"He's Velvet Ruin"

businessmen in suits scrolling through their phones, and elderly regulars who lingered over tea and newspapers. I kep

bove the café's entrance chimed, and in wa

Dave

air slicked back with precision. I froze mid-step,my hand

e me. I turned toward the counter, but his

abe

nding there, an eyebrow raised, his gaze moving over me wi

irk tugging at his lips. "I thought you'd have tak

poison-wrapped in politeness b

. "I'm working. That

him. "You know, I could still give you a better life. You wo

d firmly, though my pu

ard. He tilted his head. "Still stubborn, I see.

word. But as i walked away, i noticed Marlene wat

Marlene called over. "Y

lied. "He's... the rea

careful with men like that. They

r. Davenport, but the following week, he returned. And the week after that. Each time, he

on, something un

y dressed but with a warmth in his expression that Mr. Davenport lacked entirely. They

k...""...needs someone relia

es, the younger man smiled at

said ca

eed extra staff for the evening-serving, setti

ack in his chair, his smirk returning. "She's

a card. "If you're interested, call this

to her apron, thanked

me hesitated-what if this was some trap? But something in

rning, i ma

ses and champagne filled the air. I wore a simple black uniform provided by the event team,my hair neatl

d me. "You're doing great," he said, his voi

"Thank you for giv

ht went on, she noticed him glancing her way-not with Mr. Davenport's predato

again. "You're not like the other temps," he said. "You're... sharper.

caught. "

. Scheduling, errands, e

ed to buy her dignity. But Daniel's offer didn't feel l

the ground beneath me shift-not from another fa

nal, and unlike my previous employers, he didn't treat me like i was invisible. Within week

ought nothing of it. But it came up again and again, sometimes in urgent, last-minute meetings that Daniel

was a luxury i couldn't

e most feared and powerful Mafia families in the city-a man whose name was rarely spoken above a whisper. Dan

n't see him-Daniel had sent me out on an errand minutes before-but when I retu

from the café days, Clara, paid her a visit. Clara was dressed sharply,

eyeing Isabella's neat office attir

r Daniel Hayes

se. "Oh? I've heard

It's just work. I'm not ex

mething that will get you swimming in it. One night's w

"What kin

uring drinks, chatting with guests, nothing heavy. You dress nice, smile,

heck barely stretched past groceries. She told herse

rs, crystal glasses, the faint hum of expensive music. But within minutes, she realized something

rvous. They're big spenders. You just need to keep o

"This isn't wh

. Just... a more private kind. One night, Isabell

e remembered Mr. Davenport's smirk, Tasha's taunt on the street, and the nigh

k her he

n. "Suit yourself. But you'll walk out with

ite without a cent, her pride i

ffice. His expression was unreadable. "I heard

t what you think. I was tol

ople in this city talk. And sometimes the wrong peopl

what unsettled her most wasn't Daniel's warning