The Srange Who Stole My Heart

Maya had promised herself she would never fall in love again.It was a promise she had made three years ago, on the coldest night of her life, while sitting alone on the floor of her apartment with tears running down her face.Her fiancé had cheated on her.Not with a stranger.With her best friend.The two people she trusted most had betrayed her at the same time.Since then, Maya had stopped believing in love.She believed in work.She believed in independence.She believed in taking care of herself.But love?No.Love was a beautiful word people used before destroying each other.So Maya built walls around her heart.She worked from morning until evening, went home, watched television, and slept.Her life was quiet.Predictable.Safe.Until one rainy evening changed everything.Maya left her office at nearly nine o'clock.The sky was black, and rain poured heavily onto the streets. She hurried toward her car, holding her handbag above her head."Of course," she muttered. "The one day I forget my umbrella."She unlocked her car and climbed inside.After placing her handbag on the passenger seat, she started the engine.Nothing.She tried again.Nothing."Please don't do this to me."She turned the key again.The engine made a strange clicking sound before dying completely.Maya closed her eyes."Perfect."She tried calling her mechanic.No answer.She called her brother.His phone was switched off.She looked outside.The road was almost empty.Rain hit the windshield so hard that she could barely see the street.Then headlights appeared behind her.A black luxury car stopped several meters away.Maya immediately locked her doors.A tall man stepped out.He carried a black umbrella and walked toward her car.He knocked gently on the window.Maya lowered it only a few centimeters."Can I help you?"The man smiled."Are you okay?""My car broke down.""I can take a look.""I'm fine."He raised an eyebrow."Are you sure?""Yes."He glanced at the dashboard."You've been trying to start it for almost fifteen minutes."Maya stared at him."How do you know that?""I've been behind you."She narrowed her eyes."That sounds suspicious."The man laughed."Fair enough."He stepped back."My name is Adrian."Maya didn't respond.He smiled."You don't have to tell me yours.""Good.""Stubborn.""What?""I said good night."He turned around.Maya watched him walk back toward his car.For some reason, she suddenly felt guilty."Wait!"He stopped.Maya opened the door."Fine. You can look at it."Adrian smiled."That wasn't so difficult.""It was."He laughed.For the next ten minutes, he worked beneath the rain.Maya watched through the windshield.Finally, he closed the hood."Try it."She turned the key.The engine started immediately.Maya's eyes widened."You fixed it.""Looks like it."She stepped outside."Thank you.""You're welcome."She reached into her purse."How much do I owe you?"Adrian shook his head."Nothing.""I insist.""I don't accept money.""Then what do you want?"He looked at her."Coffee."Maya blinked."Coffee?""Tomorrow."She almost laughed."You repair strangers' cars in the rain and then ask them for coffee?""Only when the stranger is interesting.""I don't even know you.""You can get to know me."She studied him.There was something different about Adrian.He didn't look desperate.He wasn't trying too hard.He simply stood there, smiling as if asking a stranger for coffee was the most normal thing in the world."Seven o'clock," he said."I didn't agree.""You will."Maya shook her head."Good night, Adrian.""Good night, Maya."She froze."How do you know my name?"He pointed at her office identification card hanging around her neck.Maya looked down and laughed despite herself."Right."Adrian smiled."Seven o'clock."She drove...