Death By Chocolate: Miguel O'Hara/Venom X reader

Chapter 3

YN

Your nerves are frayed to the bone, even three days after the disastrous encounter with your ex's friends and the strange man who buys all your chocolate for God knows what reason. You're supposed to feel safe in your own store. The place you built from the ground up. The business that you've poured your blood, sweat, and tears into while healing from trauma. You deserve to enjoy work. To enjoy cracking cacao beans and smelling the air as they roast. Instead, you're jumpy and unfocused.

You jolt when the door chimes, and the chocolate rocks you were pouring into the dispenser at the back of the shop spill onto the floor. Cursing under your breath, you hoist the storage container of candy coated bits of chocolate in your arms and head to the front, plastering a fake, closed mouth smile on your face.

"Welcome to Death by- oh." You see the broad shoulders towering over everything else in the shop as you head around the display to the front.

Dark eyes meet yours, but at least the guy has the decency to look uncomfortable. "Sorry, I know I'm early."

Your heart jumps to your throat. Is he going to mention seeing you in the alley? "You're not early. It's 11 o'clock. The open sign is up."

He clears his throat as you come behind the counter and place the heavy container down on the cool stone. "Right," he says tersely. "Well..."

You glance up at him as you pull a fresh pair of gloves on. And it's so hard to look at his handsome face. But now it's even worse because the image of him kicking Malcolm in the back is seared into your brain like a tattoo. You really don't want to lose his business, but you also don't want him to think what he did was okay. Or that you're grateful for him making your life even worse.

"The usual?" You ask on your way to the bark.

He lifts one brow at you, and your stomach does a violent flip. But you remind yourself who he is and what he did. "Yes... please," he mutters.

You work in silence for long moments as he paces the shop and mutters to himself.

In your fragile state, you jump when you hear his voice nearby. "Are you okay?"

Your face sets in a frown, but you don't look up at him. "I'm fine. How are you today?"

"No."

The abrupt change in his voice sends a shiver down your spine. You glance up to find him blinking at you. "I mean, I'm fine... too. But, what I meant was about the other day. They've left you alone, right?"

As if on fucking cue, the phone rings. Again. Terror bolts through your blood, making your hands shake and throat tight. "Do you mind if I get that?" You ask in a breathy voice. "I'm expecting a shipment update today. There's... political turmoil in Venezuela right now and it's affecting cacao exports."

"Take your time."

Unable to control the tremors in your hand or the pounding of your heart, you lift the wireless phone to answer it. Your voice is breathy and shaky. "Death by Chocolate, how can I help you?"

"Sounds like you knew it would be me."

With a rushed exhale, you press the red button and put it back on the charger. And without a word, go right back to packaging barks of chocolate. You hear Miguel mutter to himself, but you ignore it while you try to control your breathing and the shaking of your hands. You can get through this. You've gotten through everything thus far. You always knew Robby would call you, or come into the shop. You couldn't run forever.

Miguel doesn't say anything until you finish up the boxes and ring up his total at the register. He passes over several twenty dollar bills. "Is he still bothering you?"