She told herself it didn't matter. Everything's fine, he was just a person who cares about his safety, afterall he is a businessman, he needs protection.

But from who that was the real question...?

She didn't need to understand him, that's what she kept telling herself.

But every time he walked in, her stomach twisted, not with fear, but with something far more dangerous.

Curiosity

Interest.

Awareness.

And when she finally looked at him tonight, her defenses lowered just enough for him to see it.

His victory was silent.

Because by the time she realized she was drawn to him...

It was already too late, to back off.

She hasn't realised that it was a slow intentional trap, that made her feel she is making her own decision but to be honest, behind the scene, he had the strings in his hands.

Days passed, and Alfonso returned like usual.

Always the same order, always the same seat-except now, his eyes observed rather than lingered.

Andrea found herself expecting his visits, though she told herself it was nothing more than business.

One evening, as she placed his coffee before him, he spoke but his voice calm and eye softened a little only when talking to her.

" You don't ask me anything like everyone else, like most people do."

Andrea blinked in surprise.

"Should I?"

His lips twitched.

"Most want to know."

She tilted her head slightly.

" If you wanted me to know, you'd tell me."

Alfonso exhaled a quiet chuckle, more out of amusement than anything else

Andrea met his gaze, her hazel eyes sparkling and a little nervous chuckle when she spoke.

" I just don't see the point in interfering, yet I get curious sometimes, but not more."

He nodded, satisfied.

"Good."

There was no further explanation, no need for one.

And Andrea, in her quiet way, had earned his respect by treating him normally without any hesitation, without any fear.

As she walked away, Alfonso took a sip of his coffee, his expression unreadable.

This was only the beginning but he knew, it would unfold on his terms, not out of need, but out of his sheer, deliberate interest.

The next few days passed in an unspoken rhythm. Alfonso didn't return immediately, but Andrea found herself glancing at the door more often than she cared to admit.

She told herself it was silly he was just another customer, surely an intimidating one.

Still, something about him lingered in her mind.

When he finally did return, it was as if he had never been gone.

The bell chimed of the Cafe door, and there he was-calm, composed, his dark eyes scanning the café before settling on her.

But suddenly a voice broke the train of her thoughts, after greeting and a little conversation.

"Black coffee,"

He said, his voice calm yet familiar now.

Andrea nodded, moving with practiced ease and then she asked

" You didn't came in days? "

As she prepared his drink, she stole a glance at him. He was standing near the counter, his posture relaxed yet commanding.

" Yeah, business."

She nodded.

Unlike most customers, he didn't fidget or check his phone. He simply watched her, as if he had all the time in the world.

"You've been busy,"

He remarked casually, his eyes flicking to the steady stream of customers.

Andrea hesitated, unsure if it was a question or an observation.

"Yeah. Mornings are always like this."

He accepted the cup from her, fingers brushing hers once again.

"That's good. A successful business always needs hardwork."

She nodded and smile politely then she said.

" Yeah, I suppose so."

He took a slow sip, watching her over his cup.

" You live nearby? "

Andrea blinked at the unexpected question. It wasn't invading, but she never expected him to ask

" Yeah, a block away," She admitted.

He didn't answer. Instead, he placed a crisp bill on the counter.

" And you..?"

She asked looking at him with curious eyes.

He looked at her with a little smile on his lips and his eyes crinkled a little showing he genuinely smiled then he said,

" Not far from here "

Then, without another word, he turned and walked out, leaving Andrea staring after him.

Curious.

The word stayed with her long after he was gone. Something told her Alfonso Rodríguez was not a man who asked idle questions.

And she couldn't shake the feeling that, whether she liked it or not, she had caught the attention of someone who never lost interest once it was piqued.

About a month passed by like this, Olivia asked Andrea

" Don't you think it's weird that he's been coming here for four weeks now?

Not a single gap."

Andrea laughed, wiping down the counter.

"He likes coffee, Liv."

Olivia's eyes narrowed, fingers tapping the sugar jar with teasing voice.

" Or maybe he likes something else."

" Not this again " Andrea groaned.

" He only talks to you and never look at me."

Andrea rolled her eyes again but they both laughed.

Andrea knew he was watching before she even looked.

She felt it, the weight of his gaze pressing against her spine.

Alfonso sat at his usual table.

Waiting.

She had been avoiding his eyes all morning, pretending not to notice the way he always seemed to arrive when the café was half empty.

Pretending he was just another customer.

But when she finally glanced up, his eyes were already on her.

Calm.

Patient.

Like he had all the time in the world.

Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to walk over.

" You need anything? "

Andrea's heart slammed against her ribs as she saw it again.

The gun.

" You're nervous."

He looked at her pale face.

Her breath caught.

He leaned back slowly, Andrea's throat dried, but she refused to look away.

A small smile played at the corner of his mouth, slow, knowing.

His fingers tapped again, the same rhythm, like an unspoken code.

Andrea's heart was pounding so loud she was sure he could hear it.

Without another word, Alfonso leaned back, his posture calm, like they hadn't just crossed some invisible line.

" Black coffee. No sugar."

He could have said it the first time. But he wanted her to come to him.

He wanted her to feel the strings tightening, Even if she couldn't see them yet.

Innocent girls were always the easiest to break.

Andrea's fingers gripped Olivia's wrist tightly, her heart slamming against her ribs, dragging her to the storage room.

" Hey... remember I told you he had a gun? "

She whispered, her voice shaky. Olivia's eyes widened.

"Alfonso? "

Andrea nodded quickly.

" I saw it again today... when I went to take his order.

He had it inside his jacket but it was visible."

Olivia's breath caught.

" What? You think he's doing it on purpose? "

"I don't know."

Andrea's throat tightened.

" It felt like... like he wanted me to know, he saw me looking."

Olivia glanced towards the door, lowering her voice.

"Okay... okay, don't panic. Calm down."

Andrea's stomach twisted.

Or maybe he was waiting for her to slip, waiting for her to crack or making her see this is normal to have a weapon.

Like little by little a glimpse of his world.

The next morning, Andrea arrived to find a small, delicate bouquet of white lilies waiting on the counter.

Just flowers.

No name.

No note.

Her heart fluttered as she glanced around, but no one claimed them.

Olivia teased her all morning, but Andrea brushed it off with a nervous laugh.

Still, she couldn't help stealing glances at the lilies throughout the day, wondering who had left them.

Alfonso never entered the café that day, but his men were watching her wherever she goes.

They noticed her smile when she hold flowers of course for reporting.

He returned at closing time, just as Andrea was cleaning the tables.

The café was empty, the soft glow of the lamps casting warm shadows on the walls.

" Long day? "

He asked casually, leaning against the counter.

Andrea jumped slightly, not expecting anyone at this hour.

"Uhhh... OMG...."

She put a hand on her beating heart to calm it.

" You scared me! "

Andrea jumped up from her seat not expecting anyone but calm down when she saw its him, but then she chuckled at her own reaction, but she replied afterwards.

" Oh...yeah it was long day. But.... We're about to close."

He chuckled at her reaction but his voice was smooth, almost gentle.

" Then I won't keep you long."

As she was preparing the last coffee of the day, he was watching her then he asked out of nowhere

" Did you receive flowers?."

Her hazel eyes flicked to him, surprised again by the rare compliment.

" You sent them? Well, Yeah I did....

They were really nice. "

She signaled to the table where those flowers were in a pot standing straight.

" Thankyou but you didn't have to send me any flowers.

Really. "

Then, just as she turned to hide the blush, he spoke again.

" I just wanted to."

His lips curved slightly, the way his eyes crinkled, it was obvious he was amused, but he let silence stretch between them.

Andrea didn't ask why he sent the flowers.

She wasn't naive.

Alfonso wasn't the kind of man who did things without reason.

He wasn't leaving.

Not until he decided to.

And whether she liked it or not...

She'd already let him in.