Maria had done it.
She had left Hayato-sama speechless.
Just for a second.
But that second had changed everything.
Because now, she wasn’t just defending herself.
She was attacking.
And Hayato-sama?
He was enjoying it.
Later That Evening – The Aftermath
Maria finished her shift without incident.
Or rather—without obvious incident.
Because even though Hayato-sama hadn’t called for her again, she could feel it—the tension.
Like a predator watching its prey, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Mika leaned against the counter, smirking.
— That was wild, Maria.
Maria sighed, rubbing her temples.
— I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Mika burst out laughing.
— Oh, don’t play innocent now. You flipped the script on Hayato-sama, and he loved it.
Maria felt a chill.
That was the problem.
He wasn’t losing interest.
He was getting more intrigued.
And Maria was running out of ways to control it.
The Unexpected Message
Just as Maria finished changing in the staff room, her phone vibrated.
She frowned, unlocking the screen.
It was a message.
From an unknown number.
Unknown:
“You’re making this fun, Maria.”
Maria’s blood ran cold.
She stared at the screen, heart pounding.
Was this… him?
She quickly typed back.
Maria:
“Who is this?”
A reply came almost instantly.
Unknown:
“Take a guess.”
Maria’s stomach twisted.
She didn’t need to guess.
She already knew.
Hayato-sama had crossed a line.
And now?
Maria had to decide—
Did she keep playing?
Or did she finally run?
To be continued …
