สวัสดีครับ คุณผู้เช่าคนสวย

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.”