Chapter 155
**Tom**
I pulled into the parking lot of Café Noir, my sleek car purring to a stop. The evening air was crisp, carrying the scent of freshly brewed coffee as I stepped out. I straightened my jacket, running a hand through my hair. This non-date with Veronica had me more nervous than I cared to admit.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself before pushing open the café door. The warm aroma of coffee and pastries enveloped me as I entered, my eyes scanning the room. And there she was, already seated at a corner table, looking effortlessly chic in a navy blazer.
Veronica glanced up from her phone, her lips curving into a smile as she spotted me.
She looked even more stunning than I remembered, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders. As I approached, she stood up and greeted me with a warm smile.
"Well, well, Thomas. You're looking even more handsome than last time. I didn't think that was possible," she said, eyes twinkling.
"I figured I had to step up my game. Can't have you thinking I'm just some average Joe," I quipped, sliding into the seat across from her.
She laughed. "Oh, Thomas. I don't think anyone could ever mistake you for average."
I leaned in, lowering my voice conspiratorially. "I half expected you to bring someone from Mars with you. I'm a little disappointed, to be honest."
"I thought about it, but you know how it is. Intergalactic travel can be so risky and scary. Plus, have you seen the customs lines at the spaceport? Absolute nightmare."
"Fair point. We'll have to make do with just us Earthlings then."
A waiter approached our table, notepad in hand. I gestured for Veronica to order first.
"I'll have a double shot espresso, please," she said, then winked at me. "Gotta stay alert if little green men decide to crash our non-date."
I grinned. "Make that two double shot espressos. And maybe some of those delicious-looking pastries over there."
The waiter nodded and left, leaving Veronica and me alone once more.
"Pastries, Thomas? We were supposed to be having a boring, mundane coffee meet-up. Pastries sound dangerously close to enjoyable."
I feigned shock. "You're right. How careless of me. Should I call the waiter back and cancel? Perhaps we could just sip lukewarm tap water instead?"
She laughed. "No, no. We've already committed to this rebellious path. Might as well go all in."
Our espressos arrived with a plate of assorted pastries that looked delicious.
I picked up a flaky croissant, gesturing with it as I spoke. "So, Veronica, how've you been? Any exciting adventures since our last encounter? Perhaps another blind date courtesy of our well-meaning but misguided parents?"
She took a sip of her espresso. "Oh, you have no idea. When I told my father you weren't my type, he immediately arranged another date. It's like he's on a mission to marry me off before I hit thirty."
"How'd that go? Did this one come with his own spaceship?"
She laughed, her eyes sparkling. "No spaceship, unfortunately. But he wasn't that bad, actually. We're planning to meet again."
"What's this mystery man like?"
Veronica's eyes lit up, and her espresso was momentarily forgotten. "His name is Alexander. He's quite charming, actually. Tall, dark hair, killer smile - you know the type."
I nodded, taking a sip of my own espresso. "Sounds like a real catch. What does he do?"
She grinned, clearly excited to share. "That's the interesting part. He runs his own business - Evergreen Solutions. They're in the sustainable packaging industry, creating eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastics. It's fascinating stuff."
I raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued. "Go on."
"Well," she continued, warming to her subject, "they've developed this revolutionary material from plant-based sources. It's completely biodegradable but just as durable as regular plastic. They're working with major corporations to replace everything from food packaging to shipping materials."
"That's no small feat."
She nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! And get this - they're planning to go public soon. Alexander says they're in the final stages of preparing for an IPO. He's hoping to list on the stock exchange within the next year."
She paused to bite a chocolate croissant and continued, "The potential impact is huge. If they can replace even a fraction of the world's plastic usage, it could make a real difference for the environment. And from a business perspective, the growth potential is enormous."
I listened, fascinated by the details she was sharing. As she spoke, a niggling thought at the back of my mind suddenly clicked into place.
"Wait a minute," I interrupted, my eyes widening. "Alexander... You don't mean Alexander Reeves, do you?"
She looked surprised. "Yes, that's him. How did you know?"
"Small world! Alexander is actually a friend of my brother's. They went to business school together."
Her jaw dropped. "You're kidding! What are the odds?"
"I've met him a few times at family events. He's a great guy - smart as a whip and funny too. I can see why you hit it off."
Veronica's eyes danced with amusement. "It seems you've been holding out on me. Any other eligible bachelors in your circle I should know about?"
"Hey now, I'm not running a dating service here. Besides, we were supposed to have a boring, non-date coffee meet-up. Discussing my brother's eligible friends seems dangerously close to an interesting conversation."
She laughed, the sound bright and genuine. "You're right, my apologies. We should probably go back to discussing the weather or something equally mundane."
I glanced out the window, feigning seriousness. "It does look like it might rain later. Fascinating stuff, really."
"Oh yes, absolutely riveting. But you know what? I prefer our more interesting topics. Tell me, what do you think about Alexander's company? Being in the finance world, you must have some insider knowledge yourself."
I leaned back in my chair, considering. "Well, from what I've heard, they're doing groundbreaking work. The sustainable packaging market is booming, and Evergreen Solutions is at the forefront of innovation in that space. If they can successfully scale their operations, they could be looking at some serious growth."
She nodded, looking thoughtful. "That's what Alexander was saying. He seemed pretty confident about their prospects."
"He has reason to be," I agreed. "Of course, going public comes with its own set of challenges. But if anyone can navigate that successfully, it's Alexander. He's got a good head on his shoulders."
"He certainly seems to. It's refreshing to meet someone so passionate about what they do."
I raised my espresso cup in a mock toast. "To passionate people and their world-changing ideas. May we all find something we care about that much."
Veronica clinked her cup against mine. "I'll drink to that."
As we sipped our coffee, I couldn't help but marvel at the strange twists of fate that had brought us here. What had started as an awkward blind date set up by our parents somehow led to a genuine friendship and an unexpected connection to her new romantic interest.