He came looking for her.
At the time, Autumn Lopez was resting in the lounge.
She was waiting for Owen Bennett to finish mingling with the other guests and take her to the
auction hall.
When someone knocked, she assumed it was Owen and casually called out, “Come in.”
The lounge door swung open, and a handsome young man walked in.
Autumn’s heart leaped into her throat. “Who are you?”
The young man sensed her wariness and caution, so he stayed by the door without getting any
closer.
“Ms. Lopez, hi. My name is Abraham Rodriguez.”
“I messaged you on the platform before, about Teafall Peaks and its Misty Tea.”
Autumn’s eyes widened. “That was you?”
As her gaze landed on his face, something clicked, and she became even more guarded. “How did
you know I was here?”
She hadn’t revealed her location on any of her social media accounts.
How did this guy find out where she was and track her down to this specific lounge?
What was his real agenda?
“Ms. Lopez, please don’t be alarmed. I really just want to promote the Misty Tea from Teafall Peaks
and make a little money.”
“As for how I know you… well… I go to your alma mater.”
Of course, Autumn didn’t buy it.
She had graduated years ago. This kid claimed to be a junior in college–what kind of alumni
connection was that?
Autumn hadn’t even been back for a homecoming in years. There was no way he could have known
anything about her.
The thought sent a fresh chill down her spine.
“I graduated a long time ago.”
Autumn’s reminder was gentle, an attempt to placate him.
She had already used a shortcut on her phone to text Owen, and he would be there any second
She just needed to stall for a little more time until he arrived
As a pregnant woman, screaming or trying to run wouldn’t do her or the baby any gos
“I know,”
“Honestly, I saw you in the university’s archive of distinguished alumni. I was organizing old student records at the time, and your file just stood out to me.”
Now, not only did a chill run down her back, but the hairs on her arms stood on end.
*Does he mean he got ideas just from seeing my picture?
*Is he some kind of creep?
Perhaps the look on Autumn’s face was too obvious, because Abraham gave her a small smile trying to appear friendly.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I have a girlfriend.”
Autumn awkwardly touched her nose.
It wasn’t that she actually thought he had a crush on her.
The age gap between them was obvious enough.
She was just curious why Abraham was so persistent.
After all, even though she was a “distinguished alumna,” she hadn’t been “that outstanding
In fact, she wasn’t even the top student in her graduating class. It made no sense that he would have singled her out.
guess you’ve forgotten.”
Abraham sounded a little disappointed. “In your graduation speech, you wrote that your mother was from Teafall Peaks and that you hoped to one day help develop your mother’s hometown.”
“I wrote that?”
Autumn froze. She had absolutely no memory of it.
Besides, Teafall Peaks wasn’t a common name. If she’d really known about it for that long, why
couldn’t she remember it at all now?
More importantly, Autumn’s mother’s hometown wasn’t Teafall Peaks at all!
“You did.”
“I read that speech, and it left a deep impression on me.”
“To be honest, there are only about six hundred people in Teafall Peaks, including me.”
“Some people married into the community, others moved from nearby villages.”
“Teafall Peaks has seen some rapid development over the years, but the population has never
grown.”
“Growing and picking tea is what we do every day, but most of us really just long for a life in the
outside world.”
Autumn listened, her face blank.
This was a place she knew nothing about; she couldn’t relate at all.
Abraham seemed to notice her lack of interest and wisely stopped himself from rambling on.
“Look, I really am here looking for an opportunity.”
“I hope you can give me a chance. I really need the money.”
Autumn frowned at him. “I thought I made myself perfectly clear last time.”
“If you need money, you can get a part–time job or find work somewhere else. You shouldn’t be coming to me.”
“I don’t have any positions to offer you.”
“And if you’re looking for financial aid, you should apply to official scholarship programs. Submit
your information, and if you’re approved, I’m sure they’d be happy to cover your tuition and living
expenses.
“No, that’s not it. I chose you because I was hoping to find someone to help me develop Teafall Peaks.”
“It’s a really wonderful place. If you just visit once, you’ll fall in love with it.”
Autumn pressed her lips together, not responding.
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