Chapter 24

With one last glance at Marco, who seemed absorbed in his paper, Delilah left the house, feeling light and exhilarated. 

She strode briskly down the street toward the café, the thrill of her secret job and the excitement of a new client adding a spring to her step. 

The notification from Shh, I Tame Real Men had informed her that the client was expected at the café in about a minute. 

She glanced at her watch. 

"Better not be late," she thought, quickening her pace.

As she reached the café, she was pleased to see the space was spotless. 

The tables gleamed, the counters were polished, and the morning sunlight filtered in through the clean windows. 

Helen had clearly done her job well.

Delilah pushed open the door, her face lighting up in a broad smile as she greeted Helen. "Morning, Helen! Looks like you’ve been hard at work."

Helen managed a smile back. "Good morning, Delilah."

Something in Helen’s eyes flickered, but Delilah, too preoccupied with the anticipation of meeting her client, missed the slight nervousness. 

"You outdid yourself with the cleaning," Delilah continued, taking in the immaculate surroundings.

"Thank you," Helen replied, her voice soft. 

She shifted slightly, her hands clasping together as if bracing herself.

Just then, Ruby walked in, her face bright with excitement. 

She, too, had received the notification and looked eager to dive into another assignment. 

"Morning, ladies," Ruby greeted, her tone chipper.

"Ruby!" Delilah greeted back, flashing her friend a grin. 

Then she checked her phone. 

The client is a few minutes late. 

No big deal. Sometimes clients weren’t punctual. 

Delilah shrugged. "Looks like we’ve got a few minutes. Might as well get ready."

Ruby nodded, catching on. "Good idea." 

She moved to the blinds, drawing them down so that the café was shielded from prying eyes. 

Then, she flipped the sign on the door to Closed. 

Delilah watched with satisfaction as Ruby handled the familiar routine with ease.

As Ruby moved around, Helen’s hands fidgeted, her fingers twisting together nervously. 

She was biting her lower lip, her gaze flitting to Delilah and Ruby as if wanting to say something, but she hesitated.

After Ruby finished closing up, she took a seat beside Delilah. 

"This should be an interesting one, don’t you think?" Ruby grinned, crossing her legs as she leaned back.

Helen took a deep breath, her feet shuffling against the clean floors. 

Finally, she seemed to gather her courage, stepping closer to them. 

"Um… Delilah? Ruby?" Her voice was cautious, and Delilah looked up, noticing Helen’s pale face.

"Yes, Helen?" Delilah asked, raising an eyebrow. "Go on."

Helen swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I’m the client."

Delilah’s smile froze, and she exchanged a quick glance with Ruby, whose face fell in disbelief. 

They spoke together in stunned unison, "What?"

The brightness in Delilah’s eyes faded instantly, and Ruby’s expression shifted from excitement to frustration. 

"You’re joking, right?" Ruby’s voice was sharp, skeptical. 

Helen looked down, avoiding their eyes, her hands twisting in front of her.

"Please tell me you’re joking, Helen." Ruby’s voice dropped, almost pleading.

Helen looked up, her eyes filled with anxiety. 

She pulled out a chair, sank into it, and reached into her pocket. 

She slid a familiar card across the table—a card with a woman smoking on the front and the text Shh, I Tame Real Men emblazoned across it.

Ruby stared at the card, then ran a hand through her hair, frustrated. 

"I rushed over here, nearly got hit by a car, only to find out you’re the client?" She threw her hands in the air, exasperated. "Seriously, Helen?"

Helen’s face fell, her shoulders hunching as she stammered, "I… I didn’t know how to tell you."

"Didn’t know how to tell us?" Ruby’s voice was growing louder. "I almost broke my neck getting here, and you didn’t know how to tell us?"

"I… I’m sorry," Helen muttered, casting her gaze down to the table. "I just thought it’d be easier to… to approach you like this. You know, the way we usually meet clients."

Ruby leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "This isn’t a joke, Helen. This is serious."

Helen glanced up, visibly hurt by Ruby’s frustration. 

She shifted in her chair, as if trying to make herself smaller. "I… I know. And I’m sorry."

"Do you realize how many things I could have been doing instead?" Ruby continued, her tone still sharp. "Honestly, Helen, you’re not—"

"Ruby," Delilah interrupted, her voice calm but firm. 

She reached over, putting a hand on Ruby’s arm to stop her. "Stop it, Ruby."

Ruby scoffed, shaking her head. "Stop it? Delilah, you know as well as I do that Helen isn’t—"

Delilah held up her hand, silencing Ruby with a look. "I’m frustrated too, Ruby. I rushed down here and skipped breakfast, just to be on time." 

She turned to Helen, her voice softening a little. "But Helen… we’ve signed a contract concerning Shh, I Tame Real Men, and that contract is clear. We keep everything here strictly confidential. We took an oath for a reason, and we all agreed to our most important rule: we don’t work for each other. Ever. Our services are only for clients outside the circle."

Helen bit her lip, her eyes meeting Delilah’s with a hint of pleading. "I know, but can’t the rule change just this once?"

Silence fell over the table. 

Ruby let out a heavy sigh, drumming her fingers against her arm in frustration. 

Delilah’s expression remained stoic, but Helen could see the disappointment there, hidden just beneath the surface.

"Do you understand what you’re asking, Helen?" Delilah said finally, her voice steady. "This isn’t just a rule. It’s a line we don’t cross, and we swore to keep it that way for everyone’s safety."

"I… I know it’s a big ask," Helen said, her voice barely a whisper, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. She glanced from Delilah to Ruby. "But I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t need it."

"Everyone needs it," Ruby shot back. "That’s the point. But just because we know you doesn’t mean we can suddenly make exceptions. That’s the quickest way for everything to fall apart." She leaned in, her voice growing lower but sharper. "And it’s insulting, honestly. Did you really think we’d make exceptions for you just because you work here?"