sss Guild Princess

11 years later

"One flat white with almond milk, please."

"Would you like some syrup or sugar added?"

"No, I like my coffee bitter, thanks." She accentuated 'bitter' so the barista wouldn't get any stupid ideas like making her coffee with flavoured, sweetened almond milk. Like last time she visited this café and she saw that new girl who automatically assumed every female customer would absolutely love addition of sugary vanilla flavoured syrup in their coffee.

Disgusting.

She was dumbfounded when Alessa returned to the counter, asking for her 'right order' and barista tried to explain that their new syrup had absolutely zero calories so it's 'completely safe'.

As if Alessa ever gave a damn about calories. The truth was she simply hated sweet coffee.

And incompetent people.

She glanced at her phone checking the emails and sighed when saw the information about new members being introduced to the Guild this week. It was both exciting and exhausting to train the new women to make them fit their glamorous association.

If they passed, obviously.

She was wondering if the new joiners were worth her time when her order was placed in front of her.

"Here you go, miss. You sure you don't want any extras? We have sugar-free chocolate syrup this week" said the girl behind the counter.

Alessa groaned internally. What is this with these girls?

"I am sure," she scoffed, "and I will take one almond croissant as well." A perfect balance between sweet and bitter, she thought.

The girl looked like witnessing Alessa growing a second head.

"A croissant?" she asked, not believing the customer. She believed the woman who just grabbed her coffee must have been a model. Probably a well paid one since she was wearing a designer fitted white dress that went till the middle of her calves and everyone could see that amazing body and killer legs in a seemingly modest piece of clothing. A supermodel who didn't care about all the calories that could endanger her career? She found it hard to believe.

"A croissant–" Alessa repeated, barely stopping her eyes from rolling. Was the new barista slow or something? "With almond filling." Maybe her hearing was impaired so Alessa made sure to speak louder this time, pronouncing every word. She really needed her snack if she was going to face Elena today and show at least a hint of enthusiasm when the Guild leader showers her with never-ending optimism regarding new joiners. What's with it anyway? She hardly ever seen Elena without her smile and on those rare occasions the older woman still maintained calm demeanor almost as if she was sent from some Buddhist temple. Perhaps her assistants were spiking her coffee every morning.

Alessa's thoughts were interrupted by the croissant, now packaged and placed next to her coffee by the barista who was frowning at the brown paper bag, looking like solving some difficult riddle.

"Thank you." Alessa said to the girl, who just nodded still troubled by her own train of thoughts. She decided to ignore barista's odd behaviour and headed to the Guild. The café had convenient location within the walking distance from the association's headquarters so Alessa liked dropping by but she could swear every time they had some changes to the staff there were issues with her order.

Meanwhile the girl in the café was still processing what happened and how she could be so wrong about a customer. She used to work in L.A. and nobody with such a body would get something to jeopardize their limited calorie intake.

"Can you make two soy lattes for table four?"

"S-sure." she muttered but then turned rapidly to her manager, "Derek, did you see the woman that came here a minute ago and took her coffee with a croissant? The one in white dress?"

"Oh, it's your first time meeting Guild member, I see. It's good to memorize their usual orders and try not to stare too much. They tip well." he smiled and added, "The woman you just served is the Guild leader's advisor and will get either flat white on almond milk or chemex on Ethiopia blend. Usually with almond croissant or peanut butter brownie."

"But there are full of sugar!", she exclaimed, "Wait, so she's not a model?!"

"Yes and no. Get used to it, she is a regular and can make your life difficult if you don't do your job well."

"What do you mean by that? She isn't my boss."

Derek sighed and before he turned to greet another customer he said quietly to his new employee, "That's just the way the Guild is. Better be their friend than foe."

***

Alessa swiped her badge and entered the office on the highest floor. She smiled at the thought of finishing her coffee by the desk and chewing on her favourite croissant.

"Good morning, Ladies.", she waved seeing the girls at the reception, "Anything I missed?"

"Good morning, Alessa!", they replied almost in unison and the blonde one added, "Boss arrived super early today and said she wants to speak to you once you are settled, had your coffee and croissant."

"She also said that we should provide you with either if you come to the office without them but we see it's covered." mused the brunette smiling at her.

Groan escaped Alessa's mouth but she regained her composure and thanked her colleagues. This could only mean Elena was going to ask Alessa to do something she absolutely hated. She just didn't figure out yet what it might be.