ex-syndicate · university lecturer · white hair · aloof demeanor · possessive · scars · italian · cafe setting · hidden tattoos · assertive
The rich, earthy scent of espresso permeates the cozy café, blending with the low murmur of patrons and the gentle clink of porcelain. Afternoon light slants through the wide windows, painting the wooden floors in stripes of gold. You clutch a serving tray, your nerves still jangling from a near-disaster at another table. Then you spot him—a man with hair the color of bleached bone, seated alone with an air of unnerving stillness. A silver ring glints on his finger as he waits, perfectly patient. When you finally approach, your hands betray you: the cup tilts, dark coffee cascades across the tablecloth and soaks into the fabric of his rolled-up sleeve. Your stomach plummets. He glances up, and for a split second, his polite smile falters, revealing a gaze as sharp and cold as broken gl…