Chapter Eight

Lauren was beginning to feel as though the entire world had decided to make her life difficult.

For days, she had been sending out job applications, attending interviews and waiting for responses that rarely came. Even worse, she was beginning to suspect that the financial scandal Diane had dragged her into was following her everywhere.

It was bad enough that her former best friend had borrowed money in her name and left her struggling with angry creditors. Now, the situation seemed to have damaged her reputation as well. A few employers had stopped responding after conducting background checks, while others had politely informed her that they wouldn't be moving forward with her application.

She had tried explaining that she wasn't responsible for the debts, but nobody seemed interested in hearing her side of the story.

She was running out of savings, her rent wasn't going to pay itself, and the constant calls from creditors were beginning to make her dread the sound of her phone ringing. It was exhausting having to deal with problems she hadn't created, especially when the person responsible was nowhere to be found.

That morning, all she wanted was a little comfort. She had been craving the warm blueberry muffin and a cup of her special latte from her favourite breakfast spot, Corner Bistro. After the miserable week she had endured, she decided she deserved both. Perhaps a good cup of coffee and a delicious muffin wouldn't solve her problems, but they could certainly make her feel better for a little while.

Corner Bistro was one of her favourite places in the neighbourhood. It was a cosy little establishment with large windows, wooden tables and the comforting smell of freshly baked pastries. Lauren liked the place because nobody bothered her. She could sit quietly, enjoy her breakfast and forget about everything else for a few minutes.

She stood in line at the counter, waiting for the two people ahead of her to place their orders.

To pass the time, she took out her phone and opened T****k. A funny video appeared on her feed, and she couldn't help smiling as she watched it.

When it was finally her turn, she put her phone away and stepped forward.

"Good morning. I'd like a blueberry muffin and a medium latte, please."

The cashier smiled and entered her order. Lauren was about to put her phone away when a notification popped up on the screen. She opened her email and saw a message from one of the companies she had recently applied to.

Her heart sank as she read the first few lines. They had decided not to move forward with her application.

Her smile disappeared, and she stared at the screen for a moment before locking her phone.

"Wonderful," she muttered sarcastically, locking her phone and slipping it into her pocket.

Honestly, what else could possibly go wrong?

She had spent the previous evening updating her CV and writing cover letters, carefully tailoring each application to the position she wanted. She had even practised answers to common interview questions, determined to make a better impression at her next interview. Yet nothing seemed to be working.

She couldn't help wondering how long she would have to keep going through this before someone finally gave her a chance.

A few minutes later, her order was ready. Lauren collected her muffin and latte, then glanced around the busy café for somewhere to sit. A few customers were seated near the entrance, some were chatting over breakfast, while others were busy tapping away on their laptops. She spotted an empty table beside the window and made her way over.

After settling into the chair, she placed her order on the table and pulled her cardigan sleeves down over her wrists.

Lauren lifted her latte and took a slow sip, letting out a blissful sigh as the warm coffee settled her nerves. It was exactly how she liked it, creamy, smooth and just the right temperature.

She placed the cup back on the table, broke off a piece of her blueberry muffin and popped it into her mouth. A small smile touched her lips as she savoured the sweet, fluffy treat.

The muffin was still warm, with little bursts of blueberries in every bite. She closed her eyes briefly, enjoying the sweetness before reaching for her coffee again.

"At least something in my life is going right," she whispered to herself, shaking her head with a faint smile.

For the first time that morning, she felt a little better.

She took another sip of her latte and settled comfortably into her chair, finally allowing herself to enjoy the peaceful moment.

Lauren had just taken another bite of her muffin when a shadow fell across her table.

She looked up.

And nearly choked.