Chapter one: "What am I?"

Someone kept snapping their fingers in front of my face breaking me from my trance, it was Genevieve who was one of my employees who worked in this well-known coffee shop at the downtown area.

“Your mind has been floating so much that your hot friend has been staring at you for the past 5 minutes” she handed me a sandwich with a glass of juice from the kitchen, I took a bite and searched the shop where is this hot friend that Genevieve was pertaining to. My eyes landed on Alex who was near the window drinking his cup of coffee.

His sharp silver eyes greeted mine and I felt like the way he gazes at me feel so heavy.

What is he doing here?

He wasn’t wearing anything flashy; he only wore plain black sweater and sweatpants, yet he has many eyes glued on him. I’m not gonna complain and ask him why he is here because with him just sitting there brings more customers in which help in sales even if my shop was already famous. I was just a bit greedy when having a lot of people in.

The girls swooned and the guys looked at him with admiration and jealousy.

He won the genetic lottery no one should complain but I feel like we must

Alex waved a little at me and shot me a small smile, Genevieve nudge me with her elbow giving me a smug smile “Lucky girl”

I rolled my eyes at her “I’m not, he just so happens to be the guy paying rent to my grandma” I responded back to her.

My Grandma, Carol Williams, is a sweet old lady who owns the 1000-acre land at the suburbs and always reminded me even when I was little that I should never enter the gates that surrounds our land. I was left puzzled since the land was hers and yet I cannot enter it even if I’m family. I would always assume my grandmother is hiding something from me but that would make a huge assumption because she is an honest lady with pure intentions in everything that she does.

Alex stood up from his seat and walked up to me to the counter setting down a paper bag, I looked up at him with a raised brow and he shrugged “Your grandma asked me to give it to you saying: Give this to Bea, that child keeps forgetting her lunch” he mocked her old lady voice and I lightly smacked him at the shoulder which made him chuckle.

He looked down at his expensive watch “Looks like I have to go, see you around Bea” he patted my head before leaving the shop.

What am I? 5?

He gave me a head pat right in front of my employees, they gave me a thumbs up except for Lora who ignored me. I can’t blame her; she has eyes for Alex and yet he kept ignoring her.

I have lost count on how many times that Lora tried to get Alex’s attention in any way she can every time he visits the coffee shop for a quick errand that my grandmother gives him, he was never the type to complain when given an errand or a small scolding from grandma. Grandma always treated him like family, and I would too so I would think of him like a brother but sometimes more of a friend who takes care of me.

The day ended quickly for me, and it was closing time, all my employees have started to leave one by one saying goodbye to me. I was all alone inside cleaning the tables and counting the money in the cashier while I listen to a song playing in my phone. My back was leaned at the counter while I was so focused counting money I didn’t turned around when I heard the bell from the entrance ring “Sorry the shop is closed” I told them.

“Aw, I was planning on having a cup of coffee here”

The voice sounded familiar, so I turned my back quickly and I saw Alex in a suit, he looked mature and handsome in it “So are you going to give me coffee now?”

Ï looked at the window and walked up to it to close the curtains “I should close these first since people don’t get a clue that my shop is now closed” Yes, I was referring to Alex who sat at a chair near the cashier.

I made the coffee for him as he continued to count the money in the cashier, when I was done, I gave him the cup “572 dollars and 43 cents, that’s how much you earned today”

“That was quick, are you a banker? An accountant?” I checked the money and counted it again and he was right. It is the exact amount that he told me.

Alex didn’t answer me “I’m just used to counting money that’s all”

“Maybe you should be my money counter” I joked

That could be a great idea though, having Alex as my money counter can make counting money easier and accurate since he told me himself, he Is used to counting money. I wonder what kind of job that he has that can make him count money so accurately?

He drank the coffee and handed me money, I decline it “No it’s fine, as long as you pay your rent the coffee is in the house”

Paying rent for my grandma is not cheap especially she told me that Alex is willing to pay for the 1000-acre land with only rent money of 8 million every month, so where the heck does he get 8 million and why didn’t he just buy his own land with that much money he makes every month?

He is good looking and makes a lot of money as well, I put my chin on top of my hand as I observed him being relaxed and carefree. I heard the entrance door open again that I groaned in complaint “The shop is closed can’t you tell JASON!?” I yelled at him as I through a tissue box at his direction, he has quick reflexes, so I don’t worry about him getting hurt or injured.

Jason gave me a sheepish smile; Jason is close with Alex, but he treated Alex too politely that people would assume that Alex is his boss. He speed ran to Alex and whispered something to his ear that changed Alex’s relaxed face to a serious one “It seems there is something urgent that happened in my workplace, I’ll drive you home first Bea”

I nodded to him, can’t turn down a free ride and his car is comfortable and big so no complain from me. I hurried up checking everything and locking the store before hopping in the car, Alex was driving the car and I was seated at the shotgun while Jason was behind us looking down at some papers that were scattered all over the backseat. He and Jason both looked troubled, and I can’t understand them, so I just stayed quiet until we arrived at the front of my grandma’s home.

If my mother wasn’t an alcoholic or if my father was never mentally insane maybe my life would’ve been very different, I don’t complain the life I have now it just feels a bit different if you don’t have the people who gave you life be nowhere to be seen. The front of my grandma’s home was surrounded by a picket fence that has an outdoor warm lantern light that gives it a homey feel.

“Thanks for the ride, Alex” I wave goodbye to him before closing the door and watched as he drives away, I brought some cake and donuts from the shop for grandma to taste since she has a sweet tooth. I did choose the ones that are not too sweet since it might give her diabetes since she is already so old.

When I entered the door, I can hear oldies playing in the radio as I smell the heavenly scent of food that is scattered throughout the house.

“I’m home”