Maria couldn’t shake the feeling that her interaction with Hayato-sama had meant something more than just casual conversation. The way he had studied her reactions, tested her answers, and left her feeling slightly off balance—it was unlike any customer she had dealt with so far.
As she returned to the counter, Mika was still watching her with an amused expression.
— You looked nervous, Maria. Did Hayato-sama make your heart race?
Maria frowned, feeling her cheeks warm slightly.
— It’s not that! He just… he asks a lot of questions.
Mika giggled, leaning against the counter.
— That’s how he is. He likes to play with people. You should be careful—guys like him don’t do anything without a reason.
Before Maria could reply, a sharp voice cut through the café.
— Tch. A newbie, and she already has a VIP wrapped around her finger?
Maria turned to see Sayuri, the strict senior maid, standing nearby with her arms crossed. Her dark eyes were filled with something between annoyance and suspicion.
— I-It’s not like that! Maria stammered. He just asked me some questions, that’s all.
Sayuri scoffed.
— Sure. That’s how it starts. First, they ask for you. Then they start reserving private time. Before you know it, they expect you to do more than just serve tea and smile.
Maria blinked, feeling a sudden chill.
— Is that… really what happens?
Mika waved a hand dismissively.
— Don’t scare her, Sayuri. Hayato-sama is a VIP, yeah, but he follows the café’s rules. He just likes to test the limits.
Sayuri narrowed her eyes at Maria.
— I don’t trust you yet. I’ve worked here for two years, and I’ve seen girls like you before. The cute, naive type. Let me give you a piece of advice—if you’re not careful, you’ll end up regretting it.
Maria felt a lump form in her throat.
— I… I just want to do my job well.
Sayuri sighed.
— Then be smart about it. You might not understand it yet, but this café has unspoken rules. And if you don’t learn them fast, you’re going to get caught up in something you can’t handle.
With that, Sayuri walked off, leaving Maria feeling more confused than ever.
She turned to Mika, who simply shrugged.
— Don’t worry too much. Sayuri is like that with everyone.
— But… what did she mean by “unspoken rules”?
Mika’s playful expression faded slightly.
— You’ll understand soon enough.
Maria wasn’t sure if that was reassuring or terrifying.
As she glanced back toward Hayato-sama’s table, she found him already looking in her direction, his dark eyes unreadable.
A shiver ran down her spine.
Was Sayuri right to warn her?
To be continued …
