The Love I Never Saw Simi Thomas has always chased stories - never her own. When a charming author and her best friend's brooding brother both step into her life, Simi finds herself caught between safe dreams and dangerous sparks. But love has a way of sneaking up when you least expect it... And sometimes, the one you're meant for is the one you never saw coming.
Chapter 1 The Phantom and the free lancer
The scent of freshly brewed coffee and old books filled the air as I settled into my usual corner of Ashwood Café. The place was always buzzing-authors, students, and book lovers all nestled between wooden shelves and warm lighting. It was the kind of place where inspiration clung to the air like a well-kept secret.
But today, inspiration wasn't enough.
I stared at my laptop screen, the glowing cursor blinking on the empty document like it was judging me. My article was due in three hours, and yet, all I had was the title:
"The Phantom's Words, A Legacy in Ink."
The elusive Phantom of Literature-a ghostwriter, essayist, and critic whose words had shaped the literary world for years. No one knew his identity, and yet, his work had an almost cult-like following. People analyzed his essays, debated his messages, and obsessed over the mystery of who he really was.
And here I was, writing about him, knowing full well that I would never be a name people admired like his.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. I had written countless profiles on authors who had "made it," yet my own half-finished manuscript sat untouched in my Google Drive, gathering digital dust.
"Deep in thought, or just procrastinating again?".
I glanced up, rolling my eyes as Darren Hale took the seat across from me without asking. Dark gray sweater, black watch, hair slightly tousled like he didn't care enough to fix it. He looked like someone who was always five minutes away from leaving.
Darren was my best friend's older brother, but more importantly, he was an infuriating presence in my life. He owned this café-among other things-and took a strange pleasure in lurking around silently like some judgmental literary ghost.
"Shouldn't you be managing your overpriced coffee empire?" I shot back, taking a sip of my vanilla latte.
He smirked. "I prefer watching you suffer over your own self-imposed deadlines. It's entertaining."
"Charming," I muttered.
His eyes flicked to my screen, reading my title. "Writing about The Phantom?"
I narrowed my eyes. "How do you always manage to know what I'm working on?"
Darren lifted a shoulder in a lazy half-shrug. "You have a habit of biting your pen cap when you're stuck. Dead giveaway."
I scowled, dropping my pen. "Maybe if you minded your own business, I'd actually get work done."
He didn't respond, but his lips twitched like he was holding back a comment. Instead, he nodded toward my laptop. "You planning on just romanticizing his mystery, or are you actually going to say something new?"
I crossed my arms. "That's the problem. What is there to say that hasn't been said? No one even knows who he is. He could be an old professor, a failed novelist, or some reclusive billionaire for all we know."
Darren's expression remained unreadable. "Maybe he's just someone who likes his privacy."
I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "If that's the case, why write at all? If I had his talent, I wouldn't hide behind a pseudonym."
For a fleeting second, something shifted in his eyes-something too quick for me to catch. But before I could analyze it, he leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head.
"Maybe talent and recognition aren't the same thing," he said.
The words sat between us, heavy with unspoken meaning.
I frowned. "That sounds suspiciously philosophical for someone who hates small talk."
Darren smirked, but said nothing.
And for reasons I couldn't explain, his silence made my heart thump just a little too hard.
Chapter 1 The Phantom and the free lancer
Today at 01:35
Chapter 2 Survival Kits and Secrets
Today at 01:55
Chapter 3 Soft Cracks in Solid Walls
Today at 18:35
Chapter 4 The Tension in the Air Wasn't Just the Rain
Today at 18:56
Chapter 5 The Author, the Ghost, and the Storm I Didn't See Coming.
Today at 20:06