Andrea was finishing up for the night, wiping down the counter as Olivia chatted with the other staff near the back.

The café was nearly empty, the warm glow from inside spilling onto the quiet street.

Then, she heard it.

A sharp, muffled crack, followed by a choked gasp.

Her heart jumped into her throat. She turned toward the back door of the cafe, frowning.

The backstreet outside was mostly deserted just beyond the café’s. In the dimly lit alley, she could see silhouette of three or four men.

One of them, she recognized was a customer. He had been in the café earlier, chatting with his friend, laughing as he mentioned something about asking Andrea out for a date.

The other men were, Alfonso’s personal bodyguards.

Andrea took a step forward, pushing the door open, but before she could fully step outside, another guard moved swiftly in front of her, blocking her view.

" Stay inside, Miss Andrea,"

He said, his voice low, firm.

Her stomach tightened. She tried to move past him, but he didn’t budge.

Still, she had already seen enough.

Past the guard, she caught a glimpse of the man, his face twisted in pain, his wrist bent at an unnatural angle, of the hand holding the flower.

The rose he had been holding, lay crushed on the ground, under the boot of other Alfonso's guard.

Andrea’s breath hitched.

The first guard, the one who had grabbed him, released his grip and took a step back.

His face remained blank, emotionless. The man whimpered in pain, cradling his broken wrist, his eyes filled with something, Andrea could tell pain, fear, horror.

She felt herself frozen to the ground.

The second guard, the one blocking her, finally stepped aside when it was clear.

The scene was over.

The man stumbled away. His friend rushing to help him as they disappeared down the street.

Andrea’s hands were as cold as ice. She immediately moved inside and shut the café door behind her, after stabling her few moments later.

She didn’t sleep well that night.

The Next Day.

The morning sunshine strained through the windows, but the usual warmth of the café felt different, like a thin layer of unease clung to the air.

Alfonso arrived as he always did, effortlessly composed, his presence commanding even when he did nothing at all.

He greeted her with his usual smooth charm, but Andrea wasn’t in the mood for small talk.

She set down his coffee as usual, then she slumped down on a seat next to him.

She said looking sideways to make sure no one is looking.

Then, she leaned forward and signal him to do the same which Alfonso did, curious to know what she has to tell him, this time.

She said keeping her voice low so that no one else would hear her.

" You know, your guard broke a man’s wrist last night,"

Alfonso didn’t react much like it's no big deal.

Of course, he knew. How can he not.

He simply picked up his coffee, took a slow sip, then met her gaze with a straight expression but trying to act surprised.

" Oh, did he? "

Andrea’s fingers curled into her apron.

" You know he did."

There was a pause, brief, but heavy.

Then, Alfonso exhaled, as if mildly amused by the situation. He set his cup down and leaned back slightly, his eyes studying her.

" You know Andrea...!"

He murmured, then look at her again, then said,

"....some people need a lesson."

Andrea felt her stomach tighten.

He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t apologizing. He was saying it like stating a fact.

And for the first time, she wasn’t sure if she should keep asking questions or if she was already in too deep.

The café was finally closed, the last chairs stacked, and the lights dimmed to a cozy glow.

Andrea leaned against the counter, exhausted but grateful for the silence.

Mia, and Sienna were standing beside her, their expressions surprised.

" I heard what happened, Olivia told me."

Mia said, crossing her arms. Sienna ears perked up,

" What happened? "

Mia continued,

" One of Alfonso’s men broke that guy’s wrist....

And before you say anything in his defense, Andrea!!!

Let me tell you beforehand...

No... that’s not normal. It's no self protection."

Andrea exhaled, decided not to defend him anymore.

" I don’t know what to think. I told Alfonso, but he barely reacted.

Just said something like, 'Some people need a lesson.' "

Mia’s face hardened.

" Exactly. That should scare you. Andrea."

Sienna nodded, her voice quieter but firm.

" Andrea, men like him, doesn’t have guards for protection.

They have them to make sure things go their way."

Andrea shifted uncomfortably.

" I.... look! he’s never done anything to me.."

Olivia interrupted her,

" ...yet. But he’s watching, Andrea."

Olivia said.

" Even when he’s not here, one of his men is. Why? "

Mia leaned in.

" We’ve seen it, Andrea. The way people act when he walks in.

They don’t just respect him, they fear him.

And you think you can just be normal around him? "

Sienna sighed.

" I know he’s rich, powerful....

Olivia didn't let her finish and chimed in

" Oh!!! he is not just rich, he is richie rich- rich, like really wealthy and powerful, you should've seen the party....

Oh my God... That was like a royal event."

Everyone looked at Andrea who was nodding along, when Mia continued

" And my dad told me when I mentioned once, he said people who cross him never get a second chance to make things right. "

Andrea swallowed hard, when she remembered a few things.

" You really think, I’m in a danger? "

Mia exchanged glances with the others before saying,

" Maybe not yet.

But if he has set his eyes on you, that’s not something you should ignore."

She looked at them, fidgeting with her fingers.

" So what do I do now? "

Andrea whispered, now, massaging her hands together to ease the nervousness.

" First of all, Stay calm..."

Olivia said.

" ...Just keep a distance. Don’t talk to him much.

And don’t let him think you’re scared."

Andrea hesitated, the weight of their words settling in her chest.

" And if he already knows I'm scared? "

Sienna looked around the café, no one there but still, lowering her voice, simply adding more horror to the situation than it already was.

" My dad told me, men like him don’t ask.

They find out. If he’s asking, it’s because he already knows."

Andrea felt a chill run down her spine.

She remembered, the way Alfonso looked at her, the subtle way he controlled the space around her effortlessly, the way he always seemed aware of her every movements.

It all suddenly made sense in a way that made her skin crawl.

Sienna placed a reassuring hand on hers.

" Hey! Don't worry! we'll figure it out what he wants, before it’s too late.”

Only if they knew.

That night, as Andrea lay in bed, her friends' words replayed in her mind.

" He takes whatever he wants."

For the first time, she truly understood what that meant. And it terrified her.

But she kept assuring herself with weak words. But none were able to calm her pounding heart.

Her fingers clenched the pillow she was hugging while lying down as she stared at the ceiling, her mind replaying every interaction she’d had with Alfonso.

The polite nods, the small smiles, his eyes crinkling a little when he smiled looking at her during conversation, the casual way he would linger just long enough for her to notice, she had brushed them off as nothing.

But were they?

She screamed in frustration cursing herself for being such a stupid girl.

The next day, back at the café, the tension had not left her. Olivia, noticing Andrea’s distracted state, leaned in, when no one was near them.

" Andrea, listen! he didn’t ask you anything personal, did he? "

Andrea hesitated before murmuring,

" Well… he asked me a few at first."

Olivia stiffened.

" What? And you told him? "

Andrea nodded, fidgeting with her fingers.

" He did ask a few things, just small talk.

Where I’m from, if I run the café alone.

I didn’t think much of it… then also, we went out few times.... after the party.

But hey that's only because you were not here and I needed company."

Olivia gripped her wrist.

" Andrea. That’s not small talk."

Andrea frowned at her before she snapped at her, she said

" How would, I know, if someone has bad intentions, he asked I told, a lot of other people does that too..."

She stopped for a moment, then she said,

"....and if you don't remember, you were with me when we went to his party!

And you didn't stop me either, because you were too excited."

Olivia went quiet at realization, but said nothing much.

Andrea’s stomach twisted.

" He’s been coming here more often, a regular customer, you know, like others.

I thought it was a coincidence that we are becoming friends but…"

Olivia exhaled sharply.

" Andrea, I don't think, men like him and coincidences

Doesn't fit well, together."

Olivia grabbed Andrea’s hand.

" Don't worry! We’re getting ahead of this.

If he comes again, you don’t answer anything. No no don't talk to him.

And you don’t act scared. Men like him can smell fear."

Andrea’s voice wavered, panick and nervousness visible.

" What if he...."

She met her gaze.

" Don't think much. We'll figure it out. "

Andrea nodded but her mind was a mess by now.