**Chapter 2: An Unexpected Encounter**

As Leilani continued to try and focus on her conversation with Rachel and Alex, she couldn't help but sneak glances across the room, wondering if Florian would look up again. She had always been a fan of his work, but she had never expected to run into him at Juilliard, let alone be noticed by him. Just as she was starting to think she had imagined the whole thing, Florian excused himself from his group and began to make his way over to their table. Leilani's heart skipped a beat as he approached, his piercing blue eyes fixed on her. "Hi," he said with a charming smile, his deep voice sending a shiver down Leilani's spine. "I'm Florian. I couldn't help but notice you staring at me from across the room." Leilani's face grew hot with embarrassment as she introduced herself and her friends. Florian chatted with them for a while, discussing everything from music to movies to their shared passion for the arts. Leilani was surprised by how easy it was to talk to him, how down-to-earth and kind he seemed. As they talked, Leilani learned that Florian was at Juilliard for a short-term residency, working on a new project and taking classes to improve his skills. She was impressed by his dedication to his craft, and found herself feeling drawn to his charismatic presence. Before she knew it, they had been chatting for over an hour, and the café was starting to close. As they said their goodbyes, Florian turned to Leilani and asked if she'd like to grab coffee with him sometime. "I'd love to," Leilani replied, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in her stomach. Florian smiled and handed her a piece of paper with his number on it. "Great. I'll call you soon." As he walked away, Leilani felt like she was floating on air. She couldn't believe that she had just exchanged numbers with Florian Montenau, let alone that she was looking forward to seeing him again. Rachel and Alex were staring at her, grinning from ear to ear. "Well, well, well," Rachel said, raising an eyebrow. "Looks like someone's got a crush." Leilani blushed, trying to play it cool. "It's no big deal," she said, but she couldn't help feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation. She had a feeling that her life was about to get a lot more interesting.