Ren, sitting nearby on the sofa with a notebook open, had just finished checking the inventory for the café. His phone buzzed, the display showing an unfamiliar number. He picked up anyway.
Seraphina, on the other end of the line, twisted the pen between her fingers, trying to sound casual, professional. But inside, her pulse was quick. She had wanted to reach him all week, and now, finally, she had a reason, even if it was "work."
"Ren? Hey, it's Seraphina," she said, trying to keep the flirtation subtle. "Just wanted to check something about the deliveries tomorrow…"
Ren's voice was calm, neutral but firm. "Seraphina, it's late. Can it wait until morning?"
"Oh… sure," she said quickly, though there was a trace of disappointment in her tone. "I just thought… since you're always so good with the schedule…"
Ren frowned, keeping his voice smooth. "I appreciate that, Seraphina. But yes. Morning will be better."
There was a pause, then a soft laugh from her side. "Okay. Sure. Goodnight, Ren."
Seraphina hung up, curling her fingers around her mug, feeling a flicker of frustration. He was polite, professional, but the distance was there. She hadn't expected it to feel so sharp. Why is he always so… untouchable? she wondered.
Back on her sofa, Noelle watched Ren's subtle movements, his thumb brushing lightly over hers as he returned to his notes. Her heart still fluttered from the warmth of the evening, but the call had left a trace of unease. She couldn't help but notice how alert he had been, how effortlessly he maintained that boundary and how Seraphina had pushed just enough to be noticed.
The bracelet glinted on her wrist as she leaned against him, a small anchor in the moment, yet her mind ticked over the possibility: What if someone else tried and he didn't guard this closeness the same way? What if he was remotely keen about other possibilities?
Ren's focus, his subtle possessiveness and Seraphina's quiet persistence all mingled in her thoughts. And even as she pressed closer into his side, letting herself feel safe and warm, a tiny flicker of uncertainty remained. A reminder that love, however comforting, sometimes came with complications lurking just beyond the room.
The next day, Ren was stacking boxes behind the counter, his focus on the inventory when Seraphina appeared from the kitchen side, carrying a tray of pastries.
"Good morning, Mr. Ren," she said, voice lilting, eyes locking on him with a playful sparkle.
"Morning," he replied, keeping his gaze firmly on the paperwork.
Seraphina tilted her head, brushing a hand through her hair, letting a few strands fall over her shoulder. She leaned over the counter to set down the tray, deliberately arching her back so her blouse dipped low, catching the morning light just enough to be noticeable.
Ren's pen paused mid-note. He didn't look up but the faint tightening of his jaw betrayed his awareness.
"Wow," she murmured, her voice taking on a playful lilt as she leaned over the counter, reaching for one of the pastries. "These turned out really well," she said, letting her gaze linger on him. Then, with a teasing smile, she added, "Would you like to… check the goods? You know, quality control."
Ren blinked, caught between exasperation and disbelief. Her tone made it clear she wasn't talking about pastries. He straightened slightly, his jaw tightening as he tried to keep his composure. "Seraphina," he warned with a calm tone that meant business.
Seraphina giggled, the sound light and teasing and turned away, pretending to focus on arranging the pastries while clearly enjoying the reaction she had provoked.
Ren gritted his teeth subtly, gripping the clipboard a little tighter. He refused to look at her, but every muscle in his body was taut, trying not to acknowledge the deliberate closeness, the flirtatious sway of her movements, the faint scent of her perfume lingering in the air.
"And you," she added, tilting her head, "you look so solemn. I bet you never let anyone distract you, do you?"
Ren finally exhaled, letting a corner of his mouth twitch in something that might have been a half-smile, half-grimace. "I'm very focused."
Seraphina laughed softly, leaning back slightly, hands on her hips, letting her blouse shift again with a casual grace that left nothing to chance. "Hmm… maybe. But I think even someone like you can enjoy… a little distraction, focus on something else once in a while."
Ren's eyes narrowed fractionally. He kept his voice calm but there was an undercurrent of tension, the trace of a growl he refused to voice. "I'm not… interested."
She tilted her chin, still smiling, clearly enjoying testing his limits. With deliberate care, she bent over the counter, the movement accentuating her curves and exposing her cleavage. Ren's eyes immediately snapped away, forcing himself to focus elsewhere.
Seraphina, noticing his reaction, leaned slightly closer, pressing the side of her chest against his arm as if casually checking on the pastries.
Ren straightened fully, setting down the clipboard and taking a deep, measured breath. "Seraphina, please check your attire. It needs to be proper for the café's image."
Her grin only widened, leaning close enough to let her voice brush against his ear. "If you say so, Mr. Ren…"
Ren's jaw tightened, eyes flicking briefly to the doorway as if willing someone, anyone, to appear and break this tension. But for now, it was just him, her and the deliberate, intoxicating tease of her movements while he fought to stay professional, every nerve alert, every muscle resisting the pull of her flirtation.
Ren had barely finished arranging the pastries when Seraphina appeared again, this time with a small, slightly sheepish smile. She leaned against the counter, head tilted and let her fingers trace the edge of a cup casually.
"Hey… um," she began, voice softening, eyes wide in a mockingly innocent way. "So… school's been… kind of tough for me lately."
Ren's brow lifted, glancing up from his clipboard. "School?"
She nodded quickly, biting the inside of her cheek like a guilty child. "Yeah. I… I don't always get all the assignments on time. And… I was wondering if maybe you had some time… to, you know, tutor me?"
Ren's pen paused mid-note. He kept his expression neutral, but inside, he was blinking at the sudden pivot. The flirtatious, bold Seraphina was gone. Replaced with something younger, almost endearingly helpless.
"I… tutor you?" he asked carefully, tone still calm.
She nodded again, hands clasped together on the counter, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. "I mean, if you're free. I'd… really appreciate it. I know you're busy and everything but…" She trailed off, fidgeting slightly, letting her head tilt even more.
Ren's jaw tightened, the tension in his shoulders easing only slightly. She's trying a different tactic now, he thought, observing how her attempt at innocence tested his composure differently than her usual teasing.
"I… don't usually tutor," he said finally, voice low but firm. "I hardly have time for myself."
Seraphina pouted just a little, letting her eyes shimmer in mock disappointment. "Oh… but you're so smart. And… you'd make it fun. Please?"
Ren exhaled slowly, his eyes flicking over the counter as he weighed the situation. He wanted to maintain boundaries, to stay professional and not let her manipulate his attention, yet the soft, almost vulnerable version of her tugged at something inside him.
"I can answer a few questions," he said finally, careful, "but only after I finish here. And only if you promise to pay attention."