The café was quiet next evening, wrapped in hushed conversations, settled between rain showers, whereas the city seemed to pause in that moment.

The scent of coffee and pastries was still in the air, the soft clatter of dishes filling the space.

Andrea wiped her hands on her apron after setting down the tray in front of him, the familiar warmth of the café surrounding her.

At his usual spot by the window, Alfonso sat with his typical composed ease. He wasn’t just another customer anymore.

By now, Andrea had grown used to him, his presence, his silence, his company, the way he always lingered a little longer with her than necessary.

Their conversations were casual but comfortable, a calm understanding settled between them. He never interfered, never asked for more than she was willing to give.

When she sat across him after placing his espresso in front of him, her movements practiced, she said

" You’re here early today."

Alfonso glanced up, the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.

" Had enough time."

Simple answer, as always.

But she knew him well enough now to catch the things left unsaid.

Just then, the door bell above the cafe chimed when someone entered, a gust of wind slipping through.

Andrea barely registered the chill before she said to Alfonso

" It's getting colder, day by day... I should definitely, wear a double coat."

He reached out, his fingers adjusted the sleeve of her coat, tugging it back into place.

The gesture was smooth, familiar.

Thoughtful.

Andrea didn’t think much of it, until she felt the sudden quietness, in conversation around them.

The café stilled, the usual hum dipping into something quieter. Olivia and Mia exchanged looks.

The customers were watching the scene unfold in front of them with a little hushed voices now.

Mia, Olivia, and a few others staff on duty, had gone still, eyes flickering between them with barely concealed interest.

Andrea sighed, slipping her hand into her pocket.

" It's alright, you don't have to... I'm gonna change it anyway."

Alfonso didn’t even glance their way.

" I already did. Don't change. It looks nice on you."

His voice was calm, indifferent, like the opinions of others were nothing more than background noise to him.

Andrea rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

Andrea pulled her hand back, slipping it into her pocket.

" Thanks," She muttered.

A slow nod from him.

No words.

She turned, ready to get back to work, but the murmurs had already started.

Especially Mia and Olivia who were now looking at her with hawk eyes, ready to pounce any second for more information.

Andrea laughed at their reaction, shaking her head. And Alfonso, he, as always, remained utterly unbothered like it's no big deal.

No one spoke, for a long time, but Andrea could feel the weight of their curiosity pressing in.

She hesitated, glancing at Alfonso. He was sitting unaffected, unbothered by the silent scrutiny, by the meaning others were so quick to attach to a simple gesture.

And just like that, the café exhaled, the moment passing as if it had never happened.

But the fact, it hadn't passed.

And everyone had seen it, it was just nobody knew what to name it.

She turned away before she could think too much about it, heading back to the counter.

A girl with long brown curly hair was standing there already watching the whole scene with a scowl on her face.

Clara, her university friend stood there, watching.

Andrea came behind the counter not noticing anyone's presence, lost in the rhythmic motion, when a familiar voice pulled her back into reality.

" Andrea? "

She looked up, blinking in surprise.

" Clara? "

The woman standing at the counter smiled, tilting her head slightly. They were close even shared a few university classes. But familiarity had a way of softening the edges of the past.

Andrea returned the smile, when she came in front of her to hug her.

" Wow, it’s been forever. How're you! Clara? "

Clara nodded but didn’t immediately reply.

Her gaze flickered past Andrea, toward the back corner of the café.

Towards him.

Towards Alfonso.

Andrea didn’t have to turn around to know who she was looking at. She could feel it.

The weight of his presence, steady and unshaken, like a storm that hadn’t decided whether to break or pass.

Alfonso was still seated at his usual table, a newspaper in hand, his expression unreadable.

His guards lingered near the entrance, not obvious, but unmistakably there.

Andrea barely had time to continue conversation, when Clara, voice low, muttered under her breath,

" Andrea! You know who he is? "

Andrea frowned, glancing at her.

" What? "

Clara didn’t look away, just kept just kept her gaze on her, but her grip on her glass, a little too firm.

" Don’t get close, Andrea."

Clara’s smile faded. Andrea frowned.

" What do you mean by that? "

Clara hesitated, then leaned in. Lowered her voice.

" Andrea… you really know who he is, right? "

Andrea let out a small laugh, waving a hand dismissively.

" Yeah. Of course, I know. He’s a businessman."

Clara didn’t laugh but she looked at her in disbelief.

" No..."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"...he’s not just a businessman. Be careful."

Andrea’s stomach tightened. She forced an easy expression, but inside, something coiled.

" What do you mean, not just a businessman? "

She asked, keeping her voice light.

Clara glanced back at Alfonso. He hadn’t moved, but the air around him was different now. Like he knew. Like he was listening even when he wasn’t.

She sighed.

" People talk, Andrea.

Nobody really knows what he does, but they know it’s not just business.

He’s powerful. Too powerful.

People don’t say no to him. They don’t cross him."

Andrea shifted uncomfortably.

" That doesn’t mean he’s dangerous."

Clara pressed her lips together, frustration flickering in her expression.

" You ever wonder why you never see him in the news?

A man with that much power, that much money, there should be articles, interviews.

But there’s nothing."

She continued, when Andrea didn't respond, she said

" Look! Your father is also a businessman and everyone knows him, even articles are there about him, not just him, but also about Olivia's father but about Alfonso....."

She exhaled. "....only whispers."

Andrea had no response to that.

Clara straightened, studying her face for a moment before giving a soft shake of her head.

" Just… don’t get too close. You might not like what you find out."

And after few little more conversations and some light-hearted ones, when she was gone, slipping out the door, leaving only the tension in the air behind her.

Andrea turned back to the counter, trying to shake it off. But she couldn’t.

Because Clara wasn’t wrong. Something about Alfonso didn’t add up.

That evening, after closing the café, Andrea wipes down the last table, trying to push Clara’s words out of her mind.

But as she turns around, she finds Alfonso watching her.

He leans against the counter, arms crossed, the faintest trace of amusement in his eyes.

Too calm.

Too knowing.

" You seemed… troubled after a little chat with your friend,"

He muses, tilting his head slightly.

Andrea hesitates. Should she tell him?

She doesn’t want to offend him, but something about the way he’s looking at her, like he already knows the answer, sends a small shiver down her spine.

" Nothing important,"

She says with a casual shrug. She decided not to tell him.

" Just old friends catching up."

Alfonso doesn’t react at first. Just silence.

Then, slowly, he chuckles.

Low.

Amused.

" Is that so? "

He steps closer, just enough for her to catch the scent of his cologne, rich, dark, intoxicating.

" And yet… you’ve been distracted ever since.

Almost like something is bothering you."

Andrea forces a smile. " It’s nothing."

Alfonso nodded and studies her for a moment, then lifts his hand, lightly tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

His voice drops slightly, smooth as silk.

" Don't think too much."

He pulls away, flashing her a knowing smirk before turning toward the door.

Andrea exhales, only after he was gone.

She tells herself she had only imagined the warning in his words.

But deep down, she knew, she didn’t.

Days passed by, but Clara’s words lingered. They stayed with her whenever, she made coffee, whenever, she locked up the café, when she found herself glancing at Alfonso without meaning to.

One evening, as she finished a late shift, Olivia and a few other baristas were sitting around, chatting while stacking chairs.

The café was almost empty, except for Alfonso's ever present guards outside the cafe.

" I swear,"

Olivia murmured,

" I saw that man practically bowing to him the other day."

Andrea, who had been drying a cup, nearly dropped it.

" Wait?...Who? "

Olivia continued with her serious face.

" I’m serious.

That guy, well-dressed, expensive watch, the whole deal, walked in, spotted Alfonso, and went completely stiff.

Like he’d just seen the Grim Reaper."

Andrea rolled her eyes. " You’re exaggerating."

One of the other girls, Mia, leaned in.

" No, she’s not. I saw that too."

Andrea frowned hearing that, but her mind went back to the day, when she went out with Alfonso, remembering the lady from Cafe and the museum director bowing to him.

Sienna shrugged.

" Look, I don’t know what he does. But people don’t just command that kind of respect unless there’s something else going on."

Mia nodded.

" You ever notice how the café gets quieter when he’s here?

Even customers who don’t know him instinctively lower their voices."

Andrea had noticed. She just hadn’t let herself think about it too much.

Another girl, Emilia, the new girl at cafe, hesitated before speaking.

" Just out of curiosity, what's his full name, Mia? "

" Alfonso Rodriguez " Mia said, now everyone looking at her.

Emilia then spoke, like she is in deep thought.

" Speaking of that, I remember, my cousin, who works in finance.

He mentioned Alfonso once, I didn't pay much attention at first but now hear you guys, so I think it is making sense."

Andrea’s heart dropped..

" And... What did he say? "

Her voice was careful, like she was stepping around something fragile.

" He said Rodriguez, doesn’t just do business. He owns it.

I mean, the entire companies shift depending on his decisions.

And if someone stands in his way..."

She trailed off, glancing at the table where Alfonso sat few minutes ago, now an empty table greet her.

Andrea swallowed.

" What happens if they stand in his way? "

Emilia exhaled then she said,

" They disappears or in some cases found dead.

It's still a mystery, where they disappear or how they die."

Silence.

Andrea’s pulse thrummed in her ears. The girls returned to their cleaning, but Andrea barely heard them.

She glanced over her shoulder.

Alfonso's guard outside the cafe, still hadn’t moved, still hadn’t looked at her, just staying still as if his loyalty lies only here.

But somehow, she felt like Alfonso, already knew, what conversation she is listening to nowadays.

And she had no idea what would happen next and she was getting scared day by day.