Andrea walked towards the corner table, the coffee cup balanced carefully on her tray.

The café was warm, filled with the usual evening customers chatting, the distant hum of jazz playing through the speakers, the clatter of dishes from behind the counter.

Yet, despite everything's normal, her pulse was unsteady.

She placed the cup in front of him, careful not to let her fingers brush against his.

" Your order."

Her voice was steady, but the weight of his gaze made her nervous.

Alfonso looked up at her, his expression plain.

"Gracias,"

He murmured, lifting the cup with unhurried ease.

His watch glints under the dim lights as he takes a slow sip, a little smirk forming now

" You always serve with such precision. It's admirable."

Andrea shifted on her feet.

A compliment? Out of nowhere.

"I just do my job."

She kept her response neutral, professional, at least she tried to.

His lips curved slightly, not quite a smirk, just the faintest hint of amusement.

" No doubt, you do."

He gestured to the chair across from him.

" Sit."

Andrea's grip on the tray tightened.

" I have other customers."

Alfonso exhaled and he chuckled, tapping his fingers against the cup.

" Then I won't keep you long."

It was the ease in his tone that unsettled her the most. He wasn't demanding. He wasn't pressing.

He was just there, existing in her space, making her aware of him without needing to try.

She hesitated, caught between walking away and noticing the unspoken truth hanging between them.

And then, as if reading her hesitation, Alfonso leaned back in his chair, watching her with a little smile.

" You always look like you have something on your mind."

He tilted his head slightly.

" Why is that, Andrea Or did I do something wrong? "

She looked straight in his eyes, let out a nervous chuckle, the sound betraying her attempt to appear unaffected.

"No, no. That's not it. I am just tired."

Alfonso didn't respond immediately.

He just watched her, his dark gaze steady, studying, measuring.

The silence between them stretched, not awkward but heavy with meaning.

Andrea swallowed and forces a tight smile.

" Enjoy your coffee."

Then, she turned and walked away, feeling his eyes follow her, not in possession, not in threat.

Just in certainty.

He didn't like the fact she is pulling away.

By doing this, she wasn't saving herself, she was only challenging his dominant nature to resurface.

He wanted her, to be his, no matter what, if not easily, he'll get it forcefully.

But only when he thinks time is right.

Only then, she'll know, she belongs to him.

That night, Alfonso came to her place, she opened the door at the knock thinking its Olivia, she was stunned when she opened the door.

He walked into her apartment without waiting for an invitation, as if he owned the place.

He moved with slow steps, scanning the room with the sharp eyes, he noticed everything.

He took in the scent of the freshner, noticed the books stacked neatly on a small shelf, and the delicate touches that makes it her look like her space. His gaze settled back on her.

" You've kept this place nice,"

He murmured, voice low and smooth.

Andrea didn't respond.

Her fingers gripped the hem of her sweater as he stepped closer.

Then, his hand moved, just slightly, just about to pat her head in appreciation.

But she flinched.

Alfonso paused, a flicker of something crossed his face.

She forced herself to speak, her voice smaller than she'd thought.

" Why are you here? What do you want? "

Alfonso chuckled, a low, knowing sound. His sharp eyes never leaving hers as he slides his hands into his pockets, exuding effortless control, taking a step forward.

"I've never been questioned before...."

He paused, amused, then tilted his head looking at her he said,

" But you're quiet a thing ."

His lips curve into a smirk.

" Well, I'm here to see you."

Then, he took another step forward.

Andrea instinctively retreats, step by step, until her back pressed against the wall.

Her heart pounded. She wasn't able to look up, wasn't able to meet his eyes.

Alfonso tilted his head, watching her reaction with quiet satisfaction.

The air felt heavy, charged with an unspoken warning.

It felt like a predator has cornered its prey.

He knew she is now getting suspicious of him, she was never scared of him before and now she was and for a few weeks she was being careful around him.

He didn't like it, infact he didn't like the fact that she is constantly keeping a distance between them, that was irritating for him now, when he was getting used to her bubbly warm personality.

" I might be scary..."

He said at last, his voice softer than she had expected,

"...but not for you."

And just like that, he stepped back.

At the doorway, his men standing like statues, backed off giving him way out, after that they went outside the apartment with him, following his lead.

A game was on which she never agreed to play.

The next day, Andrea went straight to Olivia's apartment. Andrea sat on Olivia's couch, gripping a cup of tea that had long gone cold.

Her fingers trembled slightly around the ceramic, but she wasn't sure if it was from the chill in the air or the conversation she was having.

" Wait, what? he came to your apartment? At night? Alone? Why? "

Olivia stared at her, arms crossed, expression surprised, she exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples.

Andrea nodded, her heartbeat still uneven at the memory.

" He came to see me, he said that,"

She said quickly, though the words felt hollow.

"But the way he looked at me, Liv, I was so scared. "

Olivia's expression darkened.

" Andrea, he just 'showed up.' at your place.

I think, he wanted you to know that he can and he will. Trust me, it's not normal."

Andrea swallowed, gripping her cup tighter.

" I don't know what he wants. But I feel like he knows I'm scared. "

Olivia leaned forward, her tone firm.

"Listen. I don't think, this is just an interest.

And more than that I think... He's marking his territory."

Andrea stiffened.

"I'm not his territory."

Olivia's gaze softened, but her words remained sharp.

" Yes, you're not. And make sure he knows that as well. "

At first, Andrea thought she was being trapped.

Then, the little things started adding up.

From next few days, the café suddenly had extra security, men in dark suits she didn't recognized, sitting at tables near the windows, their gazes sweeping the room.

Her apartment building's doorman casually mentioned that "a friend" had stopped by, asking if she got home safe.

One night, as she walked back home, the feeling of being watched prickled at her skin. She turned a corner, then another, and there it was.

A sleek black car parked a little too conveniently on the opposite side of the street.

Andrea stopped.

The engine purred softly, but the car didn't move. She shuddered, exhaling slowly before turning and marching straight toward it.

The tinted window rolled down an inch at her straight non-stop knocking.

She caught a glimpse of the man inside, sharp suit, watch glinting under the streetlight.

He wasn't Alfonso.

But he worked for him, she had recognized him.

" What the hell are you doing? Are you following me? "

He didn't reply, but he got out of car, standing right in front of her, the one came out immediately from other side.

" Stop doing this non-sense or else ...."

He interrupted her in a threatening tone.

"...or else what? "

Andrea's hands clenched, eyes burning with fury,

"Tell your boss...."

She said, voice tight with anger.

"....I don't need his protection or whatever the hell this is...

And you stop following me like a puppy..."

She hadn't finished her sentence, when he took a step forward, anger evident on his face, it seemed like he was about to hit her.

Andrea automatically stepped back in fear before he could do anything, the other man immediately stepped forward, stopping him placing a hand on his chest, just by whispering,

" Alfonso will kill you, if he knew..."

The man froze mid-action and he stepped back and got inside the car without looking back, but his face drained out of the colour for a brief moment.

He only wished, this news never reach Alfonso.

The other man turned to Andrea and apologized for earlier's behavior but then he just moved away without another word.

Andrea stood there surprised what happened just now then she decided to go back.

When Andrea turned on her heel and walked away, the car didn't follow her this time.

But she knew it wasn't the last time.

It had only started.