Elsa sat in the dim café, her fingers wrapped tightly around the ceramic coffee cup. The steam curled into the air, vanishing like the innocence she had lost long ago. She tried to steady her breathing, but the anticipation made her hands tremble slightly.
Then, the door opened, and in walked Gary. His presence was magnetic—confident, dangerous. He moved through the room like he owned it, his leather jacket draped carelessly over his shoulders. The moment he spotted Elsa, his lips curled into that cocky smirk, and he made his way to her table.
Sliding into the seat across from her, he leaned in. “Hey, Elsa. How are you holding up?”
Elsa forced herself to look vulnerable, to sell the part. She gripped the edge of the table, her voice shaking just enough. “I need your help, Gary. I will d
