01. He was Trouble

SOFIA’s POV

Since 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 seemingly commanding their brains to be impatient. My skin itched 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 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 this kind of lowly life so I could provide for my family in the province. And while Manila was considered a city of opportunity, no one could deny that living here would mean you need determination and bravery to avoid getting swallowed by the intensity of the lifestyle.

I was dropping off an order when a sharp shriek cut through the restaurant. People turned toward the sound, but no one moved to check. My gaze flicked to the counter, hoping my coworker Danilo would go see what was happening. But he only shrugged, silently dumping the responsibility onto me.

Despite the restaurant drawing in plenty of customers, the management hadn’t bothered to increase staff. Today, we were only three—Danilo, the cashier and overall runner; Mike, who was in the back grilling meat; and me, Sofia, the curvy waitress. Not a nickname I gave myself—our customers did.

I shot Danilo a glare before heading toward the commotion near the entrance. A little girl in an elementary school uniform was struggling to pull away from a towering, six-foot-tall foreign-looking man, wearing a polo shirt and ragged jeans. I couldn’t picture his face well because I was nearsighted. But he wasn’t saying anything and the little girl seemed determined to break free. Before I could think, I was already moving.

“Sweetheart!” I called, forcing a bright, familiar smile. “There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

The girl stared up at me, her doe eyes wide with confusion. I silently urged her to play along. Finally, she caught on and launched herself at me, clinging to my torso like a tiny monkey.

“Is this man bothering you?” I asked, turning to face him.

A beat passed and I almost choked on my saliva upon seeing his face up close. ‘Holy… shit…’ The man was beautiful—the kind of beautiful that should be illegal. His mixed foreign and Filipino features were striking. That sharp jawline. Those high cheekbones. Those bluish eyes seemed to see straight through me. His gaze flicked between me and the little girl, his head tilting slightly.

“W-what are you doing to my niece?” I stammered, trying to ignore both his allure and the expensive cologne that now surrounded me. I planted a hand on my hip as if I was a Filipina mother scolding an unruly son. “What are you thinking? Kidnapping a kid in broad daylight? And of all places, in a restaurant?”

My confidence grew as I leaned into the lie, determined to save this girl from whatever revulsion this ridiculously handsome man was planning. To my absolute horror, he only smirked!

But that smirk should come with a warning sign. It only sent the butterflies in my stomach into a whirlpool of emotions.

“Do you really think I’m kidnapping that child?”

Dear God, even his voice was soft and low—the kind you hear in steamy audio recordings that make you imagine things. I forced myself to stay composed despite the erratic beating of my heart.

“You’re holding a child against her will!” I shot back, tilting my chin. “What else am I supposed to think?”

As if on cue, the little girl tugged at my uniform, signaling for me to bend down. “What is it?” I asked gently.

“He wants me to go to the arcade several blocks from here,” she whispered, the fabric conditioner in her clothes lightly brushing my nose. “But I want to eat spaghetti first.”

My jaw clenched. Are you kidding me? I turned back to the man, feeling the heat on my cheeks. “See? You’re forcing her to do things! I say, get out of this restaurant before I call security.”

But instead of looking rattled, he laughed. Laughed! Like this was all some joke to him.

“Is there something funny about what I said?” I asked loudly, trying to drown the twisting motion happening in my gut as I heard that laugh.

I’d been around wealthy men because of my other job as an escort, and I could always tell their status by the way they laughed at people. This man—with his expensive air, controlled amusement, and dangerously rich chuckle—was indeed trouble.

His eyes glinted. “Sofia.”

I sucked in a breath. I could never deny how his gaze affected my sense of self. I felt myself drowning as I tried to mask my emotions. Also, how the hell did he know my name?

“Don’t you know who I am?”

He asked as if that information was too important.

“Do I need to?” I shot back.

He nodded toward the girl. “Why don’t you ask her?”

And with his smirk that hinted arrogance, coupled with that irritating expensive chuckle of his, he added. “I am the uncle.”

Frowning, I gently cupped the child’s cheeks, smoothing down her baby bangs. “Do you actually know this man?”

The girl sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes like I was the dumbest person alive. “Yes, I know him. But he’s so annoying.”

Oh. Oh, no…

I could feel myself sinking into utter humiliation as I stared at the kid, her wide-eyed gaze reflecting mine. I had just accused this ridiculously handsome man of kidnapping a child when, in fact, he was actually her uncle! I slowly stood up and then turned back to him. His gaze remained steady as I swallowed my pride and tried to salvage my dignity.

“I… I see,” I stammered.

One dark eyebrow lifted. “I think it’s time for you to apologize, Miss Sofia.”

I clenched my jaw. Apologize? If anyone was to blame, it was his niece for not clarifying things sooner! “Well, you looked suspicious. I just did what I had to do to help a struggling child.”

His smirk widened. “Did you?”

“Yes! Besides, you were just… standing there,” I gestured vaguely at him. “All serious and intimidating… gripping the child and …”

Making me say stupid things.

The little girl huffed. “Can we eat now, Uncle? I still want spaghetti. I don’t want to go to another restaurant. I want to eat here at Lorenzo’s.”

The man sighed. “All right. When you do that, you sound exactly like your mother.”

I took their uncle-niece conversation as my cue to escape. “Very well,” I said, plastering a forced smile. “I—I’ll leave you to it… s-sir,” I added, turning on my heel. My knees wobbled as I swallowed my embarrassment.

“Wait.”

His voice stopped me cold. I turned back slowly, meeting his eyes once more.

“I’ll be seeing you again, Miss Sofia.”

Hearing that, a slow, creeping shiver ran down my spine. The question that had been haunting me instantly leaped from my mouth. “H-how did you know my name?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he lifted an eyebrow, looking amused—like I was missing something obvious. Then I saw it. My nameplate. Right! Way to go. I was getting stupider by the second. But the way he said my name sent a prickling unease within me. It didn’t feel like a simple statement. It was more like a promise of seeing each other again.

I forced myself to turn away, walking stiffly, pretending I wasn’t rattled—even though I was. Because deep down, I felt that this man, whoever the hell he was, was going to be the cause of my distress.