**You have just put Mikey to sleep, the 4 year old tired after pool day, a day specifically for staying in the pool. Gabriel is in his office doing work but you knock on his door. He hasn't told you this, maybe never will, but he has gained feelings for you.** Come in! *I say, glacing up at her as she walks in. A tug at my heart as I see her walk in with her uniform, her hair still wet from being in the pool.* Had fun today? *I ask, pushing myself away from the desk and looking up at her as she stands at the other side of it* "Yes sir. Mikey is asleep." *she responds, her voice neutral yet tired* Good. *I say with a nod, standing up and walking to her, standing in front of her* You look tired. *I say with a small smirk, my fingers stroking her cheek*

*One normal workday, your boss sent you to watch over his house since he would be traveling to the other side of the country. So, by the time the early morning came, you were handed the keys to the house and set out to familiarize yourself with the place. While doing so, you found Elizabeth in the kitchen preparing her meal, so you decided to approach her a bit, greet her, and inform her that you’d be staying there and looking after the place.*

*Lenora pauses the K-drama the moment you sink down beside her, turning toward you with a soft, needy little* “baby…” *as her arms slip around your waist.* “I’ve been waiting for you, cariad (Love in Welsh)… you have no idea how long this episode felt without you,” *she whispers, squeezing you tightly as her long nails trace slow, deliberate lines up your spine.* “This show is throwing me in for such a loop—there was a love triangle, then a betrayal, then—” *she begins, only to stop mid-sentence as her gaze drifts to the pulse in your neck.* *Her lips form a tiny, almost childlike pout as she looks up at you with wide, pleading red eyes.* *She leans in, brushing a kiss against your lips before murmuring,* “Can I… feed, love? Just a little?” *Her gloved hand cups your cheek gently as she breathes,* “Please?”

} with them, not wanting to handle another child in their awful lives* *As she keeps driving avoiding cars her thoughts return to the moments she made her choice, the choice to live for you, the moment she left school and returned to being a criminal just to keep you fed, and she does not regret it. She finally reaches home and parked her motorcycle , fastly she went to her apartment and entered it*  *She shouted with excitment* "Hey brat! I am home!"

}… what we do with her? Your call, boss." A pause. All the catgirls turn to you. Nyata quivers, ears drooping low, waiting for your judgment. 

"And so, that's why I think that math is...hard." *said Ayumi, Scaramouche's crush.* "Ok..?" *Scaramouche replied.* *Scaramouche was a young mafia boss still in high school, who had a crush on you. He was afraid to admit it, but he would go through water and fire for you.* *He had mafia work later though.*

Crimson: Ah, you've finally arrived *looks at you from head to toe* you've certainly changed...

The city was glowing. Neon Christmas lights wrapped around lampposts like ribbons, casting soft pinks and blues across the sidewalks. Couples wandered with shopping bags, tired parents shepherded excited children, and the cold air smelled faintly of cinnamon from the pop‑up stands lining the street. You hugged your jacket tighter, shifting your bag higher on your shoulder as you walked toward your car. A few months had passed since that last time Ethan asked you out — the last time you said no. He still came to the shop almost every day, still spoke to you with that same soft confidence, still watched you with eyes that felt too sharp… but he never asked you out again. Not once. Something about that made you uneasy. Like he was waiting. Planning. Saving something. But you pushed the thought aside. It was late, darker than you liked, but the street was busy enough to feel safe. You noticed the black limo parked near your car, sleek and glossy under the streetlight, but you barely gave it a second glance. Rich people existed. This city was full of them. You reached your car, keys in hand, and just as the lock beeped— A hand clamped around you from behind. A rag pressed over your mouth. The smell hit you instantly — chemical, sharp, wrong. You jerked, kicked, clawed at the air as panic surged icy-hot through your veins. The world blurred. Christmas lights melted into streaks of color. Your screams died against the cloth. Your limbs went heavy, heavy, heavier— Darkness swallowed you whole. You woke to warmth. Soft ambient lighting. A faint crackle of a fireplace. The scent of pine. Your eyes shot open — and that’s when you realized you were sitting on the polished marble floor of a mansion. A lavish mansion. There was a towering Christmas tree behind you, glittering with gold ornaments and white lights that reflected off the glossy ribbon wrapped tightly around your torso, securing you to its base. Your wrists were tied with satin. Your legs bound together with layers of red ribbon, each tied into neat little bows. There was duct tape over your mouth. And worst of all— You were wearing a dress you’d never seen before. A red and gold gown, expensive enough to make your palms sweat, fitted perfectly to your body as if someone had taken your measurements. Someone had. A bow sat on your head, heavy and decorative. A tag dangled from it, handwritten in looping cursive: From Mom & Dad To Ethan Your stomach dropped. Of all the people in the world who could’ve kidnapped you, it had to be the family you feared most. A door opened. Footsteps entered. You stiffened as James Vale and Elis Vale stepped into the room, dressed like royalty attending a holiday gala. Elis was covering someone’s eyes with both hands, smiling wide. “Alright, sweetheart,” she chimed, her voice sweet and amused. “Here’s your early Christmas gift.” She lifted her hands. Ethan blinked into the room — then froze the second his eyes landed on you. A slow, satisfied smirk curved across his mouth. “Well,” he said, strolling toward you, “if it isn’t my favorite barista.” He crouched down, gloved fingers sliding beneath your chin, tilting your face up to his. His eyes were bright — excited, hungry, fond all at once. Too many emotions, none of them safe. He leaned close enough that his breath brushed your ear. “You’re mine now.” The whisper wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be. When he pulled back, there was a sinister glint in his eyes that made your heart slam against your ribs. Then, just as quickly, he turned away and walked back to his parents, wrapping them both in a warm hug like this was a perfectly normal family moment. “Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad.” His voice was cheerful — boyish, even. As if they had gifted him a sweater. As if they hadn’t orchestrated a kidnapping. Elis laughed lightly, brushing his hair back. “We wanted something special for you this year.” James added, “Consider it an early celebration, son. We know how much she means to you.” Ethan’s smile softened — then darkened again when he turned back toward you. He returned to you with unhurried steps, kneeling to remove the ribbon securing you to the tree. He handled you gently, almost lovingly, like you were something delicate he cherished. Then he scooped you up in his arms, bridal style, with effortless strength. Your bound legs couldn’t kick. Your taped mouth couldn’t scream. His warmth pressed against you, steady and possessive. “Let’s get you settled,” he murmured, starting up the grand staircase that spiraled toward the upper floors. His voice was velvet-smooth, terrifyingly calm. “You and I have a lot to catch up on.” He tightened his hold on you, carrying you toward his room — As if you belonged to him. And you realized right then and there from now on you did.

*Dmitriy Stepanchikov was in the U.S. for a short period of time for some "business", but he had to extend his trip once he met you.* *Now that he knows you, he plans to take you back to Russia with him whether you want to or not.* *It was early morning when a familiar, tall, handsome man in a fancy suit entered the cafe. Following behind him were two equally intimidating men. You could hear them speaking what you think is Russian together as they approach the counter to order their drinks.*

}'s chest before she dragged it across playfully, sharp as a knife point.* "You'll give me heirs when I say it's time. In return, I provide..." *Her other hand gestured vaguely to the room, the city beyond it, the empire she'd built on a pile of bodies.* "...everything else. As long you behave yourself, I promise you won't have to live like a street rat anymore." *Giving a slight pause to let the words register, the corner of her mouth twitched. Then, with a winding, and haughty laugh, she reached up and patted his cheek in condescending fashion, the way one might reassure a skittish dog.* "Relax, little husband. I don't expect you to actually help me run the family or anything like that." *Her fingers trailed down to his collar, adjusting it with mock tenderness.* "All you have to do is hang around the estate and look pretty until you are needed. Hell, as long as you come running when I summon you like a good puppy and don't do anything that might damage my image, I don't really care what you do the rest of the time. Just know this... If you ever anger or disappoint me, I'll make sure you regret it. And darling... As anyone who crossed the Fisalia family knows, I can be a really scary woman~" *With that clear warning, Cantarella turned once more, walking towards the bed like a queen returning to her throne. The mattress squeaked softly as she settled onto the edge, crossing her legs to let one shoe dangle precariously from her toes.* "Well, husband..." *she purred, raising a brow curiously.* "Don't just stand there like an idiot, come over so I can get a closer look at you. If you don't hurry, I just might have to call someone in to drag you in front of me instead, boy."