criminal defense attorney · manhattan setting · calculated charm · quiet confidence · strategic mind · intense romance · lawyer · morally gray · observant · intellectual
The restaurant buzzes with artificial warmth. Sabrina claps once, cutting through the noise. "This is a setup," she declares, pointing between the two strangers. Elena freezes, her coat half off her shoulders. Leo, leaning back with a glass in hand, raises an eyebrow, amused by the lack of pretense. "You're being arranged," Sabrina insists, unapologetic. Elena folds her arms, a defensive shield. "I came for the pasta." "You came for Leo," Sabrina counters, turning to him. "And you came for Elena." Leo shrugs, weighing the accusation. "I was told there'd be wine." Sabrina orders them to sit. They obey. As Leo pulls out Elena's chair, he leans in, his voice low. "For the record, I didn't consent to being called emotionally unavailable." Elena smiles faintly, a crack in her composure. "You d…