Mia pushed open the door to the coffee shop, the small bell above it ringing lightly, signaling her arrival. The scent of freshly ground coffee beans and warm pastries filled the air, mingling with the soft murmur of casual conversation and the hiss of the espresso machine. It was 12 pm on a Sunday, and the place had the usual cozy buzz—people tucked into corners, laptops open, mugs in hand, some reading, some deep in conversation.

She scanned the room briefly, her eyes landing on Namjoon sitting at a corner table, his face mostly obscured by a black mask, but his posture and the way he carried himself were unmistakable. She smiled, her nerves settling as she made her way toward him.

As she walked past a group of people near the counter, her purse snagged on a chair, causing her to stumble forward just as a man stepped out from the line, coffee cup in hand. She barely had time to adjust her steps before her shoulder brushed against his arm. The man's cup tipped, splashing the dark liquid across his crisp white coat.

Mia froze, her heart skipping a beat as the man's eyes flared with anger. "Watch where you're going!" he shouted, the coffee dripping down the front of his coat. He immediately began wiping at it, his face twisted with frustration.

"I'm so sorry!" Mia exclaimed, her face flushing in embarrassment. She reached out instinctively, but the man recoiled as though her touch would make the stain worse.

The man's voice raised in pitch, his words coming fast and sharp. "Do you have any idea how much this coat costs? You could never afford something like this!" He shot her a disdainful look.

Mia blinked, feeling a rush of irritation rise up in her chest, but she stayed calm. She wasn't about to let this man get the best of her. "How much?" she asked, her tone even, a challenge in her eyes.

The man, still fuming, threw a number out, clearly trying to see if he could push her buttons. "Twelve thousand dollars. You really think you can just ruin that and walk away?"

Without missing a beat, Mia reached into her bag and pulled out her chequebook, flipping it open. She wrote the cheque for the full amount, the numbers flowing from her pen smoothly, without hesitation. The man's jaw dropped as she handed him the cheque, her expression unbothered.

Just as he was about to respond, a voice cut through the tension.

"Is there a problem here?" Namjoon's voice was calm but firm, and Mia turned to see him standing a few feet away, his masked face unreadable but his presence unmistakable.

Mia turned back to the man, who seemed to shrink under Namjoon's gaze. She smiled sweetly, "Nope, everything's fine."

The man looked between the two of them, his anger now mixing with confusion. He fumbled with the cheque for a moment before, still flustered, he stormed out of the shop, muttering under his breath.

Mia let out a small sigh of relief, glancing over at Namjoon, who raised an eyebrow.

"You sure you're not just trying to buy your way out of problems?" Namjoon teased.

Mia chuckled. "Time is money," she replied with a grin, her eyes glinting mischievously.