ILLICIT PASTRIES

A Pleasant Work Day

Luca

All The Stars by Kendrick Lamar and SZA blasts through my phone’s speaker and wakes me up with a slight jolt. I look at the small clock that hangs on the wall and realize I must've snoozed my alarm at least twice because it’s already 7:15 and if I don’t get up quickly I'll be late to open up shop and Saturdays are always so busy. I stretch like a lazy cat and brush my hand through my messy hair. I have a quick shower, brush my teeth and I'm out of the door, handing my keys over to Martin, my live-in guard.

“Please tell Miss Aria not to come in on Monday, I'll be cleaning the place myself,” I say to Martin who only gives me a curt nod and wishes me a good day. My driver greets me with a tip of his hat and I give him a small smile in return as he closes the door for me. It takes him ten minutes to get to the shop from my apartment without traffic and I say thanks as I exit the car and trudge over to the shop.

“Hey, Maria, how are you?” I greet the older lady who works for me with a smile. “Luca, darling, good morning” she beams back at me. The shop smells of fresh bread and spices already, welcoming and relaxing in its sweetness.

I head over to the back and get my blue apron which has Pasticcini Di Piacere written across the front. I take a band and wrap my hair in a low bun, wash my hands, and get to work. I have a feeling today is going to be a busy day.

Just as I expected, we had a very busy morning. My bakery is small but it’s well-known for our Ciriola and Biscotti, and now word has spread about the new cookies we’ll be adding to our menu and business has been booming. Once it’s two o'clock I wash my hands, hang my apron back on the rack, and say my goodbyes to Maria and the other staff. Like always, Antonio is already waiting with the door open and a tip of his hat in greeting. “How was work this morning, Sir?” he asks in a friendly manner. “I’ve told you to stop calling me that and work was good. The new additions are gaining a lot of attention” I reply with a soft nod.

He drops me off at Inchiostri Euforici and he's off to run a few errands for me. The parlor is neat as always with a few customers waiting for their turn and my staff greets me with quick words and easy smiles. I head over to my office to go over a few emails about an art exhibit that's coming up in a few months and I get ready for my clients. It's a busy afternoon with a few demanding clients who don’t know what to get but want a tattoo nonetheless. As an artist, I don’t have any ink on my person but if I were ever to get any I would want it to be something that holds special meaning behind it. I have a long line of six clients to get through and by the time I'm done with the last person, it’s a few minutes to eight. I wash up and get my things, say goodnight to my staff and I head out to meet Antonio who updates me on what I sent him out to do. We head over to a small diner owned by a friend of mine who I rarely get to meet with due to both our schedules being busy.

“Hello, Lucia,” I say in greeting. “It’s been ages since I last saw you,” she replies with a dramatic sigh and a hand on her chest. “You don’t come to see your baby anymore, what if I die one day and you won’t find out until a year after my body is rotten and my bones are white because you're always busy and never have time to stop by? Nobody is going to mourn me that way” She sighs like the possibility of something so ridiculous happening is high. “That is not going to happen and you know it so quit whining and come sit let's catch up, Antonio, please fetch the cookies I brought for her” She squeals like a child and grabs my hand in a death grip.

“Please tell me it’s the new ones I've been hearing about” She's on the edge of her seat now, bouncing with anticipation and excitement and I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. She’s always had it bad for cookies. “Yes, they are. Now calm down and please get me some food, I’m famished” She scurries up as if she’s just remembering and darts into the kitchen herself, she’s never let anyone serve me before and I see it’s something that still hasn’t changed.

She brings out a lot of food and I know we’re both going to be eating but I don’t think we’ll finish half of it even if Antonio is to join us. As predicted we only ate a little of what was brought out and she packed the rest up for me insisting I take it home even though she knows I can very well cook for myself. I hand over the cookies and she walks me to my car, laughing as we go. She gives me a tight hug and makes me promise to come see her sooner before sending me off with a peck on the lips. I watch her go back inside but then I feel something is wrong. I get the feeling of being watched and I scan my surroundings but nothing unusual stands out to me so I brush it off and get in the car, humming a low tune as we peel away from the lot and head home