Ding! The bell above the door rang out, signaling another late-night customer. I didn't even bother looking up from the counter where I was scribbling down some half-hearted notes for the evening's orders. It was just another long night, and I was used to the monotonous routine.

"Hey, Alyssa! Table three wants the bill!"

I turned and gave Sharon, my manager, a quick nod. "Got it."

I grabbed the tab from the counter and headed toward table three, all while mentally calculating the hours until my shift ended. Four more. Just four.

"Here's your check," I said, sliding the paper across the table. My eyes fell on the man sitting there, and I blinked in surprise.

He wasn't the usual diner type. Black tailored suit, crisp white shirt, an expensive-looking watch-he reeked of money and power.

I didn't know how to react at first, so I did what I always did: kept my head down and played the part of the humble waitress. "Will that be cash or credit?"

He glanced up at me, and for a second, I thought I saw something in his eyes. Dark, intense. Almost too intense. "Credit," he said smoothly, handing me a black card.

His voice was low, commanding, and the way he spoke made my stomach flip-though I wasn't sure if it was nerves or something else.

As I swiped his card at the register, I felt his eyes on me. It made me uncomfortable, though I couldn't tell why.

Baltimore was filled with its share of shady characters, but something about him felt... different. Dangerous, even.

"Alyssa, right?" His voice broke through my thoughts, startling me as I handed back the card.

"How do you know my name?" I asked, too sharply. I regretted it immediately.

He chuckled softly, tucking the card into his wallet. "Your name tag," he said, pointing to the plastic nameplate pinned to my chest. I could've slapped myself for not realizing.

"Right," I mumbled, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. "Sorry, I'm just... It's been a long day."

"Clearly," he said, his lips curling into a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I appreciate the service, Alyssa. I hope your night gets better."

I nodded, offering a half-hearted smile, but his gaze lingered on me for a few more seconds than was comfortable before he finally stood and left the diner. I exhaled, unaware I had been holding my breath.

Weird.

I turned back to the table to collect the check, but as I reached for it, I saw something else tucked beneath it. A hundred-dollar bill-and a small, folded note.

"What the-?"

"Lucky you," Sharon said from behind me, spotting the tip. "Must've made quite an impression. Guy like that usually doesn't tip more than twenty."

"Yeah, lucky," I murmured, but my attention was on the note.

Meet me tonight. 10 PM. It's important.

My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly shoved the note in my apron before Sharon could see. I forced a casual shrug, hiding my surprise, and finished clearing the table.

Why the hell would a guy like that want to meet me? This had to be some kind of mistake. Maybe the note wasn't meant for me.

But then again, he knew my name. Was he some kind of creep? Or worse? Baltimore wasn't known for its safe streets, especially at night. I should just throw the note away, forget it ever happened.

But I didn't.

Two hours later, I was still thinking about the note. My shift was almost over, and the diner had mostly emptied out except for a couple of regulars. I wiped down the counter, my mind racing.

Should I go? It's insane, right? I don't know this guy. For all I know, he's a serial killer. Or maybe a rich guy looking for a one-night stand. I should stay away. Absolutely.

But what if…

I shook my head. No. That kind of life wasn't for me. I'd spent years clawing my way through school, struggling with debt, working every hour I could get to keep a roof over my head. I didn't have time for mysterious billionaire CEOs leaving notes in diners.

Still, something nagged at me. Curiosity, maybe? Or something more. Something about the way he looked at me, like he knew me-or wanted to know me-had crawled under my skin.

"Earth to Alyssa!" Sharon's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"Shift's over, babe. Time to go home." She gave me a knowing smirk. "Unless you've got a hot date tonight?"

"Very funny," I said, forcing a smile.

As I stepped out into the cool Baltimore night, the city buzzed with its usual late-night energy. Cars honked, people shouted in the distance, and the streetlights flickered.

My small apartment wasn't far from the diner, but the idea of walking home in the dark gave me pause.

And then, I thought of the note again.

Meet me tonight. 10 PM. It's important.

I glanced at my phone. 9:45 PM.

Before I knew it, my feet had already begun to carry me down the street, away from the direction of my apartment and toward... what? I wasn't even sure.

Was I really doing this? Was I really going to meet a stranger-a billionaire stranger, no less-who left a cryptic note?

My heartbeat picked up, and my hands felt clammy. Every logical part of me screamed to turn around, go home, forget it.

But another part of me-the reckless part, the curious part-kept pushing forward.

By 9:59, I stood at the corner of 12th and Lexington, the spot where the note had directed me.

The street was quieter here, almost too quiet. I glanced around, my nerves jangling.

Where was he? Or was this some kind of twisted joke?

Just as doubt started creeping in, I heard the low hum of an engine, and a sleek black car pulled up to the curb. The tinted windows obscured the driver, but when the door opened, I froze.

It was him.

Ethan Harris stepped out of the car, looking just as polished as he had in the diner. But this time, there was something different in his expression-something darker.

"You came," he said, his voice smooth, but there was a tension behind it, like he was relieved I hadn't backed out.

"I don't know why I did," I admitted, my voice shaky.

"You're here because it's important," he said, stepping closer. His eyes, cold and calculating, swept over me, but there was something else in them too. A strange mix of desire and... worry?

"Why me?" I asked, unable to stop the question. "I don't even know you."

He let out a breath, his hand brushing through his dark hair. "It's complicated. But trust me, Alyssa, you're involved in something much bigger than you realize. And whether you like it or not, I need you."

I blinked, my heart racing faster now. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Before he could answer, another voice cut through the air.

"Well, well. Isn't this a lovely reunion?"

I spun around, my blood running cold. A man stood in the shadows, his silhouette tall and menacing. He stepped forward into the dim light, and I felt a jolt of fear ripple through me.

Xavier Reed.

The name alone sent chills down my spine. Baltimore's most notorious mafia boss. And from the look on Ethan's face, this was far from a coincidence.

"What are you doing here, Xavier?" Ethan's voice was tense, his jaw clenched.

Xavier smiled, but there was no warmth in it. Only menace. "Just keeping an eye on my investments."

My stomach twisted. What the hell had I just walked into?

Ethan glanced at me, his expression hard. "Alyssa, get in the car."

Alyssa hesitated, her mind racing, but something in Ethan's voice told her this wasn't just a request. It was a warning.