Maria’s entire body froze.
— “You should.”
Hayato-sama’s words echoed in her mind, sinking into her skin like an invisible weight.
He wasn’t teasing.
He wasn’t joking.
He wasn’t playing anymore.
He was telling her the truth.
And the terrifying part?
He wasn’t wrong.
Mika’s Reaction
The moment Maria managed to step away, Mika grabbed her wrist.
Her grip was tight.
— “What the hell was that?” she hissed.
Maria tried to pull free, but Mika held on.
— “Maria. Say something.”
Maria swallowed hard.
— “I… I don’t know.”
Mika’s expression darkened.
— “You don’t know?”
Maria’s lips parted, then closed.
Because what could she say?
That she had thought she could handle it?
That she had tried to fight back?
That she had thought it was just a game?
But now?
Now, she wasn’t sure.
Mika’s grip loosened.
— “Maria… you need to get out.”
Maria’s chest tightened.
— “Get out?”
Mika nodded, her expression dead serious.
— “You can’t keep working here. Not with him watching you like that.”
Maria shook her head.
— “I can’t just quit.”
Mika groaned in frustration.
— “Why not?”
Maria’s stomach twisted.
— “Because if I leave… it means I lost.”
Mika stared at her.
Then, she sighed, rubbing her forehead.
— “Maria, this isn’t about winning or losing anymore. This is about you getting out before it’s too late.”
Maria didn’t answer.
Because deep down, she knew Mika was right.
But it wasn’t that simple.
Because if she walked away now…
Would Hayato-sama let her?
The Unspoken Warning
Maria tried to push the conversation out of her mind.
She focused on her work, moving through the café as if nothing was wrong.
But then—
She felt it.
A presence behind her.
She didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.
Slowly, she looked over her shoulder.
Hayato-sama.
Standing just behind her, his expression unreadable.
Maria’s pulse spiked.
— “You’re avoiding me, Maria.”
His voice was calm, smooth.
But she could hear it.
The unspoken warning.
Maria forced herself to stay still.
— “I’m just busy, goshujin-sama.”
Hayato-sama tilted his head slightly.
— “Liar.”
Maria’s stomach clenched.
He took a slow step closer.
Not enough to break the café’s rules.
But just enough to make her feel cornered.
— “You’re running.”
Maria forced a smile.
— “Maybe, goshujin-sama… you just don’t like being ignored.”
For a moment, he didn’t react.
Then—he smiled.
— “Careful, Maria.” His voice was quiet, almost a whisper. “You’re starting to sound like me.”
Maria’s breath caught.
Because for the first time—
She wasn’t sure if that was a threat…
Or a compliment.
The Decision
Maria rushed into the staff room the moment her shift ended.
Mika was waiting for her.
— “Well?”
Maria clenched her fists.
— “I need to figure out what to do.”
Mika shook her head.
— “You don’t have time to figure it out. He’s closing in on you, Maria.”
Maria knew it.
She could feel it.
But was it too late to stop it?
Because now, no matter what she did…
Hayato-sama wasn’t going to let her go.
And Maria wasn’t sure she wanted him to.
To be continued …
