Mafia's surrogate

beneath her, a sound that had become almost comforting in the stillness of the late hour. Her eyes drifted to the clock on the wall-it was nearly midnight. She had lost track of

e was strikingly handsome, with chiseled features and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through her. There was something dangerous about him, a predatory grace that made her heart race. "I'm fine," she said, though her voice sounded uncertain even to her own ears. He stepped closer, his movements smooth and confident. "You don't look fine. Can I call you a cab?" Elena hesitated. There was something about him that set off alarm bells in her head, but she was too tipsy to think clearly. "I... I guess that would be nice." He pulled out his phone and made a quick call, his eyes never leaving her. "It'll be here in a few minutes." "Thank you," she said, trying to steady herself. She felt his gaze on her, intense and unwavering, and it made her nervous. "What's your name?" he asked, his voice low and smooth. "Elena," she replied, feeling a strange compulsion to answer him. "I'm Alex," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. "Nice to meet you, Elena." There was something about the way he said her name that made her shiver. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was an air of authority about him, as if he was used to getting what he wanted. The cab arrived, breaking the tension. "Thanks again," she said, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "Take care, Elena," Alex said, watching her as she got into the cab. As the cab pulled away, Elena couldn't shake the feeling that she had just crossed paths with someone dangerous. She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes and trying to push the encounter from her mind. She was too tired, too drunk to think about it now. She just wanted to get home and crawl into bed. The next morning, Elena woke with a pounding headache and a vague sense of unease. The events of the previous night were a hazy blur, but she remembered the man-Alex. She groaned, covering her face with her hands. What had she been thinking, talking to a stranger like that? Shaking her head, she forced herself out of bed and into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the remnants of her hangover. She had a long day ahead of her, and she needed to be at her best. As she got dressed and prepared for work, she pushed the memories of the nightclub and Alex to the back of her mind. The day passed in a whirlwind of meetings, home visits, and endless paperwork. By the time Elena returned to her apartment, she was exhausted. She kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto the couch, feeling the weight of the day settle over her like a heavy blanket. Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, her phone buzzed. She frowned, picking it up to see a message from Maria. "Had fun last night! We should do it again soon. And guess what? I think you caught someone's eye ;)" Elena rolled her eyes, typing a quick reply. "Yeah, I noticed. But I'm not looking for trouble." "Trouble or excitement? ;)" Maria shot back. Elena sighed,