This was definitely a challenge and Norman knew he had to take it. He had to finally man up and talk to Beatris. What if she recognized him? What if she didn't but found him repelling and ugly.

*No she won't, Norman. This is your best suit!* It was indeed his best. In fact, he only purchased it two hours ago for this occasion and it cost a lot. He had a hair cut too but the time was too short to get plastic surgery.

He wished he could put on another face for this meeting or have another act. But he knew the time had come to face Beatris the only woman that had ever made him feel this way.

At 4:30 pm, he was already parked outside the cafe and his feet were very cold. Was suiting up a bad idea? Would not showing up make him seem any cooler? What exactly did he even want? A wife maybe to show off to Mac. But this was so much more than that. The only problem was that he didn't know what it was.

If only he could stay away from her.

At 5 pm, he walked in with his dark sunglasses. They made him look cool and would hide his face a little. He took a seat in his favourite spot that was not so obvious rehearsing the lines he'd stayed up all night writing in whispers.

"I'm Norman. I run a big furniture company with my friend Leonard. I have money. I can buy you anything you want... No no you can't. Money is not to be wasted Norman... What am I doing here I need to leave."

He felt like he was hyperventilating and sweating profusely. "God, I hate you Beatris."

"Can I help you, sir?" A young waitress had come over to meet him. She wasn't Beatris. *Why aren't you Beatris?*

"Uhm... Yeah. I'm here on a date." He smiled. Really? Was this a date?

"Ohh great." She smiled. "Can I get you something while you wait for your 'date'?" He didn't like the way she pronounced it. Was she making fun of him? He felt like getting up and pulling her hair till there was nothing left on her head.

"Get me anything. And tell Beatris I'm here to see her," he said, his head still lowered so he couldn't see her anywhere.

A few minutes later, he heard footsteps approach and as he looked up, there she was looking radiant, wearing his favorite dress the red body con that displayed her magnificent figure. Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders. Her face was puzzled with a slight smile tugging at her lips. She looked like some diamond he'd pay anything to possess.

"T-O-W-W-U?" Beatris asked as she took a seat opposite him. "Who are you?"

At that moment, he realised that he'd stayed up all night for nothing. All the words had disappeared and he was tongue-tied. Just what he didn't want.

He nodded shyly and gave a bright smile.

"I'm Beatris," she said, trying to be polite.

"I know. I know everything about you." *No! That is the wrong thing to say. Not cool at all.*

She looked tense again. He couldn't imagine what was going on in her mind.

"What do you want from me?" Her calculative eyes screamed at him.

"I-I want you to be mine," he said. *Not cool, Norman. So not cool.*

He was certain it took all in her at this point to not empty the glass of water on his face. How did he think that would appeal to her? Obviously she wouldn't want to have anything to do with him. He was so unattractive.

"I have money." Was the only defence he could come up with.

"Do you have a name as well?" She asked irked at his audacity but Beatris did want to know who this man was and why he was stalking her.

"N-norman Patterson."

"Okay, Norman. I don't know who you are or how you got to know me. But, I'm so sorry. I don't want you or your money. Okay?" She said.

He could feel his anger rising. She rejected him just like he imagined she would. Just like he told himself he would. No one would ever accept him. Loneliness and shame would accompany him for the rest of his life. But he just couldn't afford to be angry now. No!

He struggled to smile. "Then what do you want?"

"I want you to stop texting me."

"I can't do that. If you block me again, I swear I'd get a new phone number and text you again and again." He had almost lost his calm now but was still struggling. *Cool. Calm. Collected. Norman, Stop.*

She looked at him with a death glare and struggled to appear bold. He knew she was struggling. Beatris only ever pretended but he knew the real person under all this facade. "Are you threatening me?"

"No no no... I'd never do that. I just want you, that's all."

"Why?"

"Because..." He couldn't tell her he was obsessed now, could he? *I'm not obsessed* "Tris..."

"You have a nickname for me? This is all so confusing. What do you want from me? How do you know me? Who the fuck are you? I'm so confused right now."

"You don't have to be. Tris, all you have to do is name your price."

"Is he bothering you?" Marcus had walked over to the table sensing that Beatris was in distress even though they were almost talking in whispers that no one could hear them.

Norman looked at him. Why was he here interrupting their date? If only he didn't have to show only his good side to this woman, he'd bite this nosy Man's ear off and teach him a good lesson to mind his own business.

To his utmost surprise, Beatris nodded. "He is."

"Then you'd have to leave," Marcus said and Beatris got up. At that point, it seemed that they were starting to cause a scene. He was so thankful that his glasses could hide a bit of his face.

Norman got up as well. "We'd be completing this date, soon." He smiled and eyed Marcus before walking away.

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Beatris felt like she could finally breathe as soon as the strange average height man had walked out of the cafe. It was only his walking step that made her recognize him as the man that had run away earlier this week when she only went to ask him to place an order.

This felt so surreal. She had to sit down to regain a bit of her composure.

Why was this happening to her? She had so many unanswered questions.

"Is that your boyfriend?" Marcus' voice snapped her out of her thoughts as he took the seat opposite hers.

She shook her head. "I don't know who the hell that is. This is all so confusing." She massaged her temples to soothe herself.

"What did he want?"

"I have no idea," she said. "He seems to know me and I have no idea who he is."

Marcus patted her twice on the shoulder as he got up. "You might have to be extra careful. I mean, so many weirdos seem to be plying the road these days," he said walking away.

Brianna was not right. This was not a joke. Whether it made her a coward or not, she knew she had to pack her things and run as far away as she could afford. That was the only wise thing to do at this point.

In a funny way, Beatris just knew that this man wouldn't stop.