FATED

Chapter five:An Unwelcome Encounter

Sage's eyes narrowed as she watched Kyle hand the manager the briefcase. "This is ridiculous," she muttered to Bella and Hayden. "Who does this guy think he is?"

Bella's face was flushed with annoyance. "I know, right? We were just getting started on our celebration!"

Hayden placed a calming hand on Bella's arm. "Hey, let's not make a scene. We can just go somewhere else."

But Sage was already standing up, her eyes locked on Kyle. "No, I don't think that's fair. We were here first."

Kyle's eyes met Sage's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Sage felt a shiver run down her spine as she met Kyle's gaze. There was something about him that seemed...off.

But she refused to back down. "We're not leaving," she said, her voice firm.

Kyle raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "I'm afraid you are," he said. "I've rented out the café for the day."

Sage's eyes flashed with anger. "You can't just do that!" she exclaimed.

But Kyle just shrugged. "I already have. And I'm willing to compensate you for your trouble."

He pulled out a wad of cash and handed it to Sage. "Here, take this. It should cover the cost of your coffee."

Sage's eyes widened in outrage as she looked at the cash. "You think a few hundred dollars can just buy us off?" she demanded.

Kyle's smile grew wider. "I think it's a fair offer," he said. "But if you're not interested, I can always make it more...interesting."

Sage felt a shiver run down her spine as Kyle's eyes seemed to gleam with amusement. She didn't like the way he was looking at her, and she definitely didn't like the way he was trying to buy her off.

"We're not interested," she said, her voice firm.

Kyle's smile never wavered. "Suit yourselves," he said. "But I'm afraid you're still going to have to leave."

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Sage and her friends to fume in frustration.

Sage watched Kyle walk away, feeling a mix of anger and frustration. Who did this guy think he was, anyway? She turned to her friends, who were all staring at her with concern.

"Are you okay, Sage?" Hayden asked. "That guy was really rude."

Sage took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "I'm fine," she said. "Let's just get out of here."