Chapter 6 ~ The Stalker

The morning air carried the tempting aroma of coffee, accompanied by the soft chime of a bell as the glass door opened.

Jeslyn stepped into La Vie Sucrée, the coffee and dessert café she had built from scratch, now her pride and joy. The vintage-modern interior instantly offered a warm welcome—natural wooden tables, dim hanging lights, and the sweet scent of freshly baked cinnamon rolls from the oven created an irreplaceable greeting every morning.

“Hi, Jes!” greeted Livia, one of the young baristas, flashing an enthusiastic smile.

“Good morning, Jes!” added Nico, the cashier, busy arranging receipts behind the counter.

“Morning, you two. Ready for battle?” Jeslyn smiled as she set her handbag behind the cashier's desk.

“Always ready when the boss is this hands-on,” Livia teased with a wink.

Jeslyn chuckled. Though she was the owner, she never hesitated to help. Greeting customers, making coffee, or simply manning the cashier—these were all parts of her love for this place.

Before she could put on her apron, the bell above the door chimed again.

“Welcome to La Vie Su—” her words caught in her throat.

Her steps froze. Her eyes widened, locking onto the man standing a few feet away—his dominant aura and crooked smile were all too familiar.

Leonel…

A crisp white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, casual black trousers, and a silver watch on his left wrist. All perfectly ordinary—if only it wasn’t Leonel wearing them.

“Good morning,” Leonel greeted, already making his way toward Jeslyn despite the dessert display counter between them.

“Over here, sir,” Nico motioned toward the cashier.

“I’d like to be served by the lady in front of me,” Leonel replied smoothly, his gaze never leaving Jeslyn’s face—irking her further.

“I’m sorry, sir. The café isn’t open yet,” Jeslyn said curtly.

“Really? The door wasn’t locked,” Leonel replied casually.

“Didn’t you see the closed sign on the door?” she shot back.

“Does that matter? I’m already inside, aren’t I?” Leonel answered calmly, his tone only fueling Jeslyn’s frustration.

Nico glanced at Jeslyn uncertainly, waiting for a cue. The air inside the café suddenly felt heavier—not from the heat, but from the overwhelming, intimidating presence of the man before them.

Jeslyn took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart and rising temper.

“If you insist on staying, then wait until we’re officially open,” she said sharply, arms crossed. “Or step outside and come back in an hour.”

But Leonel remained where he stood, his smile slowly spreading—like a cat that had just snuck into a birdcage.

“Jeslyn… must you treat me like just any customer?” he asked softly, but loud enough for everyone to hear. “Aren’t I… special?”

Jeslyn stiffened. She hated when he said her name like that—warm, teasing, and maddening all at once.

“I’m treating you as I should. Here, I’m the owner. I make the rules,” she replied flatly, though her voice trembled slightly.

Leonel rested his hands on the glass display filled with cakes and tarts. His eyes scanned the treats before returning to her. “And I like a woman who sets rules… as long as she knows when to break them.”

“Please leave before I really call security,” Jeslyn warned, her tone edged with threat.

“And say what?” Leonel raised an eyebrow, still calm. “That a man—or should I say… your brother-in-law—came in to buy coffee?”

Jeslyn clenched her fists beneath the counter.

From behind the espresso machine, Livia leaned in to whisper to Nico. “Jes… who is that guy? He’s not Jefran.”

Nico gave a slight nod. “He said ‘brother-in-law.’ Must be Jefran’s brother?”

“Looks like it.”

Livia’s eyes widened as she continued watching the man from behind the machine. She nudged Nico’s arm.

“Whoa… look at that stare! Like a K-drama villain. But hotter. Are you sure he’s not a mafia boss disguised as a brother-in-law? Because he’s seriously good-looking. Like, better than Jefran.”

Nico sighed. “Liv, stop fantasizing. But yeah… he does have that ‘Western Lee Je Hoon’ vibe.”

Jeslyn closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm herself. If not for her professional image as café owner, she would’ve flung a tray at his smug face by now.

“Very well, sir,” she finally said, her voice laced with sarcasm. “What would you like to order? Thanks to you, we’re opening early today.” She stressed the word “thanks” like she was pressing on a stubborn zit.

Leonel smiled leisurely, folding his arms on the counter.

“One Americano. And…” he glanced briefly at the menu board, then locked eyes with Jeslyn. His stare cut deep, dragging her into memories she’d rather forget.

“Your signature dessert. The best-seller,” he said with meaning.

“That dessert isn’t ready yet,” Jeslyn shot back quickly. Her tone was sharper than she intended, but she didn’t care.

“That’s fine,” Leonel said, leaning back in his chair. “I’ll wait.”

Nico glanced at Livia with raised brows. “He’s waiting for a dessert that’s not even ready? This is a café, not a maternity ward. What’s he waiting for—the cake to be born?”

Livia stifled a giggle behind her hand as Jeslyn threw her a sharp look. But Leonel remained unfazed. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying every second of the chaos he caused.

Jeslyn marched into the kitchen, tossing her apron onto the counter and muttering under her breath, “Why the hell is he back?!”

Livia followed her in, holding the order slip. “Jess, what do we do? Should I start the lava cake?”

Jeslyn massaged her temples. “Yes. Make it. And if possible, add chili. Let’s see if he still wants dessert then.”

Livia grinned. “We’ve got Korean chili powder. It’s so spicy, it makes you question life.”

“Add two spoonfuls.”

They laughed quietly, though Jeslyn’s heartbeat hadn’t slowed. It wasn’t fear… but Leonel always managed to throw her world into disarray—whether through his presence, his gaze, or… the memories.

Back in the café, Leonel leaned back, twirling a small spoon between his fingers. He took in the scene—the aroma of coffee filling the air, staff bustling about—but only one person caught his attention.

Jeslyn.

His brother’s woman, now standing in what Leonel considered an intriguing new territory… just waiting to be conquered.

Jeslyn returned to the counter minutes later, her expression professional, her smile as cold as stone.

“Your coffee will be ready shortly. As for the dessert, please be patient. Special ones take time,” she said dryly.

Leonel nodded. “I like special things. Especially when they’re made by delicate hands… the kind that feel amazing against my skin.”

Jeslyn rolled her eyes. “If you can’t handle spicy, say it now.”

Leonel narrowed his eyes, then chuckled. “Why? Are you cooking with love… or revenge?”

Jeslyn leaned on the counter, her stare sharp as knives. “More like stale love… and revenge that’s fresh from the oven.”

Leonel paused, then placed a hand dramatically over his chest. “Ouch, my heart… But lucky for me, my heart’s like espresso. Dark, bitter… but addictive.”

“More like expired espresso. Smells bad and makes you nauseous.”

Nico, sorting coins at the cashier, nearly dropped them as he tried to stifle his laughter.

***