Collision

Sofia’s POV

I blinked at him, confused by his sudden question. "Is this how I treat customers?" What was he talking about?

His cold, penetrating gaze remained fixed on me. “Yes. Is this your version of customer service?”

I frowned, setting the tray on the counter. “I’m sorry, but what exactly have I done that wasn’t customer-friendly?”

Instead of answering, he smirked, and that simple gesture set my nerves on edge. “Bring the manager.”

I straightened, crossing my arms. “What’s your problem? I’ve been nothing but polite to you.”

He tilted his head, his smirk growing. “The manager. Bring them.”

The audacity. My chest burned with frustration, but before I could fire back, Lucy sauntered in, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. Her tight dress sparkled under the dim lights, and her gum-chewing was louder than the bass thumping in the club.

“Leandro!” she exclaimed, her tone saccharine sweet. “What are you doing here? You never come during the week.”

Leandro.

He ignored her question entirely, his cold stare still locked on me. “You’re hiring incompetent staff now, Lucy?”

What? My jaw dropped, and I instinctively turned to Lucy. “He’s obviously picking on me for no reason!”

Lucy didn't even glance my way. Instead, her expression darkened as she snapped, “What did you do?”

“Nothing!” I said quickly. “I didn't do shit. I just asked if he wanted another drink, and he—”

“She’s new,” Lucy interrupted, turning back to Leandro with an exaggerated sigh. “I only just hired her tonight. Give her some slack. I hired her because of her looks. ¿No es bonita?"

Leandro didn’t respond immediately, and his silence was worse than anything he could have said. His sharp, assessing gaze swept over me like a knife.

Lucy didn’t seem to notice—or care. She stepped closer to him, curling her fingers around his arm.

“She looks like some Disney doll with a killer body. The clients will eat her up. I thought you’d appreciate my choice. You’ve got an eye for good things, after all.”

My cheeks burned with humiliation as she practically sold me like I was some shiny new product in the club’s inventory.

Leandro’s expression hardened. He yanked his arm free of Lucy’s grip, his movements sharp and deliberate. “I've told you never to call me Andro again.”

He turned to leave, but not before his gaze landed on me again, his piercing eyes making my skin crawl. That look... it was like he could see straight through me.

Then he was gone, leaving behind an unbearable tension.

Lucy rounded on me, her hands on her hips.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

“Me? I've done nothing!” I shot back.

“Yeah, tell that to the boss.”

My head spun. The boss? That man was Leandro Rossi? Of Rossi Dominion Group? Shit...I forgot for a moment that this was Ros'Notte, a subsidiary of his empire.

I thought back to the countless times I’d seen his face plastered across magazines and headlines. Now I recognized him. Of course, I did. How could I not? And now I’d somehow managed to piss him off on my very first night.

Oh, no.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing as Lucy shook her head and stalked off, muttering something under her breath. My heart thudded painfully in my chest. This job was supposed to be my fresh start, my way to get by.

Now I wasn’t even sure I’d make it to the end of my shift.

My bladder was ready to burst, and I couldn't hold it any longer. As I served drinks, my eyes darted around the room, searching for someone to point me to the bathroom. Finally, I spotted one of the girls, a tall brunette who was busy fixing her hair in a compact mirror.

“Hey, where’s the bathroom?” I asked, my voice slightly strained.

The girl barely looked at me, her lips curling into a smirk. “Find it yourself,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “You work here, don’t you?”

My jaw clenched, but I didn’t have the energy to argue. “Puta,” I muttered under my breath as I turned away.

“What?” she snapped, her voice sharp.

But I didn't bother answering. I was too busy scanning the area, desperate to find a sign that would lead me to the restroom before I embarrassed myself.

Finally, after what felt like forever, I found it-a sleek black door with a small silver plaque. Pushing it open, I rushed inside and slipped into one of the stalls, barely managing to lock the door before sweet relief washed over me.

Relief washed over me the moment I sat down. I closed my eyes and let out a soft sigh. God, that felt good.

But just as I was beginning to relax, I heard something-no, someone.

The rhythmic creak of a stall door accompanied by loud, unmistakable moans filled the room. My eyes widened as I froze in place, listening.

"Yes, Daddy," the lady purred, her voice breathy and sultry. "Yes. Yes!"

Moans. Loud, unmistakable moans.

I blinked, horrified at what I had to listen to on my first night. And then, I recognizing the voice instantly. Was that... Lucy?

Tch. Why was the manager having sex in a stall in the bathroom? She couldn't be more discreet, could she?

Her moans grew louder, and I couldn't help but cringe. Then I heard another sound–a low groan. The man wasn't speaking, just... ramming into her.

"Why here?" Lucy asked between gasps. "Why not your office? Or mine?"

There was no response. Only the sound of skin against skin.

My cheeks burned. This couldn't be happening.

I needed to leave before Lucy or whoever her partner was caught me here. She'd already been annoyed with me earlier, and the last thing I needed was for her to think I'd been eavesdropping on her little... rendezvous.

Quickly, I straightened my dress and opened the stall door as quietly as I could. I tiptoed toward the exit, my heart racing.

But just as I pushed the door open, I collided with something–or rather, someone.

It was like hitting a brick wall, solid and unyielding. My head snapped up to see who I'd run into, and my stomach sank.

Leandro.

Of course, it had to be him.

His sharp features were just as cold and intimidating as they'd been earlier, and his piercing eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my knees weak.

"Oh no," I muttered under my breath. Not again.