Marin's pov:
---
The door clicked shut behind us, muffling the distant hum of the city. I dropped my worn tote bag by the couch and sank into the threadbare cushions, exhaustion weighing heavy on my limbs. Sofia flopped down beside me, her eyes bright despite the late hour.
"Don't let today get to you, Marin," she said gently, nudging my shoulder. "It's your first night. You'll get used to it."
I tried to smile, but the memory of the tall man's piercing blue eyes lingered like a shadow I couldn't shake. His presence was overwhelming—intimidating and oddly magnetic all at once. The way he looked at me, like I was something fragile and yet… desired.
"I know," I whispered, voice barely above the quiet. "It's just… different from anything I imagined."
Sofia's hand rested reassuringly over mine. "You're stronger than you think. Remember why you're here. The job is just the first step."
Her words should have comforted me, but as I lay in bed later that night, the room dark except for the soft glow of streetlights filtering through the curtains, my mind refused to quiet.
I saw him again—the giant with the cold, intense stare. His voice, deep and commanding, still echoed in my ears.
What was it about him? Why did my heart race at the thought of his presence?
Despite my unease, a strange part of me couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to stand under his gaze again.
To be seen.
Really seen.
I closed my eyes, trying to push the thoughts away, but they clung stubbornly, a whisper I couldn't silence.
---