The café smelled of freshly brewed coffee and vanilla, the warmth of the machines humming softly as Sophia wiped down the counter. It was a slow evening, the kind she usually liked—just a few customers scattered around, the faint chatter blending with the music playing overhead.
Her best friend, Liam, leaned against the counter, grinning as he sipped his iced latte.
"You work too much, Soph," he teased. "You should let me treat you to dinner after your shift."
She rolled her eyes but smiled. Liam was always looking out for her.
"You know I have to save up for school," she reminded him. "Besides, you already pay for my coffee most days."
Liam was about to argue when the bell above the door chimed. The moment it did, a strange chill ran down Sophia's spine.
A man entered.
Not just any man. He was a presence.
Tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in an expensive black suit, he moved with a quiet dominance that made the air in the café feel heavier. His sharp features—ruthless jawline, piercing dark eyes, and neatly combed jet-black hair—were striking. But it wasn't just his looks that made Sophia uneasy.
It was the way he looked at her.
His gaze settled on her as if she were the only thing in the room. As if he owned her.
Sophia's fingers trembled around the cloth in her hand. She had never seen him before, and yet, something about him felt dangerous.
"Hey, you okay?" Liam's voice snapped her out of it.
She forced a smile. "Yeah. Just tired."
The man walked toward the counter, his movements slow, deliberate. He didn't glance at the menu. He didn't need to. He wasn't here for coffee.
"Black. No sugar," his voice was deep, smooth—but laced with something unreadable.
Sophia nodded and turned to make his drink, but she could feel his eyes on her. It was suffocating. When she set the cup in front of him, his fingers brushed hers as he took it. A jolt ran up her arm, cold and sharp.
"You work here every night?" he asked.
Sophia blinked. The question was casual, but something about it felt wrong.
"Yes," she answered hesitantly.
His lips curved slightly. Not a smile. A smirk.
"Good."
Then, he turned and walked out, leaving the coffee untouched.
Sophia shivered.
She didn't know it yet, but she had just met Adrian DeLuca
And Adrian had been waiting for this moment for years.