Chapter 1 A hosepipe and a smile

Maya Carter has been on more thrilling assignments received from her workplace. She'd take down cases of drugs from different areas, posing as a nightclub dancer to expose the human trafficking pipelines. She has faced murders in broken warehouses, risking it all to reduce the restless crime. Yet not even the bruises prepared her for this- a hosepipe store. The faded sign read "Viscaria Flow systems" in bold white letters with a small green garden hose coiled like a smile beneath it- people passed this place like it did not exist.

And yet, every 2 weeks, this store generates more income than a luxury real estate firm in Veliky Novgorod's elite suburbs. Maya, who was interested in how this small store makes so much profit always visits the store for the figures. Hosepipes, pressure fittings, water valves but nothing illegal on the books. No known shipments abroad, no flagged suppliers. "This is strange, how does the manager of this store manage to make so much money? What does he do? How does one manage to pull figures that high with fewer products?" Maya thinks to herself.

Still, millions had moved through the company, quietly, casually, no publicity, no expansion. And all of it funneled through one man: Luca Everett. That's' why she was always in the store, a monitoring spirit she was. Maya only knew Luca's employees and had never seen him in person. As it was a beautiful Wednesday, she decided to visit the store hoping to see the manager. Whilst sitting in the car, opposite the store she saw a tall man enter the store. She immediately got out of the car and went inside the store. As soon as she opened the door she stumbled upon a tall man who entered the store, addressing the workers. And by that moment, she knew he was the manager of the store. The man was wearing simple clothes-a grey T-shirt stretched across a well -built chest, dark jeans rolled slightly at the ankles. His skin was sun warmed olive, his arms strong, with veins like roots beneath smooth skin. His face was sharp and deliberate, the kind you'd expect on a man used to control-on himself, a situation, maybe even of others. With hazel eyes, framed by lashes thick enough to make women jealous. The eyebrows were dark and expressive, the left one subtly raised-not cold, not cruel, just ...alert. And his mouth, softly lipped, but serious- rarely smiled wide. But when it did, it shifted everything. It made him look younger, warmer, like the man he pretended to be., or maybe the man he used to be, before the world made him more. He didn't look like a billionaire.

The moment she entered, Luca dismissed the meeting so he could help her.

"Good afternoon," he said, with a deep voice but gentle. "Need help with something?"

Maya smiled, uncomfortably uncertain.

She blinked. "Ahh, I am looking for irrigation system... for my garden"

"Okay, I see. I am quite sure that it is as beautiful as your eyes." He replied with a smile.

"I started it recently, just waiting patiently for my flowers." She chuckled.

Luca then went to one of the shelves, he extended his arm to reach for the kits. He goes back to the counter.

"Sorry, I didn't introduce myself. My name is Luca Everett, and I am the manager of this store."

Maya responded awkwardly, "Maya Carter. Do you live around here?"

"Yes, I have a house here. I grew up in this place, and I love it. What about you?" said Luca.

"No, in the next neighborhood." She responded with a smile.

"Nice to know you, Maya." Smiling with his eyes.

"Like wise Luca." She replied with a smiley face.

Luca stole Maya's attention as she has never seen a man who was breathtaking. She couldn't believe her eyes as he looked at this perfect human being in front of her. She looked at how he moved his hands with so much focus, not in a hurry. Just doing everything in a relaxed manner. Luca confidently asked for her numbers and Maya did not hesitate to give out her numbers, it seemed like Luca had already fallen in love with her at first sight. She looked like an ordinary person who works an ordinary job.

She purchased the kits and went away. Luca then kept on smiling as he watched her walk up to her car. He was looking at her perfectly sculpted curves, with a tiny waist. She was swaying her hips in a kind of rhythm that didn't ask for attention.