BILLIONAIRE'S UNEXPECTED LOVE 
Chapter 1
The soft chime of the dinerâs entrance bell rang as Amelia Brooks rushed past the counter, balancing a tray of steaming coffee mugs. The place was packed Friday nights always were. The scent of grilled burgers and fresh coffee filled the air, mixing with the quiet hum of conversations. She sighed, tucking a loose strand of chestnut hair behind her ear, and forced a smile as she approached a table.
âHere you go,â she said, setting down the drinks with practiced ease.
The customers barely acknowledged her, too lost in their own world. It didnât matter. She was used to being invisible.
Amelia had been working at Rosieâs Diner for the past two years long enough to know the regulars, long enough to know which customers tipped and which ones didnât. But tonight, there was someone new.
He sat in the farthest booth, near the window. The dim lights did little to hide his striking presence. A tailored navy-blue suit hugged his broad shoulders, and his perfectly styled dark hair hinted at wealth. His sharp jawline and piercing gray eyes gave him an almost dangerous aura. He didnât belong here.
Ameliaâs breath hitched as she realized he was staring at her.
Quickly looking away, she grabbed her notepad and approached his table. âGood evening. What can I get you?â
For a moment, he didnât answer. His gaze flickered to her name tag, then back to her face. âAmelia.â His voice was smooth, deep. âIâll take a coffee. Black.â
She nodded, writing it down even though it wasnât necessary. âAnything else?â
âThat depends,â he said, closing the file he had been reading. âDo you always look this exhausted, or is tonight special?â
Amelia blinked, heat rising to her cheeks. âExcuse me?â
His lips twitched as if he found her reaction amusing. âYou look like youâve had a long day.â
She straightened. âI have. But I donât see how that concerns you.â
He chuckled. âFair enough.â
She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her. âWait.â
She turned back.
He studied her for a moment before shaking his head. âNever mind.â
Confused, she hurried to fetch his coffee. As she poured it into the cup, Rosie, the dinerâs owner, nudged her. âThat manâs been sitting there for nearly an hour. You know who he is?â
Amelia frowned. âShould I?â
Rosie lowered her voice. âThatâs Ethan Carter. The billionaire.â
Ameliaâs heart skipped a beat. Ethan Carter. She had heard the name before who hadnât? He owned half the city, his face often gracing business magazines. What was someone like him doing in a small diner like this?
Shaking off her curiosity, she carried the coffee back to his table. âHere you go,â she said, setting it down.
Ethan took the cup but didnât drink. Instead, he watched her. âThank you, Amelia.â
For reasons she couldnât understand, hearing him say her name sent a strange shiver down her spine.