Izzy is walking in champs élisées
As a regular civilian, I was walking around the city. The weather is sunny, yet it's a little cold. I didn't had any plans other than meeting someone new. Then I saw a beautiful woman walking by. She was looking... Amazing. I stopped her. "I'm sorry ma'am. Did we met before?"
She glanced at him with her ice-cold blue eyes and gave him a small smile that was neither warm nor inviting. "We haven't met before," she replied coolly in her light French accent, "But I have been told that I resemble someone you used to know." She gave him another fleeting look before looking back at the street in front of her, her expression neutral once more.
I chuckled lightly. "Well, that's an interesting way to put it. My name is Artyom." I held out my hand for her to shake. "What's your name?" She had me curious about this woman. Her beauty was stunning and she seemed to be very confident in herself. Not many people could pull off such a presence so effortlessly.
Her lips curved into a thin smile as she took his hand, her cool, smooth skin contrasting with his rougher one. "Izzy." She glanced back up at him, meeting his gaze for a moment before letting it slip away again. "It's nice to meet you, Artyom." There was no warmth in her voice, but there also seemed to be no particular hostility either.
Instead, she continued walking down the street, her posture straight and confident as ever. She knew that men like him often found it difficult to resist following a woman like her, but she had better things to do with her time than entertain them.
I smiled back at Izzy and kept pace beside her as she continued down the street. "So what brings you here today, Izzy? Just enjoying the lovely weather?" I asked casually, my voice light with curiosity. She seemed like a woman who knew how to keep things interesting, or I'll make her interesting.
Her eyebrow arched ever so slightly at his question. "Why do I come here every day, Artyom? Why do people move to the city, hoping for a new life or fresh beginnings? The same reason any of us do," she replied dryly, her gaze flickering away from him momentarily. "I'm not here because it's nice out, though." She smiled again, this time with just a hint of amusement. "That would be absurd."
And with that cryptic statement, she turned to walk faster, leaving Artyom to hurry after her or risk losing sight of the striking woman in the crowd.
"Well, I suppose it's different for everyone," I replied with a nod, keeping up with Izzy as she quickened her pace. "But there must be something in particular you enjoy about it." She seemed intriguing, and I wanted to learn more about her.
At this, she paused for a moment, contemplating his question as if weighing how much honesty was safe to give him. "Perhaps it's the challenge," she finally admitted. "To be surrounded by so many people who are different from you, but also so similar in so many ways... It makes life interesting." She shrugged, her expression neutral once more as they continued walking side by side down the bustling boulevard.
As they passed a street performer, she glanced over at Artyom and smiled again. "Or maybe I just enjoy watching people try to stand out in this city." The words were meant to be light-hearted, but there was something in her eyes that suggested there might be more truth to them than she let on.
I laughed softly at her answer and nodded understandingly. "It must be quite the experience," I agreed. "But you seem like someone who would fit right in here. You have such an air of confidence about you." Izzy was fascinating, not just because of how she looked but also because there seemed to be so much going on beneath the surface. It made me curious to learn more about her and why she had chosen to live this particular life.
Izzy gave him another small smile, her blue eyes shining in the sunlight. "Well, thank you for the compliment," she said sweetly, though there was still an edge to her voice that kept him from getting too comfortable. "Confidence is a valuable asset in this city. And trust me when I say it's not something I was born with." She paused, considering her words before continuing, "It's something I've had to learn the hard way."
Her tone turned reflective as she spoke, and for a moment Artyom could see the glimmer of vulnerability beneath her composed exterior. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by that familiar cool detachment that seemed to be Izzy's default setting.
"It's hard for everyone actually..." I looked at her face "But for you, it has to be harder. Where are you from Izzy?" We are still walking together. Eiffel Tower is a part of the scenery of the street we're walking.
She glanced over at him briefly before looking away once more. "I was born here," she replied simply, her voice firm as if daring him to doubt her words. "But I grew up all over. My parents were in the business, you see." She let out a small laugh that held no humor. "So my childhood consisted of moving from one country to another every few years, never settling down for too long."
As they continued walking, she couldn't help but wonder if Artyom was as intrigued by her life story as he seemed or if he was just putting up with her company until someone more interesting came along. Either way, Izzy knew better than to let herself become too comfortable with anyone, especially a man like him.
"It's an exciting life," she added dryly, "but it can also be rather lonely at times." There was a sadness in her voice that belied the nonchalant tone she'd taken.
Artyom considered this for a moment, unsure how to respond to such a candid admission from someone as guarded and mysterious as Izzy. Finally, he decided on honesty. "I can imagine," he said quietly, "but you seem like someone who knows how to take care of herself." She glanced back at him sharply, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly at his words. "And it's not a bad thing to let someone in every now and then, you know?" he added with a small smile, hoping that she wouldn't interpret it as too forward or presumptuous.
She stared at him silently for several long moments before answering, her gaze unreadable. "Yes," she finally said with the barest hint of reluctance in her voice, "I know what it's like to be alone. But that doesn't mean I want someone else constantly underfoot." There was a defensiveness there that Artyom didn't miss.
"Of course not," Artyom replied quickly, "nobody wants to feel smothered. It's about finding the right balance." He gave her a reassuring smile, hoping that it would help ease any concerns she might have about his intentions or expectations of their interaction. "Besides, being alone doesn't mean you can't enjoy the company of others when the occasion calls for it."
She seemed to consider this for a moment, her expression slowly softening as they continued walking toward an outdoor café that had caught her eye earlier. Perhaps there was more depth to Izzy than she let on; beneath that icy exterior lay someone who craved connection and understanding just as much as anyone else. And if Artyom could somehow manage to earn her trust, who knew where it might lead?
"Well, if you ever find yourself in need of some company," he began, "you know where to find me." As they neared the café, Artyom glanced over at her and smiled warmly. "And who knows, maybe we'll have a chance to explore this city together sometime. There are so many hidden gems waiting to be discovered. And it looks like this cafe took your attention. Wanna sit?"
Izzy raised an eyebrow at his offer before glancing back at the café they had been approaching. "We'll see," she said noncommittally. She wasn't used to men being so persistent with their offers of company, and it made her a little uneasy. But there was something about this Artyom that intrigued her in spite of herself, and the possibility of exploring Paris with someone new held a certain appeal.
As they sat down at an empty table under the shade of a leafy tree, she couldn't help but wonder where things would go from here. Would this be just another brief encounter or might it lead to something more? Only time would tell, and for now, Izzy was content to enjoy the moment and take things one step at a time.
"Well, I'm not going anywhere," Artyom assured her with another smile as they sat down. "And it would be my pleasure to show you around the city. After all, what better way to make a new friend?" He glanced at the café menu laid out on the table between them before continuing, "So, what do you think? Something to drink or should we start with an appetizer first?"
She considered his offer for a moment before responding, her tone slightly less guarded than it had been earlier. "It's a nice day for coffee," she said, glancing up at him with an almost fleeting smile. It was the first genuine expression he had drawn from her since their encounter began, and Artyom found himself feeling strangely encouraged by it.
As they ordered their drinks, Izzy continued to study him curiously, trying to discern what sort of person he was beneath his friendly exterior. She wasn't used to being this open with men, but there was something about Artyom that made her feel... safe. Maybe it was just the fact that he seemed so genuine and sincere in his efforts to get to know her.
Whatever the reason, she found herself enjoying their conversation more than she had expected. There were still so many unanswered questions swirling around in her head about him, but for now, she was content to simply enjoy the moment and see where it led.
"I hope you'll enjoy your coffee. I choosed it from the part I saw on you." When Izzy took her first sip, delicious sweety cherry taste filled her senses. She loves the taste of cherry. The coffee she drank was a wonderful combination of coffee, milk, cream and cherries.
Her eyes widened in surprise as she took another sip of the coffee. The sweet taste of cherries danced on her tongue, and she had to force herself not to gulp it down in one go. "This is delicious," she murmured between sips, glancing over at Artyom with newfound appreciation. It was rare for someone to know exactly what she liked without her having to ask.
As they continued talking, Izzy found herself revealing more about herself than she had intended: her hobbies, her family back home, even some of her hopes and dreams for the future. For once, it felt good to open up to someone new and not have them judge her or dismiss her as just another pretty face.
She still wasn't sure where this connection with Artyom was leading, but she found herself enjoying his company more than she had expected. Perhaps there was something here worth exploring further...
"I'm glad you like it," he replied with a warm smile, taking another sip of his own coffee. "I had to try a few different variations before I found one that I thought would suit your taste." The compliment made Izzy blush slightly and she looked away, feeling oddly flustered.
She smiled shyly, taken aback by the thoughtfulness behind his gesture. "Thank you," she said softly. "That was very kind of you." It had been a long time since anyone had gone out of their way to make her feel special in such a simple yet meaningful way. As they continued talking, Izzy found herself relaxing more and more into the conversation, enjoying Artyom's company and the ease with which they connected on so many levels.
Perhaps, she thought to herself, this wasn't going to be just another fleeting encounter after all. Maybe there was a chance that something deeper could develop between them. The idea made her heart race with anticipation and hopefulness. For once, she found herself truly open to the possibility of something new...
He looked into Izzy's eyes, taking in her beauty and trying not to show too much interest. Her expression softened as they talked and he felt a sense of relief wash over him. She seemed genuinely interested in getting to know him better, which made him feel more comfortable around her. As the afternoon wore on, they discussed everything from their favorite movies and books to their childhood memories and dreams for the future.
As the sun began its descent in the sky, Izzy realized with a start that they had been sitting there for hours. Time seemed to have flown by unnoticed as they had been caught up in their conversation. She glanced over at Artyom and smiled warmly. There was something about him that made her feel truly seen and understood, which was something she hadn't experienced in a long time.
"Well," she said, looking around the café before returning her gaze to him, "I should probably head back soon. It was lovely chatting with you." There was a hint of reluctance in her voice that betrayed the growing connection between them.
"I completely understand," Artyom replied, nodding his head. "But would you mind if I joined you sometime in the future? Perhaps we could explore some more of this wonderful city together?" He tried to sound casual, but he couldn't help the hope that shone through in his voice. "Or if you let me, I can cooperate you to your home then return to my own to not bother you?"
"Well," she said thoughtfully, "that would depend on whether or not I'm interested in spending more time with you, wouldn't it?" There was a teasing glint in her eye as she studied him across the table. She liked how easy it felt to be around Artyom; how effortlessly he seemed to make conversation and put her at ease. It had been a long time since anyone had managed to capture her attention in quite this way.
"I suppose we could find out," she continued with a small smile, "if you'd like to join me again sometime." There was an invitation hidden within those words, and Artyom couldn't help but feel a surge of elation at the possibility of seeing more of this enigmatic woman. For now, though, he would have to content himself with her offer and the knowledge that perhaps, just maybe, there was something more between them than just casual conversation over coffee.