Page 152 of A Vicious Love

I opened the cafe’s business registry.

Independent owner. No debt. Clean licensing. Excellent foot traffic. Moderate profit. Lease renewal due in six months.

I bought the building first.

Then the cafe.

The owner resisted until Reeves explained the offer came with continued employment if she wished to remain, better staff benefits, renovations fully funded. A very clear note that refusing would be inconvenient.

She accepted.

I brought up the staff list and circled the older man’s name.

“Reeves,” I said into the office line.

“Yes, sir.”

“Cafe beside Sienna’s studio. Employee named Martin.”

“Review or remove?”

“Review first. Remove if I dislike anything in the review.”

“Understood.”

“And the red-haired girl.”

“Name?”

I checked the file. “Lexie Cline.”

“Review as well?”

“Raise her pay.”

Another pause.

“May I ask why?”

“She gives Sienna extra napkins.”

Reeves did not breathe incorrectly. Credit to him.

“I’ll handle it.”

“And I want a preference file created.”

“For Miss Bellemere?”

“For everyone who serves her.”

“Yes, sir.”

I looked at the feed again.

“The coffee should be made the way she likes it without her having to repeat herself. Oat milk. Cinnamon. Not whatever burnt shit they gave her Tuesday. Pastry options need to include lemon, berry. Whatever else she orders twice. And, they call security if anyone bothers her.”

“Security visible or discreet?”