Before my parents died in an accident the last thing my mom told me was that I was born for greatness. I am not sure what greatness they were talking about, all I know is that when it comes to making coffee, I sure am the best at it.
“Athena,” my manager called me, motioning me to follow him to his office at the back of the store.
“Yes sir,” I said once I was in his office.
“The owner of our shop will be using the place later,” he said as he scanned the papers in front of him. “Make sure the last order will be taken at 1 PM and the shop is closed at 2 PM.”
“Got it, sir,” I nodded.
“Please stay until he comes to ensure that everything he needs is taken care of,” he added. “I will make sure that you are paid three times your hourly wage for this task.”
The request took me by surprise, we all know that the owner usually has meetings in our cafe but it’s usually our manager who stays behind. But upon hearing the pay I would be receiving, who am I to decline?
“I need to go to the main branch for the monthly meeting and out of anyone here, you are one of the people I can trust. You also know more about how to keep this place in order,” he said as if reading the question in my mind.
“Got it, sir,” I said as I turned around getting ready to leave.
“Oh, and one last thing,” he said, halting me. I looked at him and this time he was looking up at me. “Don’t open the door unless the person behind it says these words: Caramel Macchiato.”
I nodded. I am getting a weird feeling about this meeting. It seems like the owner of the shop is some kind of underground boss. I know that I should have said it now but the pay I am getting for this simple task is hard to pass. It would help me fulfill my dream a bit faster.
At noon my manager left for the main branch but passed by me before leaving the shop, reminding me of my duties later.
At exactly 2 PM I closed the shop and started cleaning to make sure that everything is ready when the owner arrives.
I haven’t met the owner of the shop, but some say that he was an old guy and that he was very mean. Well if I own lots of businesses, does age matter? Of course not.
Just let them in and then get out, I reminded myself.
I finished cleaning and did a second check to ensure that everything is all in the right place.
At exactly 4 PM there was a knock at the back door.
I walked towards the door unsure, I forgot to ask my manager where they would enter.
“Who- who’s there?” I ask nervously.
“Caramel Macchiato,” he answered softly.
I cracked the door open keeping the safety lock just to check first who was on the other side, without any idea of what the owner looked like I based on the image I have in my head. I was surprised to see a handsome young man around my age, who was sitting in a wheelchair and was looking at me. No old mmean-looking man, maybe a lost customer.
“I'm sorry,” I said apologetically.
“We are closed for the day.”
I was about to close the door when he held the door, avoiding me to close it.
“Athena right?” he asked
I looked at him in surprise as he knew who I was. He pulled out his phone and called someone. And the next thing I heard was my manager's angry voice asking me to let him in.
How was I supposed to know it was him? I know it was my fault that I didn’t ask for a picture, but I have not expected him to be the owner of this shop. And then I remembered the keyword that he gave me, Caramel Macchiato when I opened the door. Yep, my boss is going to kill me tomorrow.
I opened the door to let him in.
“Please get me a hot caramel macchiato,'' he asked without looking at me.
I love caramel macchiato, but right at this moment, I am hating it. Never thought a coffee name could get me into trouble. I sigh as I make his coffee. Okay, just make his coffee and then leave.
He was on the phone when I served his coffee. I didn’t bother interrupting him and just placed the cup of coffee in front of him as quietly as I could. Being near him made my skin tingle, sending shivers all over my body. but it's not only that there was something in his smell that I am slowly finding to be intoxicating. I turned immediately, trying to avoid his gaze, not willing him to see the hotness on my cheeks.
I went straight to the locker room to change. As I was changing to my normal clothes I couldn’t stop but think of the owner as his cool minty smell still lingers in my memory.
Damn Athena! I berate myself.
You are here to work, not fantasize about the owner of the cafe.
I shook my head trying to remove the dirty thoughts of the cafe owner that were starting to form in my head
After getting dressed in my normal clothes, I slowly exited the locker room and walked toward him to say goodbye before I left.
Upon hearing my footsteps, he turned and looked at me, I stopped in my tracks as I finally got a good view of him. God, he was good-looking. His sharp jawline can cut your hands when you touch it, not to mention those lips that you would want to stroke with your thumb. And the hair, I have never seen a man look so good with brown/blonde wavy hair. You know the type of hair with highlights of different shades that are perfected by salon artists. His hair was a bit longer than the usual cuts for men, some of his brown/blonde waves almost covered his eyes.
“I’m sorry Athena,” he said, his voice so deep making it sound a little bit sexier than it’s supposed to be.
“Could you stay for a little bit longer?” he asked. “I will make sure to pay you for the extra hours. My partner just called and he's coming a bit late.”
There was something about him that was drawing me in. It’s like there is an invisible thread pulling me towards him. It’s not just because he promised to pay more than what was agreed upon, it was more than that. There was something in the way that he looks at me, something in the sound of his voice that made me want to protect him. And I know at that moment I was in big trouble. Especially after I hear the next words that come out of my mouth.
“Yes sir,” I said softly.
He smiled as he tilted his head, showing his hazel eyes. Shit! There is no denying it, I am doomed.
“Let me just change back to my uniform,” I said as I was about to walk back into the locker room.
“No need,” He said.
“You will not wear your uniform but something else.”
There was a knock on the back door and he motioned me to open it.
“It's my driver,” he said.
“Go ahead and wear the one that he provides.”
I nodded.
I went straight to the locker after getting the paper bags that his driver provided. I was surprised to see an expensive long sparkling black fitted sleeveless evening gown with a slit on the left leg that rested mid-thigh. It was partnered with black high-heeled ankle strapped sandals with a matching purse.
I looked at myself in the small mirror on my locker and I couldn't believe the person in front of me. I would never have these kinds of things in real life, it's not just that I can’t afford them; I just don’t think that these kinds of clothes look good on me.
I came out of the locker room walking toward the owner of the cafe awkwardly. I started to fidget as I tried to adjust the dress to show a little less of my skin. As I stood in front of the cafe owner who placed his fingers under his chin as he silently scanned me up and down.
“Sir, shouldn’t I just wear my uniform;” I said. I know that he sensed the discomfort in my voice.
“I am not sure as to why I need to waste this beautiful dress when I am just going to serve coffee.”
He motioned for me to come closer to him and tap the chair beside him asking me to sit next to him.
What happened to let them in and get out? I berate myself. To tell you the truth, I am not sure if the reason I stayed is still because of the high pay that I would receive from him or if it is because of him.
I was so nervous having to sit this close to him. So nervous that I avoided looking at him. I thought I had received enough surprises I was allowed to receive in one day. But nothing beats the next words that I hear him say.
“Tonight you are not a barista,” He said.
“Tonight, Athena, you are my girlfriend.” He said in his husky deep voice.
My head made a fast 180 degrees turn that I thought my neck would break. I looked at him for any sign that he was kidding. Instead, I met his serious hazel eyes and a small smile on his lips like he was amused with my reaction. I was about to ask him what kind of game he was playing. But the words got stuck in my head when he said, “They're here.”
“We have Stevens,” Leon said. Leon is my best friend, my business partner, and my Beta. “I will call you back once I have additional information, for now, don’t sign any contract,” he added. My thought was interrupted by a sweet smell that hit my nose as Athena, one of the baristas in my cafe served my coffee. I am not sure if the sweet smell that lingers on my nose came from the coffee or Athena. My eyes followed her movements as she turned to her heels and walked towards the back and I have myself guessed that she is changing, getting ready to leave. “Drake!” Leon shouted getting my attention “Don’t sign any contract,” he said once more. “Yeah, I heard what you said the first time,” I said, not bother
The moment they are in the cafe I immediately regretted my idea of having Athena in the same vicinity as them. I don’t trust Archer, but Leon said that it is best to have peace with every pack. Archer eyed Athena and smiled mischievously. “Now who do we have here?” he asked with a snicker. I could sense Athena’s anxiety, I placed my hand on her knee which seemed to calm her down. “My girlfriend,” I said. “Athena, I want you to meet Archer, a business partner.” “Athena,” She said as she offered her hand. Archer looked at her hand and laughed. I tried to keep my cool as Athena withdrew her hand in em
I know from the moment he asked me to leave and go get the coffee from the safe, something bad was about to unfold. My manager taught me about the safe room; that if there was something bad to happen we needed to rush to his office and press the red button and the titanium doors would keep us safe until one of the company's security men came to open it for us. A security measure that I didn’t think was necessary for a coffee shop. I tried calling my manager but then I realized that my phone died because I forgot to charge it. Of all the times to forget to charge it, it just had to be today. I cursed myself silently for my forgetfulness. I tried the phone on my manager's desk but there was no dial tone. I was tempted to press the red button but I know that I am not heartless to just leave the owner of the shop and his driver alone. I berate myself one last time as I know that I will regret the decision I a
She saved me. I wanted to hold her more. I wanted to feel her heart beating. But I know that to save her I have to let her go, for now. I am so angry at myself, so angry at how useless I am. Parker was also in surgery for all the beatings he took from Archer’s men. “Drake,” Leon said as he shook me, taking me away from my thoughts. “What?’ I retorted. “Sorry,” I said apologetically. I know that none of this was his fault. It was mine. I wipe my face with my hand in frustration. “I’m sorry,” Leon said softly. I was glad that they arrived the moment that they did. Because if they didn’t, I don’t know what would have become of us. Unfortunately, Archer and some of his men had escaped. But that's the least of my worries for now. I am worried for the person who saved my life even when she had the chance to save her own. I turned and looked at him. “It’s not your fault,” I said. “It was mine, for being useless,” I added. “You know that’s not true,” He said. I wanted to beli
I could hear voices but the words were not clear. By the different tones that I am hearing, I know that it does not belong to only one person. I tried to open my eyes but ended up being blinded by the sunlight streaming through the window. I moved my right arm trying to shield my eyes from the sun’s glare, but the sudden movement made my whole body scream in pain, making my whole body freeze as my arm fell to my side. The room became quiet and I heard curtains being pulled and then I felt the comfort that its shade brought. I tried to open my eyes again to see who closed the curtains. But even with the shade, I didn’t realize how opening my eyes was such a struggle. I tried to open my eyes again and I had to blink several times because I couldn’t believe my eyes. There stood at the foot of my bed, three hands
I was just in the bathroom for a few minutes when I heard loud shouts and glasses breaking. When I went out I was surprised to see Athena holding Nori, who by the way was enjoying every bit of it, even with a broken glass pointed at his throat. It surprises me how she got the strength to do all that after all the wounds that her body took. I could’ve healed her if only Levi was here. Nori offered but I don’t want anyone’s wolf touching her. I’m sorry Athena, you could have healed already but I just can’t bear anyone else touching you, especially one of my friends. “She’s feisty,” Nori said with a big smile on his face as he looked at her. “I like her,” he added. “You like her?” Leon asked in disbelief. “Have you already forgotten that just a few minutes ago, sh
I opened my eyes and found myself in an expensive room and found my manager talking to a doctor. After seeing me awake, my manager said goodbye to the doctor and walked toward me. “How are you feeling?” he asked me filled with concern. “Tired,” I admitted. “What happened?” I asked. “I shouldn’t have told you to stay late,” my manager said apologetically. “The shop was robbed and you were attacked by the robber.” I was speechless, I know that I am not that irresponsible to leave the door unlocked. I tried to remember exactly what had happened but everything was a blur. I looked at my hand and saw a cut but not too de
The doctors were surprised at how fast I have healed. I requested to be released from the hospital since I was not seeing any point in staying there. But my manager came and explained that the owner wants me to stay there until the week of rest is up. He said the owner wants to ensure that I get the needed rest and that I am eating right before getting back to work. The week seems to move so slowly but I did get some time to rest and even went to physical therapy to ensure that my body was working perfectly. Once I was given the “fit to work clearance” I was in a hurry to get back to my dorm. My manager wanted to pick me up but I was already out and had called a taxi. Once I was at the dorm, I started to clean up my small room. It’s been a while since I was home and my laundry piled up as well as the