Beyond The Spotlight

Chapter 5

"Who the hell was that?" Ashley asked.Liam sighed and breathed in. "I've no idea.""She is nasty, so avoid her," Ashley commented and walked towards the kids."God help me," he mouthed and plunged into the chair."Kids! Time for audition," he announced as the children cheered.Liam got to work really early the next day; he was always punctual, be it a data analyst or a coffee shop attendant."Good morning, mister Patrick," Liam greeted as he walked in."Morning Liam!" Patrick yelled from the counter.Liam went straight into the counter and asked Patrick what his first task would be, and Patrick told him to organise the cups and clean the coffee maker."Look who we have here," Liam heard from behind him."Ashley." Liam turned and saw Ashley standing right in front of him."What are you doing here?" He asked."Errm, I should be asking you that. My dad owns this place," Ashley smiled."I'm working here now.""Look like you've met my baby girl," Patrick interrupted."Yes, sir, and you didn't tell me she was a Christian," Lian arched his brow.Patrick waved his hands in the air. ""How about we all get back to work?" Patrick suggested as he trailed off into his office."Yes Sir!" Liam said joining Ashley at the counter."So we are yet again partners in coffee serving," Ashley teased."And burgers and fries, and don't forget that delicious hot dog and sausages," Liam added, and Ashley laughed."Yeah, my mom is whipping it off in the kitchen right now," Ashley beamed with a smile."So it's a family business," Liam realised."Yea," Ashley nods..Vanessa walked into the Parley's coffee shop as in Patrick and Polly, his wife. She found out Liam was working here, and she had her plan."Good morning, she said as she walked into the shop feeling really fly."What's she doing here?" Ashley asked."I have no idea," Liam stated honestly."Oh, I'm not here for you; I'm here for something different," she rolled her eyes."Yeah, right, but the shop doesn't open till a few hours from now," Ashley reminded."I'm not here for your coffee either, "Okay, Nessa, if you aren't here for us or the coffee, why are you here then?" Liam asked."Well, that would be up to you to find. I guess your father called her for a meeting." Liam smiled."She sounds like a girl from my high school days; Vanessa Harrington," Ashley breathes in."Vanessa? That star that was involved in child s****l abuse? She was from Barnes?" Liam was perplexed.

"Yes, and she is in a rehabilitation centre, and if I didn't know that, I'd say this is her. Anyways, I'd go get the hot sauce; the store opens in an hour," Ashley says and walled towards the back where the kitchen was.

The soon-to-be opened sign was changed to open, and in no time customers were flooding in, and Liam had his hands full attending to tonnes of customers. "One D' Cafe for me and a hot latte for my baby," one of the customers ordered."Coming up," Ashley took down the order and walked towards the counter when Vanessa walked out wearing an apron."What's going on?" Ashley asks confused."Are you blind or what? I'm working here now."You're a crazy girl." Ashley walked away feeling disgusted about Vanessa's attitude."Any problem?" Liam asked Ashley, who was obviously angry."Just look," Ashley pointed in Vanessa's direction as she was busy taking orders, and she blew Liam a kiss."Okay, that's weird," Liam' confirmed as Ashley groaned."Hey, get those fries out of your mouth," Vanessa said as she kept glancing at Liam till she couldn't bear it but walked towards him."Hey, want to hang out with me?? She winked at him, and he grunted."I'm sorry, but 'we are busy' obviously," he stressed on the 'we'"C'mon, we have to live a little, and you would love it," she tried convincing him, but he wouldn't budge."How about lunch?" He asked and she agreed."Fine, I'm totally in. Grab your fries and bugger because we are taking this lunch up." She sounded excited as Liam went back to work.Vanessa was busy with the customers when Jacey, Ariel's boyfriend, walked in with another girl who had her hands all over him."You got to be kidding me," she muttered as Jacey sat down with this mysterious girl."Can I get you anything?" Vanessa walked towards their table, obviously pissed."Sure, get me two burgers and fries.""Maybe some coffee too," the girl interrupted."How about I change that menu for y'all?" Vanessa asked and almost got into a fight with them.""What the hell is going on here?" Patrick walked in seeing so much disaster and heartbroken because he didn't picture his opening day to be like this."Ms. Dean, in my office now!" He barked."I'm so sorry everyone for the disaster," Patrick apologised."We are sorry, but not to you, Jace," Vanessa added."Shut up!" Patrick said angrily."Dad, I'd handle the mess with Liam, and you go deal with the problem," Ashley said, facing Vanessa when she mentioned the problem."You are the problem, ashes," Vanessa groaned."Like I said the problem," Ashley walked away satisfied, knowing she'd get fired..Vanessa walked into Patrick's office as he offered her a chair, and she sat down opposite him."I'm not going to tolerate this kind of attitude here," Patrick reprimanded."That girl is all over my homegirl's man, and I was pissed about it," she angrily replied."That's bad, but you know you can't work here anymore," Patrick explained."Why can't I work here?" She asked."Because you are being a bad girl, but there is a way we can both get what we want," Patrick winked. At first Vanessa was confused, but then it hit her."Hell no, I'm not going to sleep with you to keep being a coffee shop girl," Vanessa felt irritated, and he reminded her of someone she hates and despises."But you have family; what about them? You're willing to sleep with a young girl just to ruin all that. I'm out!" She dropped her apron and stormed out of the coffee shop.Liam watched as Vanessa stormed out angrily; part of him was relieved, but the other part wondered why she looked so upset."Guess dad got rid of the problem," Ashley sneaked up on him."Yeah, I guess so," Liam muttered slowly."So about the kids, have you thought about the song they'd sing?" Ashley asked."Maybe silent night," Liam suggested."No, that's too slow and usual; how about a Christmas song from my grandma's special book?" Ashley suggested."I'd love that," Liam beamed with a smile."Then you should definitely come over to our house; I'd show you some good music." Ashley said. Liam's thinking was clouded by her nice character, so he agreed."Sure," he smiled.

The next day Vanessa decided to hang out with her girls, and she felt weird as she adjusted her wigs and flashed a fake smile at Tarnie, who was busy gulping down her drinks."Can y'all shut up about that stupid stuff?" Vanessa felt so neck-dipped in finding a way to get Liam's attention because working in a coffee shop isn't exactly her thing."Liam?" Ariel confirmed."Who else would get her so f****d up like this?" Tarnie giggled."Be ready to get naked," Juliana said, and they all laughed."And oh, don't forget the hundred bucks; I really need cash," Ariel added, and another roar of laughter engulfed the room."Y'all shut up; I'm going to get him," Vanessa shunned them."In her dreams, but for real though, aren't you supposed to chase who framed you rather than chase a choir guy?" Juliana said."Choir, what now?" Vanessa arched her brow."He sings in the local church down the street," Tarnie added."And my grandma says he is pretty good."."Okay, y'all said enough; just go get prepared because Vanessa—oh, sorry, because Nessa Dean is going to church," Vanessa announced."! You are going where?" Tarnie mouth opened wide in surprise."There is going to be an earthquake in church," Tarnie whispered.