Chapter 3 – The Coffee Shop
1633 Words
April clutched her stomach the moment they stepped out of the office, her face tightening as another sharp cramp twisted through her. Naomi paused, her brows knitting softly. “Are you okay?”
April shook her head, biting down on her lower lip as her eyes watered. “It’s… it’s a runny stomach, ma. I don’t even understand why...” Her voice thinned out with discomfort.
“Oh…” Naomi softened, her tone turning motherly. “Were you in the restroom previously then, when you all were summoned?”
“Yes, ma’am.” April nodded quickly, one hand still pressed to her abdomen.
“Alright,” Naomi murmured, gently touching her elbow. “You should hurry then. I will explain to him and remind me to get some medication for you, okay?”
“Yeah, thanks ma'am.” She didn’t wait another second as she practically bolted down the hall.
Back in Adrian’s office, he narrowed his eyes when the team returned yet again without April. His jaw ticked once. “Incomplete again?” His voice was low, clipped.
Naomi stepped forward. “I’m sorry, sir. She had a runny stomach and rushed to the restroom.”
“Really?” Adrian’s brows lifted. He wasn’t sure if he should pity her… or assume she was deliberately avoiding him. His gaze drifted briefly toward the door, expression unreadable. For how long is she planning to do this? He cleared his throat. “It’s fine, no problem. It simply means none of you will resume today, then.”
“No way sir, that’s totally unfair!” Candy protested, taking a small step forward, her voice rising. “It’s not our fault she has a runny stomach.”
Adrian’s eyes snapped to her. “What’s your name?”
“Candy Clayton,” she said, chin lifting just slightly.
“Candy Clay…” He rolled the syllables on his tongue. “Is your dad a potter?”
She blinked. “No.”
“Mmh. You loved candies a lot when you were little?”
“No…” She looked confused now, glancing subtly at her colleagues.
“Okay, I get it. You played a lot with clay and made candies out of clay?”
Candy’s face twisted, bewildered. “No!”
“Then why is your name Candy Clay?”
“It’s Cassandra Clayton,” she corrected, her voice cracking.
A couple of restrained giggles escaped around the room and Candy's cheeks flushed crimson.
“What’s the difference?” Adrian asked plainly. “And why are you yelling at me?”
“I’m not...” She swallowed. “I’m not yelling. I’m just letting you know...”
“Oh, so now I’m lying?” His eyes bored into her.
“I…I’m sorry.” She lowered her gaze, shoulders shrinking. “I was only trying to explain that my name is actually Cassandra Clayton.”
“It’s over, Candy Clay. Forget it.” He waved a dismissive hand.
Naomi tried again, her tone respectful. “Sir… since they won’t be resuming today, can I just show them around?”
“No.” His answer was immediate, firm. “They will do nothing.”
“Sir, please,” Larry cut in, voice tense. “We shouldn’t suffer for one person’s fault.”
Before Adrian could respond, his phone beeped. He picked it up, glanced at it, and stood abruptly. “Gotta go.” He moved toward the door, then paused and looked at Naomi. “Fine. Show them around. But make sure the missing one goes home. Tomorrow she’s gonna face the real me.” His mouth curved into a sharp smirk. “We are not a joke.”
He left, and the room fell into uneasy silence.
“Wow! Is he letting me off for the rest of the day?!” April asked breathlessly when Naomi met her in the call room.
“Listen…” Naomi lowered her voice, her expression turning apologetic. “I would advise you not to get excited. It doesn’t mean anything good at all, I’m sorry.”
April's face fell as she watched her walk away. What does that even mean? Her stomach churned again, this time from anxiety. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she answered without checking. It was Ned, her childhood friend who always acted like a big brother.
“Hey,” she managed, rubbing her eyes.
“If it's not the best month of the year, then who else?!” he exclaimed dramatically. “What’s up, baby sis?”
“I’m…” Her voice wobbled. She tried to steady it but couldn’t. “I don’t know…” A sob broke out of her. Tears rushed forward before she could stop them.
“Whoa, hey, hey, are you okay?”
“No, I’m not,” she cried harder. “My day has been horrible, and… I’ve been sent home for incompetence. To resume tomorrow.” She sniffled helplessly.
“It’s okay, breathe,” he soothed. “You weren’t fired, right?”
“Not yet,” she muttered miserably. “I could be tomorrow. And you know how hard I worked to get an opening here.
“We?” he asked gently. “You and Jorge?”
“No, just me.” She sniffed again. “Jorge is fine.”
“You will be fine too,” Ned assured her. “You are freaking out over nothing. First day phobias.”
“Whatever you say.”
“You know what?” His tone brightened. “I’m getting off work now. Mrs. Hills… she is not looking strong today. Since you are free too, do you think you could help her out, just to keep your mind busy?” He paused. “She loves having you around, you know.”
April exhaled shakily. “Mmh… I think I love the idea.”
“Great! I’ll let her know.”
---
It was mid-afternoon when April arrived at the shop. The bell chimed softly, and Mrs. Hills looked up, beaming instantly.
“If it's not the best month of the year, then who else!” she sang, trying to mimic Ned's dramatic tone. She was mopping the shop slowly, her shoulders hunched with fatigue.
April managed a small smile and dropped her bag. “Ned told you, huh?”
“He did.” Mrs. Hills leaned briefly on the mop. “He said today was your first day. Seems it didn’t go as well as you hoped?”
April slumped into a chair, letting out a long, defeated breath. “I don’t know… everything just spiraled. Thanks to my stupid runny stomach.”
“Oh dear…” Mrs. Hills sighed sympathetically. “Then they will understand you were sick, won’t they?”
April shrugged, pushing herself back up. “I don’t care if they do or not. What I do care about is the fact that you are mopping this shop yourself when there are willing hands to help.” She gently tugged the mop away, but Mrs. Hills held on for a second.
“Let it be, April,” she murmured. “You should calm your nerves first. Have a drink. Some spring rolls. Harry would have done this, but I sent him on an errand.”
But April shook her head firmly and won the small tug-of-war.
Five minutes into cleaning, the bell jingled again. A cute, charming young man strolled in. His blondish hair caught the light like warm sand, and his grin was lazy. He didn’t place an order; they simply served him. Clearly a regular.
As he turned slightly, his eyes landed on April. She quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the mop, but not before their gazes met and her heartbeat paused for a second.
Moments later, he drifted to the table closest to her and leaned his elbows lightly on it.
“Hello, beautiful.” His voice was soft, almost melodic.
April froze for half a second. “Uhm… hi, cutie,” she stuttered shyly, eyes darting to his.
He laughed, warm and unbothered. “Hey, it’s Lu, please. My name is Lucas but they call me Lu. And you are…?”
“Cool,” she gave off a silly smile.
“Cool? I should call you that?” His brows flew up, amused.
“Not like I’d care,” she teased shyly. “I’m April actually.”
“Oh. April. That's beautiful.” He studied her. “You’re new here, right? First day?”
“Nope. Just filling in for a friend.”
“Oh, I see.” He glanced around, as if scanning for someone. “Can I guess the friend?”
“If you can.”
“It’s Ned, right?”
April was taken by pure surprise. “Yeah! How did you know?”
“One, he’s not here. Two, on the phone he usually goes, If it's not the best month of the year, then who else!’”
April giggled. Lu was the complete opposite of the psycho at the hospital, warm and charming.
“Your workplace is close, I guess?” she asked.
“Yeah.” He nodded. “I love taking breaks here, even if it’s ten minutes. It resets me.”
“It’s pretty cool,” she agreed.
He checked his phone and stood. “Okay, April. Really nice meeting you. I hope we bump into each other again sometime.”
“Same here,” she said softly.
She wondered why he hadn't ask for her contact though if he really hoped they meet again. She shrugged it off anyway. "Well, whatever. It doesn't matter."
Lu had barely stepped out when April's stomach dropped.
Standing at the entrance…was the psycho from the hospital.
Adrian Smith.
And he was staring straight at her.
With a scowl?
Now what?
- Writer
