Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 4

Ria's POV:

The bell above the door jingled softly as I wiped down the counter, the warm aroma of freshly baked bread and sugar cookies wafting through the air. The Ruby was a small, charming bakery-café-diner hybrid, nestled between an old bookstore and a boutique. It had a retro, vintage vibe, with its pastel-colored walls, checkered floors, and antique signs hanging on the walls. The smell of coffee mingled with the scent of baked goods, creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

It was the kind of place that made you feel like you'd stepped back in time, where the world outside could wait while you savored a slice of pie or a steaming cup of coffee. The aprons we wore were pale pink with lace trim, cinched at the waist with a bow. Cute, but not overly fussy, and they fit the vibe of The Ruby perfectly. They were something I wouldn't wear outside of work, because it hugged my figure, unlike the baggy clothes I usually wore to hide it. And simply because oversized clothes are more in my comfort zone.

I spent most of my shifts serving customers, but tonight, I found myself occasionally helping out behind the bakery counter, arranging pastries and pouring coffee when needed.

It was late, the evening rush was over, and the café had settled into a quiet hum. Most of the customers were regulars, lingering over their desserts and lattes, chatting softly among themselves. I was grateful for the slower pace. Stacy was with her sorority sisters at some hockey game. Our school was supposedly playing this evening. And knowing, Stacy she'd likely come back in the early morning, after partying on Greek Row all night. It gave me time to think, to process everything that had happened earlier.

Nikolai Wolves. I still couldn't believe it. After all this time, after everything I'd gone through to escape him, his family, they were back in my life. And now, just when I thought I'd put that nightmare behind me, his father had tracked me down.

I was clearing off one of the corner booths, my mind still buzzing with thoughts of Nikolai and the encounter earlier that day, when the door opened again. I didn't look up at first, too absorbed in my own world, but when I finally glanced over, my heart stopped.

Standing in the doorway, looking impossibly out of place in The Ruby's warm, vintage setting, was Eduard Wolves.

He looked different than he had almost three years ago during the trials. His face was less sharp, his features softened by time, but there was no mistaking the aura of authority that surrounded him. He had the same piercing eyes, the same calm, calculating demeanor that had made me feel so small back then. He was still tall, like Nikolai. And he still had a full mane of luscious graying hair on his head. Which was quite surprising, considering he's what, like 50, maybe 60. And now, seeing him here, in this place that was my safe space, felt like a violation.

Eduard Wolves didn't belong in The Ruby. He belonged in a courtroom, behind a desk, anywhere but here. My stomach twisted as I watched him approach, a sickening mix of fear, anger, and something else I couldn't quite place bubbling up inside me. Two Wolves in one day. Just perfect.

I turned away, hoping he wouldn't notice me, but it was too late. His eyes locked onto mine, and I knew he had come for me. Maybe if I make myself really small, I'd camouflage into the wall? My heart pounded in my chest as I forced myself to keep my composure.

"Miss Winters," he greeted me, his voice as smooth and polished as ever.

I nodded stiffly, unable to muster any words. What could I possibly say to this man? The man whose sons had tormented me, who shattered my life?

"I'd like a moment of your time," he continued, his tone courteous but firm. "If you're not too busy, of course."

I hesitated, my mind racing. I could tell him to leave, that I didn't want to speak to him. But I knew better. Eduard Wolves was not a man you simply brushed off. He was here for a reason, and he wouldn't leave until he got what he came for. I glanced around the café, but there was no one who could help me, no way out.