Bruno's birthday soon arrived, and Sophia, carrying the prepared cake, went with Diana to the top-floor lounge of the Royal Club.
The lighting was dim and elegant, with shimmering glass decorations everywhere. The special 360-degree glass curtain wall design offered a breathtaking view of the coastal city's dazzling nightscape.
Even Sophia Diaz, who was accustomed to the grandeur of big cities, had to admit that this lounge was the epitome of luxury and avant-garde. Being here, sipping drinks and chatting, gave one a sense of being a ruler of the night.
No wonder Diana had told her that this lounge was not open to just anyone. Apart from Capone and his brothers, and a few key business partners, it was rare for regular VIP guests to enjoy it. Sometimes, the lounge was even closed to the public, reserved only for specific negotiations and gatherings, like tonight.
They hadn't expected that Capone would book the entire lounge just for them. Tonight, their table was the only one in the whole lounge.
Sophia looked around the empty lounge, feeling a slight unease. Was this grand gesture because Capone cared for Diana like a sister, or was it due to her recent attempts to please him, or something else entirely? She couldn't pinpoint the reason, but an unsettling feeling washed over her.
Nevertheless, she was already here, and she couldn't back out now.
The waiter led them to a table by the window. Through the crystal bead curtain, they could vaguely see the bar in the middle of the lounge. The sound of the bartender mixing drinks mingled with the background music—a melodious French love song—creating a tranquil ambiance that felt like another world.
Sophia gazed out at the neon lights, the dark sea, and the lighthouse, feeling as if she had returned to the days before her abduction.
She had friends, someone she liked, and freedom. She could date and meet without the anxiety she felt now.
The guest of honor hadn't arrived yet. Diana mentioned that Bruno's phone was unreachable, possibly because he was driving through a tunnel with no signal.
"Don't worry, he's usually very punctual. He should be here soon!" Diana said, looking at her watch several times.
Sophia's palms were sweaty. With each passing second, her anxiety grew. She had imagined over and over what it would be like to see Roger—what expression he would have, what he would say or do, whether she would cry. Even if he was as stern as he had been before, it wouldn't matter. She wouldn't argue if he said she hadn't protected herself and had caused trouble for everyone.
As long as he could take her away, away from Capone.
Time ticked by, and before long, it was 30 minutes past the agreed time. Sophia's anxiety became even more acute. She bit her lip and asked, "Diana, could you please call Bruno again to check where he is?"
"Sure, wait here for me! I'll go outside and call. Maybe it's just a bad signal here, and he can't reach us."
Diana took her phone and went outside. Sophia sat alone by the window, the night sky stretching out seemingly boundless, as if it might engulf her at any moment.
After ten minutes, Diana still hadn't returned. Sophia was restless, feeling that something was wrong. Just as she was about to stand up and look for her, the prepared cake was wheeled over.
"I'm sorry, but our guest hasn't arrived yet!" Sophia was puzzled. The soft cake, covered with ice cream and cream, was prone to melting. They had asked the waiter to keep it safe until everyone was present before bringing it out.
Now, without any instructions, why was it being brought out prematurely?
The waiter placed the cake on the table as if he hadn't heard Sophia's words at all and then wheeled the cart away.
"Don't be too surprised. I'm the one who instructed them to do this!"
Sophia froze at the sound of Capone's familiar voice.
"Surprised to see me? This is my place, after all. I can come here anytime I want! Lucky for you, I've mixed some cocktails. Have a drink!"
Capone took a seat across from her. He was wearing a casual dark Armani shirt, with two buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He held two cocktails, placing one with cherries and pineapple in front of her, then took a sip from the other and smiled at her.
Sophia's palms turned cold, the sweat seeping into her bones.
There was no need to ask why he was here; he had made it clear that this was his domain. Of course, he could have followed them when he agreed to let her go out with Diana.
The bartender she had seen earlier at the bar, who seemed somewhat blurred, was actually Capone monitoring her from a distance, like a leopard watching its prey, waiting for the right moment.
He had never promised her freedom; it was her own naivety to believe otherwise.
"Have a sip. Although I haven't mixed drinks for a while, I'm confident they'll taste good! After that, it's time for you to show off your Alaska Flambe Ice Cream Cake skills. No need to wait anymore because… the people you were waiting for won't be coming!"
Capone's smile never wavered, but Sophia couldn't contain her emotions anymore. She stood up in agitation, "You knew all along? What do you want? Where are they, Bruno, Diana… and… and…"
"And Bruno's cousin, the one who wanted to rescue you, right? Finish your drink, and I'll tell you!"
Sophia trembled with anger, looking at the vibrant, tempting cocktail as if it were poison.
She raised the glass and drank it in one gulp. The sharpness of the liquor mixed with the sweetness of the syrup slid down her throat, making her want to cry.
No choice—she had never had a choice.
"Do you know what this drink is called?" Capone leaned in, staring at her flushed face from the alcohol. "It's called 'maitai,' which in Tahitian means 'very good.' At ROYAL, it's transliterated to mean 'flirtatious,' fitting for your flattery these past few days!"
"Now, can you tell me what you did to them? Please don't hurt them!"
Thinking about how she had courted him over these days, though deliberately, filled Sophia with deep shame and anger. Tears streamed down her face. She was too inexperienced to battle this man; her only hope was that he wouldn't harm the innocent people involved.
Capone lifted his chin. "Perform your flaming cake, and if I'm pleased, I'll tell you what happened."
Sophia's hands shook so much she almost couldn't hold the container filled with high-proof rum, but she managed to pour the ignited liquid over the cake. The cream, adorned with strawberries and chocolate, was set ablaze with a seductive blue flame. Capone watched her through the burning fire, smiling.
The cake, charred by the flames, had a distinctive roasted aroma. Capone sampled a bit with his silver fork, his expression unreadable. After drinking from his glass, he asked Sophia, "Do you know what this drink is called?"
Sophia remained stunned and didn't respond.
"'Godfather.' Because the almond liqueur used comes from Italy. I like the taste, but even more, I like the name of the drink. I can't speak for elsewhere, but here in the harbor, in Hong Kong, and even in New York's Chinatown, if anyone tries to steal from me, I assure you I will be the first to know and make sure they return empty-handed."
The last four words were pronounced slowly, like a heavy hammer striking Sophia's heart.
"Please don't hurt them!" Sophia's only wish now was that they would not be harmed. Whether or not she could escape seemed secondary.
"Well, that depends on your performance!" Capone said, pulling her hand. "If you perform well, I won't make things too difficult for them!"
He led her out of the lounge and into the elevator, taking her to the hotel suite where they had stayed before—a dazzlingly bright room that felt like a luxurious cage, making Sophia struggle to breathe.
She was always being taken from one cage to another, forced to submit.
Capone tilted her chin up with a casual touch. "You can start now. Make sure your performance tonight surpasses the previous days, or I might take it out on others!"
Thinking about how all her previous attempts at pleasing him were part of his scheme, about how he enjoyed her anxious struggle while satisfying his own desires, and how he controlled others' lives and could threaten her at any moment, filled Sophia with desperation and fear. She pushed him away and ran towards the door, but he pulled her back and raised his hand to slap him.
Capone easily caught her wrist. "Is this your idea of a surprise for me? Then I can offer you something special in return!"
He took out his phone and dialed a number. After it connected, he said, "Bring the blocked car to Dock 32, there…"
"No, please don't!" Sophia grabbed his arm holding the phone, her face full of pleading.