Costa Crew 3: Make or Break

Chapter 7 - An Enticing Offer

JULY 2026

"I've got it."

"You've got it?"

Amelia Murphy grinned and nodded. "We use coffee shops."

She stood at the door of her boyfriend Anthony's family home. She did have her own apartment, but having only just moved out of student accommodation everything was a mess over there. Besides, Anthony's family knew how to live in luxury. At least, they did, before they moved to the countryside for their retirement, leaving Anthony in possession of this mansion.

"What, like Costa?" Anthony asked.

Amelia shook her head and sat down beside him. "Little independent local businesses. Struggling owners who'll do anything for some cash. It'll be the perfect way for us to stay above it all."

Anthony sighed. "You're sure about this?"

"About what?"

"This whole Moriarty consulting criminal thing. I'm not saying it won't work, I know you can make it happen. But if we get caught..."

"We won't," interrupted Amelia. "I'll get the Lisas in on this. They're going into courtrooms, meaning if things ever go south they'll have our backs. But that's the beauty of the whole coffee shop thing. You and I barely interact with anyone in our organisation. We just give orders and make money."

"Is the money worth the risk?" asked Anthony. "I mean, you'd have to pay a messenger, and someone to actually do the job...by the time you split the price we barely get anything. And we're not exactly struggling, I've got this place, and you can move in..."

He ran a hand through his hair nervously, taking deep breaths. "Okay, I don't really know how we got from OCGs to this, but I'm just gonna say it. I just want to make sure you know what you're doing. If you want to do this, then I will be there by your side. Because there is nothing I wouldn't do for you. You want me to pick you up from work, I'll be there whenever you say. You want me to take you out to dinner, you pick the restaurant. You want me to take on a full armed legion with only my bare hands, I'll die trying if that's what makes you happy."

He bent down on one knee and took Amelia's hand. "You're the smartest person I know, and the most beautiful person I know. You know I've loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. Amelia Murphy, will you marry me?"

Amelia's eyes lit up, then she shook her head. "Anthony, don't be ridiculous."

Anthony's jaw dropped and he sat back on the settee. "I'm not being ridiculous!"

"Yes, you are," insisted Amelia. "We've only just left uni, I barely know you. We're not ready to get married."

"We've been going out for three years!" cried Anthony. "You're the one, I know you are!"

Amelia took his hand. "Anthony, I really love spending time with you. But I need more time before committing to marriage. There's just a lot on my mind right now, okay?"

Anthony hesitated. "There's not...another man, is there?"

Amelia shook her head. "No, of course not. It's just this girl-"

"Wait, you're kidding, right?" Anthony interrupted, frowning. Amelia scowled at him.

"Don't be disgusting, not like that. I'm talking about this idea of ours. It's pretty much watertight. We'll be above it all so nobody should get to us, and anyone who does get to us will have something we can hold over them to shut them up. But there was this one girl I went to school with. She was, for want of a better word, my nemesis. We were good friends, but she couldn't stand me being better than her, so she devoted every minute of her life to making sure she came out on top. If she found out about this she'd jump at the chance to bring me down."