pulling out a carrier and placing her two hot coffees across from one another so it wouldn't be too top heavy. Auden handed the barista a wad of money, "Keep the change," She stated, "As your tip."

The young girl stared at her blankly. "Tip?" Her red brows furrowed in confusion before her face lit up. "Oh right, you're American. We don't do tipping here."

Auden felt heat rise to her cheeks, slightly embarrassed. She still had a lot to get used to living in Ireland. As the barista fished out Auden's change, Auden placed the two danishes in her bag carefully before taking the coins from the barista and shoving it in her pants pocket. The weather was shifting into fall, leaving the mornings chilly and the afternoon hot. So Auden had opted for dark jeans and a loose-fitting green sweater in an effort to adhere to both radically different climates.

As Auden turned to leave, she realized that she had left the coffee carrier on the counter.

"Oh shoot," Auden sighed, turning back around quickly as the front doorbell rang throughout the cafe. Auden glanced down at her watch, dread filling at the bottom of her stomach. "Fuck, I'm going to be late!" She hissed, whipping around to leave.

Too preoccupied with herself, Auden didn't take notice to the man who had walked in, and moved to stand directly behind her. As she turned, her forehead came crashing into dark black fabric. Pain seared down her chest as the hot lattes seeped through her green sweater and down her bare skin. "Shit," she whispered to herself, looking down at her now coffee-stained sweater.

"Are you alright?" A deep voice asked.

Auden shook her head, looking up at the person she unknowingly assaulted. Auden froze, her body turning cold. 

The man in front of her, wearing a dark oversized sweater and blue jeans, looked extremely familiar. His eyes were icy blue, with deep brown hair, looking almost black if it hadn't been for the lighting, that angled his high cheekbones. Streaks of gray could be seen around the ears and his facial hair was subtle. He was quite attractive, despite the obvious gap in age.

Why do I recognize him?

The barista came rushing over, shoving napkins at Auden before turning her attention to the familiar face before her.

"Mr. Murphy, are you okay?" The barista asked frantically.

Realization hit Auden like a ton of bricks. She felt her breath hitch high in her throat, as her mouth dropped open. Cillian Murphy, the actor. THE actor?

Auden's stomach twisted as she began to nervously sweat. She began to think of all the movies she had seen him in...Inception. Batman. Breakfast on Pluto. Dunkirk. Auden gaped.

"I'm fine, really." Cillian said, stepping past the barista. "Are you alright?" he turned to Auden, his brows creasing in concern.  

Auden stared at him for a moment, frozen in her spot, forgetting how to function entirely. After a long moment of awkward silence, Cillian arched an eyebrow at her before clearing his throat, snapping Auden out of her daze. She shook her head quickly, "Um-yeah I'm fine, thank you. Are you okay?"

Cillian nodded, quickly noticing her accent. "You're American?" he wondered.

"Are you Cillian Murphy?" Auden blurted out, a little too loudly at the same moment that Cillian spoke. The barista shot her a nasty glare, as if Auden wasn't supposed to ask the man his name.

Cillian shifted awkwardly, averting his eyes away from Auden but letting out a soft chuckle. "Uh, yes." he turned to the barista, "Remake those drinks, I'll pay for them."

The girl turned to the counter, "Would you like your usual?" Cillian nodded in response before returning to Auden.

Her Midwestern politeness kicked into gear, "I am so sorry. Really you do not need to buy me anything. I can pay for it again. I'm the one who ran into you," Auden tore her eyes away from Cillian and finally began to wipe up the coffee from her shirt. It was pointless, as the stains had already begun to settle in, but it gave her something to do so she wouldn't freak out. Her hands were trembling slightly, causing her to drop the napkin.

Cillian bent down to pick it up, handing the damp napkin back to Auden. Their fingers brushed together as he did so, sending a shock through Auden's arm. "It's the least I could do," Cillian stated, moving towards the counter to pay the barista for the drinks.

"I'm seriously terribly sorry." Auden repeated, throwing away the used napkins. "Are you alright?" she asked again. She looked up at Cillian once more. His eyes were on her, watching her shaky movements. 

In Cillian's mind, he was used to this reaction from people. It was the price he had to pay for becoming an actor. At first, people who were starstruck by him tended to amuse him. But now, it mostly annoyed him. Cillian didn't like the limelight, and everyone wanted a picture to prove they had met someone famous. No one really cared to talk with him.

"I'm fine," He replied. The girl had warm, auburn-colored waves that hung just above her shoulders, flipping slightly at the ends. Strands of it came across her face wildly in an almost distracting way. Cillian noticed immediately the lightness of her eyes - they were almost a sage green in the sun that was coming through the cafe window. They matched the color of her sweater. Her face was round with her nose turned up slightly. She was pretty, but far too young for Cillian. 

However, that didn't stop him from being curious about the American woman. Cocking his head to the side, he asked, "What's your name?"

Auden blinked, taken aback from this sudden interest, "Auden."

Cillian stuck his hand out, "Well, it's nice to meet you."

Auden took his hand gently. His hand was rough and dry, compared to her soft and sweaty palm. She felt even more embarrassed when she noticed how sweaty her hands had gotten. "It's nice to run into you," she smiled meekly.

Cillian chuckled, "Well I better be going. I'll see you tomorrow, Katie," Cillian addressed the barista before turning and leaving the cafe.

As soon as Cillian left, Auden turned her head to the ceiling and sighed deeply. Meeting a celebrity was definitely not on her list of firsts today.