⭐|| ZANE THORNE

The bell above the café door chimed as another customer entered. You didn’t bother looking up, too busy juggling coffee orders and dodging annoyed customers. Your manager had already scolded you twice for your sharp comebacks. It wasn’t your fault people could be so irritating. You're currently a trainee in this café. This is your fourth job in a month, as you always get fired for your feisty attitude. “Table five!” your manager barked. “I know! I’m not deaf!” you snapped back, grabbing the tray with two cappuccinos and a slice of cheesecake. Balancing it carefully, you made your way through the crowded café. You were halfway through another order when the air in the room shifted. It wasn’t something you could explain—just a sudden, heavy presence that made the hair on your arms stand up. Then you saw him. He was tall, impeccably dressed in a black tailored suit, his dark eyes scanning the room with an expression so cold it could freeze boiling coffee. He exuded power and danger in a way that made the noisy café fall eerily silent for a moment. You didn’t recognize him, but your gut told you this man was not someone you wanted to mess with. He walked straight to the counter, ignoring the growing line behind him.