His Hired Lover

SOFIA’s POVSince the restaurant opened this morning, I hadn’t had a second to breathe. I moved like an acrobat—pacing the room with both hands and balancing trays, my mind constantly reminding my feet to avoid slipping on the tiled floor.By the time the clock crept toward a quarter to twelve, the place had erupted into a war zone. Orders flew in, and customers endlessly waved for attention. Their hunger was seemingly commanding their brains to be impatient. My skin itched just by looking at their sulky lips and bored faces. Normally, every staff in Lorenzo’s Restaurant would be happy to receive so many costumers, but when you’re waiting tables to rude patrons, it would only make you wish for your shift to end already.The kitchen’s aromas had found their way onto my uniform. I scrunched my face upon realizing that. I spent an hour doing my hair, only to expose it to the greasy scent of garlic butter and grilled meat.But a 24-year-old woman like me, with no prospects, had to endure t

Running an empire that straddled both the legal and illegal required precision, accountability, and a solid foundation to play the dangerous game. But Rios Estrada Alcaraz was a man of duality.To the public, he was a refined businessman. With his thriving media network called Star Channel Studios, he had been named the ultimate Kingpin of his generation. A media mogul whose name graced charity events, luxury hotels, and high-stakes investment portfolios. He moved in elite circles while shaking hands with politicians and rubbing shoulders with CEOs and dignitaries, all while keeping his true empire hidden beneath the surface.Behind closed doors, he was a chess master. His only goal was to win the long game of deception. He laundered his wealth through legitimate businesses, making it nearly impossible for authorities to pin anything on him. His hands, which were always impeccably clean in the eyes of the law, were stained with the blood of those who had dared to cross him. His reach e

SOFIA’s POVThe bell at the restaurant door jingled again. I barely looked up as I fumbled through my notepad, thinking it was just another hungry customer. Sliding my pencil behind my ear, I grabbed a menu and forced an excited smile. But as I approached the table, hesitation crept in. Something about him set me on edge.The new customer sat unnaturally still, fingers laced together on the table like he was waiting for someone. His all-black outfit, which consisted of a black shirt, black leather jacket, and black gloves, looked intriguing enough. Despite my unease, I relaxed and acted professionally.“Hi! What can I get you?”His lips curved slightly, but the smile never reached his eyes. “No need for the menu, Miss Morales.”I stiffened. My name tag only showed my first name. How the hell did he know my surname?“Have we met?” I asked, my fingers fumbling with the pencil still tucked behind my ear. He tilted his head but didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled out a phone, tapped a few ti

SOFIA’S POVWe drove around the city in silence as the low hum of the car’s engine filled the space between us.My hands still shook. The worn-off adrenaline left a dull throb in my fingers, and the strains in my legs made it hard to appreciate the car’s soft leather seat.Every so often, I could feel his piercing eyes checking on me. He was probably thinking I was a psychotic bitch. A violent little stray he picked up off the street. Good. Let him think that. After all, that was the least of my concerns right now.I had just beaten up my landlord. The weight of that realization pressed against my chest, but before I could even begin to process it, Rios’s voice cut through the silence.“I don’t mind you getting your hands dirty, but next time, let me handle it.”That only intensified my annoyance. “You saw me there, Rios. I don’t need a savior.”“You bet,” he said, smirking. “You almost killed him.”I rolled my eyes at him. I did not like how he inserted himself into my already chaotic

SOFIA’s POVA deep, perfect kind of warmth wrapped around me as I drifted between sleep and waking. For the first time in my 24 years of existence, my body felt light, my mind clear, like I had finally, finally gotten the kind of rest people always raved about.Unfortunately, all the hairs on my body automatically stood up the second I realized I wasn’t on my bed!Panic settled in as my eyes snapped open. At first, I had no idea where I was. Plush white sheets, a thick comforter, and a floral scent in the air. My fingers curled around the silky fabric, my pulse picking up as flashes of last night pieced themselves together. I groaned as I buried my face in my hands. Right. The landlord. His slimy, grabbing hands. The rage that burned through me. My fists connected with his gut, his ribs, his face.And then, that man, Rios Alcaraz.The memory of him standing over me hit me like a splash of cold water. I sat up, the sheets pooling at my waist, and glanced around. Still, there was no sign