Sophia's Pov:
He walked into our coffee shop and I knew two things.
It was too good to be true and he was definitely trouble.
If I had walked away that day, everything would've been different.
"Nia, please attend to him" I whispered while dusting my apron. "I'm not dealing with rich brats today."
I walked back to the kitchen and continued washing dishes with my AirPods in.
I feel a tap on my back that makes me jump.
"He's asking for you"
I take out one AirPod and turn to look at Nia, annoyed.
"Me?" I frowned. "Why?"
"No clue but he's waiting."
I sighed, took out my airpod and cleaned my hands again on my apron before forcing my customer-service smile.
"Welcome to Café Nova, what can I get for you?"
He didn't answer at first. He just stared, but not in a creepy way, more like he was studying me. It made me uncomfortable but I didn't show it because a tip from him could probably pay my bills.
Finally, he spoke. "Cappuccino."
His voice had that calm authority rich men always carried, the kind that made me think of my father who ruined everything. .
"Coming right up." I said quickly.
In the kitchen, I exhaled hard, trying to shake off the irritation.
"Nia, he wants a cappuccino"
She smirked. "He called you out, so you're making the cappuccino."
I ignored her teasing and made the drink, carrying it out with shaky hands.
I set the cup down and tried to step away, but he spoke again.
"You're not going to offer anything else? Pastries? Recommendations?"
He didn't sound annoyed. More like he was testing me.
I forced another smile. "We have donuts. They're popular."
"I'll take six."
"Six?!" slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.
He raised a brow. "Problem?"
"No," I said quickly. "No problem."
I walked back into the kitchen, ignoring the stares I got from every customer in the Cafe.
Nia burst into laughter as I approached her. I shoved her lightly before telling a co worker to make the donuts and kept working.
The donuts were done barely ten minutes later and it got handed to me but I was too annoyed to go back so I handed it to another server and peeped from behind the door.
I expected him to take it and leave but instead, he sent her right back.
For me. Again.
I walked back out, tired of pretending. "Is something wrong?"
"Not yet," he said simply. "But it might be."
Before I could ask what he meant, he stood, placed a card and a small folded note on the tray, and walked out like he owned the air around him.
I stared at him walk out with who seemed to be his assistant considering how he opened the door for him. I was confused and uncomfortable.
Rich people always ruined things and my absent father did too. My mom never recovered.
I didn't need any more complications.
But, as I walked back into the kitchen, Nia snatched the card before I could throw it out.
"At least keep it, it might be your ticket out of this dump" she said.
I didn't agree with her but I kept it either way. I didn't tell her about the note. Something about it felt private, and dangerous.
By closing time, I was exhausted and ready to get my paycheck plus the tips and anything that could keep me together.
Mr Tony handed out our envelopes eventually and my co-workers immediately started planning their usual month end outing which I was definitely not going to be a part of.
"My mum needs me." I said to Nia.
"That woman drains you Sophia" Nia whispered, but she hugged me anyway. "Get home safe."
I got home shortly after. It was dark but I could still see my mother sitting at the table, looking scared.
"Did you get paid today?" She asks immediately.
I tensed up. That question usually meant she was out of cocaine money. "What do you need mom?"
"A little money to pay off a debt. It's really not what you're thinking, I promise. These guys seem serious." she answered quickly, almost slurring her words. "I already have some"
She might've been lying. She usually was. Still, I handed her some cash from my paycheck and walked to my room.
I heard the door close behind me before going into the shower. I felt devastated and didn't know what to cry about, my mum owing a debt that could cost our home or even our lives or that she was creating a fake story just to get money for drugs again. I thought about it the whole time I was in the shower but I could only stare at my reflection after. Weak, tired and nothing like the woman I'd imagined to be.
As I changed into pajamas, I reached into the pockets of my work pants and felt paper.
The card.
I had forgotten about it and even after finding it I still wanted to throw it out but curiosity got the best of me.
Damian Hollis.
He owned one of the biggest empires in the city. I searched him up and found out he also owned half of the city. I was shocked that he even thought of coming to the Cafe.
I unfolded the note and read it,
"Call me when you're ready to earn more than this place can offer."
I sat on my bed, heart pounding.
Who writes something like that to a stranger? Is this something he goes around doing just to get in the pants of different women or was he targeting me?
But why me?
I shoved the card under my pillow, trying to forget it but the temptation sat in my chest all night like a weight.
And instead of sleeping, I laid awake thinking about things I didn't want to think of, like the time I had a man as rich as him in my life and he almost ended me.
Damian wouldn't be any different, especially with the kind of offer he proposed. I knew it wasn't going to be anything legal or anything I would want to do on a normal day.
So why wouldn't I stop thinking about it?
Annoyed, I threw the note in the trash, but when I looked back at it, my chest tightened.
He was offering a way out. But nothing in this world came for free.
I almost turned the lights off, trying to force myself to sleep but something forced me out of it.
My phone buzzed.
A text from an unknown number.
"Still thinking about it?"
My blood ran cold.
I hadn't called him or texted him, so how did he get my number?
I tried telling myself he wasn't the one but I knew he was. There was no one else that could ask me such a question.
I sat up slowly, staring at the text.
This man wasn't one to play with.