A cornered sugarbaby

"You should just give in and be Vincenzo De Luca’s sugar baby, Noel. It’d solve all your problems."

Aria's voice was laced with playful mischief, but Nico snorted, shaking his head.

"You’re wasting a golden opportunity, man," Nico added, smirking. "Rich, powerful, and obsessed with you? Some people would kill for that."

Noel stabbed at his half-eaten pasta, his appetite long gone. "I’m not for sale," he muttered, voice tight.

Aria and Nico exchanged a glance. The teasing stopped when they noticed the way his shoulders tensed, his fingers gripping the fork like a lifeline.

"Noel…?" Aria’s voice softened.

He inhaled shakily, blinking back the sudden sting in his eyes. "I went to see my dad," he admitted, barely above a whisper.

Silence.

Nico sat up straighter. "And?"

"He’s getting married."

Aria frowned. "What?"

"He invited me home just to drop that bomb. Like it wasn’t a big deal. Like I didn’t spend my childhood in that hellhole," Noel said bitterly, hands clenching into fists on the table. "It’s like she never existed. My mom just walked out one day, and now he’s moving on, like…like nothing ever happened."

A deep breath. A slow exhale. He wasn’t going to cry. Not here.

His friends were visibly pissed. Aria folded her arms, scowling. "That bastard. After everything he did to you?"

Nico slammed his fist on the table. "You should’ve let me go with you. He wouldn’t be walking straight right now."

Noel gave a weak chuckle, wiping at his eyes. "I just need another job. Something to get me out of his control completely."

"You already have four," Aria pointed out.

"Not enough."

"We’ll help," Nico said firmly. "Whatever it takes."

Before Noel could thank him, the entrance doors swung open, and the energy in the restaurant shifted.

The air grew heavy. Conversations dulled.

Vincenzo De Luca had arrived.

Noel stiffened, pulse spiking as he saw the mafia heir stride in, flanked by his right-hand man.

Dressed in a sleek black suit, dark eyes locked onto him, Vincenzo carried an aura that demanded attention. People whispered. Servers hesitated. Even the manager subtly adjusted his tie.

Aria muttered a curse under her breath. "Does this guy have a tracker on you or what?"

"Shit," Nico mumbled, already grabbing his tray to leave.

Noel barely had a second to react before Vincenzo approached the counter, gaze never leaving his.

The manager scurried over. "Ah, Mr. De Luca, what an honor. Please, take any seat you’d like…"

"I’ll only be served by Noel."

Noel clenched his jaw.

"Sir, I…" the manager stammered.

Vincenzo raised a brow, daring him to challenge him. The manager quickly backtracked, nodding.

Noel's fingers twitched. His body burned with frustration, but he forced himself to stay calm. He couldn’t afford to lose this job.

Not yet.

With measured steps, he grabbed his notepad and walked over to the table where Vincenzo and his right-hand man had settled.

Vincenzo smirked, resting his chin on his hand as he watched Noel approach. "Took you long enough, bello."

Noel’s grip on his pen tightened. "What would you like to order?"

Vincenzo's smirk deepened. "You."

Noel inhaled sharply, his patience hanging by a thread.

One minute away from exploding.

Noel’s fingers twitched around the notepad, his grip so tight it was a wonder the pen didn’t snap in half. His blood boiled, but he forced his face to remain neutral.

Vincenzo leaned back in his seat, a smirk playing on his lips as if he knew exactly what he was doing…pushing, taunting, testing.

Noel exhaled slowly. "That’s not on the menu."

Vincenzo chuckled, tilting his head. "I don’t care about the menu."

His right-hand man, a handsome stoic figure Leo De Luca, barely reacted, though his sharp eyes flicked between them like he was expecting a fight to break out any second.

Noel clenched his jaw. "I’m working."

"And I’m ordering." Vincenzo’s voice was smooth, deliberate. "You wouldn’t want to be rude to a paying customer, would you?"

Noel’s nails dug into his palm.

Aria and Nico were watching from a distance, both clearly pissed and amused, but neither could step in. This was between him and Vincenzo now.

"Do you want something to eat or not?" Noel gritted out, forcing himself to stay professional.

Vincenzo hummed, pretending to think. "Fine. I’ll have whatever you recommend."

Noel rolled his eyes. "That depends. Do you want to choke on your food, or do you actually want to enjoy it?"

Leo choked on a laugh, covering it with a cough.

Vincenzo’s smirk widened. "Oh, I’m already enjoying this."

Noel groaned, scribbling down the first dish that came to mind. "Coming right up."

He turned to leave, but Vincenzo grabbed his wrist…not hard, not painfully, just enough to make Noel freeze.

Vincenzo’s voice dropped lower, just for him. "I missed you, bello."

Noel yanked his hand free, ignoring the way his pulse jumped at the stupid nickname. "I wish I could say the same."

Before Vincenzo could respond, Noel stormed off toward the kitchen, heart pounding.

In the kitchen, Noel slammed the order slip onto the counter, ignoring the questioning looks from his coworkers. His breathing was uneven, his hands trembling with frustration.

Why couldn’t Vincenzo just leave him alone?

"That man is insufferable," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his temple.

Aria slipped in beside him, whispering, "He’s looking this way. And he’s still smirking."

Noel groaned. "I hate him."

Aria snorted. "No, you don’t."

Noel shot her a glare. "Yes. I do."

Before she could tease him more, the head chef called out, "Order up!"

Noel grabbed the tray and walked back out, carefully balancing Vincenzo’s meal.

As he approached the table, Vincenzo didn’t even glance at the food…his eyes were only on Noel.

Noel placed the plate down, stepping back. "Enjoy."

Vincenzo picked up his fork, but instead of eating, he held it out. "Feed me."

Noel stared at him, deadpan. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

Noel let out a dry laugh. "You’ve lost your damn mind."

Vincenzo grinned. "Possibly."

Noel turned to walk away, but once again, Vincenzo caught his wrist…this time firmer, keeping him in place.

"You’re avoiding me," Vincenzo murmured. "I don’t like that."

Noel tried to pull free, but Vincenzo didn’t let go. His grip wasn’t rough, but it was commanding.

"Let go."

"Not until you tell me why you’re running," Vincenzo said. "What are you so afraid of, bello?"

Noel’s jaw tightened. "I’m not afraid of you."

"Good," Vincenzo said, leaning in slightly. "Then stop pretending I don’t exist."

Noel’s stomach twisted. He hated how his body reacted to Vincenzo’s presence, how his heart pounded when the man got too close.

Before he could snap back, the restaurant door swung open.

Noel’s breath hitched.

Julian.

He stood in the entrance, looking as smug as ever, his eyes locking onto Noel like a predator spotting prey.

Vincenzo noticed immediately. His grip on Noel’s wrist tightened slightly, his expression darkening.

Noel felt his blood run cold.

Julian smirked. "Well, well… what do we have here?"