Coffee, Confessions, and a Crisis

Lucy hadn't even made it halfway through her morning coffee before the universe decided to throw her a plot twist.

She was at Brew & Byte, the comforting clatter of keyboards and espresso machines acting like background music to her caffeine-fueled anxiety. Cole was supposed to meet her in fifteen minutes, but she was already sweating through her hoodie.

The message from the mystery number still haunted her phone screen: "I know how to save your company. Meet me. Alone."

Cryptic? Check.

Suspicious? Also check.

But intriguing? Hell yes.

She stared at the screen like it might blink first. It didn't.

A barista called her name, startling her. She grabbed her drink and, on autopilot, took a sip. Burned her tongue.

"Perfect," she muttered. "Just what I needed. Pain with my panic."

Enter: Cole, Late by Five and Flawless as Ever