~LAYLA~
"I'm just thinking about how much has changed in such a short time."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
Axel leaned forward, cradling his coffee cup between his hands, the roses on the patio highlighting his strong features. "I mean, look at you," he said. "Just a few months ago, you were the perfect Watson daughter, playing by their rules. Now you're outmanoeuvring Cassandra, running Eclipse Beauty like a queen, and driving an armoured SUV like you were born for it."
I laughed, stirring my coffee. "You make it sound so glamorous. I'm just trying to survive."
His eyes softened, holding mine. "You're doing more than surviving, Layla. You're winning."
The waitress served our pancakes: blueberry for me and chocolate chip for him. We started eating, and the warm, sweet flavours helped melt away the tension from the past few days.
These are amazing," I mumbled through a bite.
"Told you," Axel said, smirking. "Best in the city."
