The bell above the coffee shop door chimed softly as I pushed it open, the scent of dark roast and caramel wrapping around me like a familiar embrace. The hum of quiet conversation and the clink of ceramic cups filled the air, but my focus was laser-sharp—Lorena.
The coffee shop's dim lighting cast long shadows across the tables, the scent of freshly ground beans mingling with the faintest hint of Lorena's perfume—something expensive, something dangerous.
She sat in the corner, her posture elegant and untouchable, fingers drumming lightly against the tabletop. The contract lay between us like a challenge, her dark eyes locking onto mine as I approached.
I slid into the chair across from her, my voice smooth and unhurried. "Hello, Lorena."
She didn't bother with pleasantries. Instead, she pushed the contract across the table, her manicured fingers tapping the paper. "Sign it."
