Road to the CEO's heart

Chapter Four

Without looking away he marches straight to me as I struggle to control the tremors of my hands.

“You’re Jess Diaz?”. His deep voice vibrates in my chest, his tone making the sentence sound more like a statement than a question.

My eyes widen, the question of how he knew my name pops in my mind, fear coursing through my body, but upon remembering that we have name tags on our aprons I deflate, a light pink dusting my cheeks, thanking my stars that I hadn't asked.

I nod in affirmation, knowing deep down that if I tried to speak it would come out in a squeak.

He scans the area I stood, his eyes lingering on my sketch pad on the stool behind me before meeting my eyes.

“I’ll take black coffee”. He spins to his heels and makes his way to a secluded table by the right side of the café, pulling his device out of his pocket and typing away.

My brows instantly scrunch, he had asked for my name without giving a reason, that's strange, and even weirder I couldn't shake away the fact that I had seen him before.

I snap back to reality, quickly scribbling his order on my note pad, tearing it up, sliding it through the little window behind me and gently taping the little bell beside it.

In seconds, I hear a little ring and the cup of steaming hot plain coffee behind me.

I hadn't thought of this part, I had to serve the man.

Carefully I retrieved the cup, and cautiously made my way to his seat, thankfully he didn't glance up from his phone when I approached, so I quickly dropped the cup and turned to leave.

“I need sugar”.

I stopped in my tracks, releasing a defeated sigh, without looking back I nod and continue walking away, grabbing a few packets of sugar and distributing them to the little baskets on the tables as I walk by.

Finally getting back to his table, he looks up at me and stretches out his hand, the face mask still on his face, restricting me from fully capturing his expression.

I stood there for a while, stupified, like his eyes put me under a spell, all I did was stare blankly at him.

“Aren't you meant to give me something?”.

My whole face flushes red.

Still in my hands were the sugar packets, I had stood there and stared at him like a creep for God knows how long. I felt like disappearing.

“Oh, sorry sorry”. I literally throw them in the basket, and step backwards. I noticed a glint in his eyes, amusement or irritation, I couldn't really tell, I quickly walked off so as to avoid embarrassing myself even more.

As I get behind the counter I push the sketch pad away, collapsing on my seat, with the back of my hands I clean the droplets of sweat from my forehead and retrieve a barely cold bottled water I had brought from home, halving its contents.

My heartbeat evens out as I fully relax, with my glitchy phone in hand, I make myself busy, scrolling from video to video, the motivation to draw dissipated. Four videos later I tear my concentration away from the device, stretching my arms and neck.

Out of sheer curiosity I peer above the counter to see the man still on his phone, typing away, the coffee mug and sugar untouched

I look around, seeing a few empty tables with dirty dishes decorating them. I hop off my stool, going table to table to gather up the utensils, cleaning the surfaces with a rag afterwards.

I am on my last table when I catch a figure at the door.

The cup and saucer I had scooped up from the table falls from my hands to the hard wood floor as time stands still. I stood rooted in place with wide eyes fixated at the entrance as I felt a strong gaze on me.

Forcefully I tear my gaze away, thanking my stars that the floor was wooden preventing the dishes from shattering, I quickly pick them up and sprint behind the counter, a lousy attempt to hide.

I knew doing this was pointless but my body just reacted before I could think. So I stayed there, squatting down, hiding, waiting for the inevitable.

“I want to order Jess”.

Of course that's why he is here, how could I think he came back for me?, silly me.

I slowly get on my feet, putting on the most professional facade I could muster. Picking up my note and pen from the counter.

“What would you like to get today sir?”. My eyes fixed on my note, not finding it in me to look at the man that broke my heart.

“It’s not very nice to look away from your customer Jess”.

Something I had loved, hearing my name roll off his tongue, now brought back memories, bad memories I wanted to lock away in the basement of my brain.

“What would you like to get today sir?”. I repeat in a robotic tone

He releases a light sigh. “What do you suggest?, it's my first time”.

We both knew that was a lie but I knew bringing it up would just end up with me bawling my eyes out and I promised myself I wouldn't let him be the reason for my tears again.

“The iced tea”.

“I don't take iced tea babe”.

Goosebumps break through my skin at the high pitched voice that rings in my ears, the word ‘babe’ echoing in my mind. I slowly raise my head up and immediately see the source in my line of vision.

She looked more comfortable, arms locked with him, a huge contrast to the night I caught them together. Her hands stroked his ever so slightly.

“Can you please be quick?, you're holding up the line”. An old man bellowed from behind them, though he couldn't hear it. I whispered a ‘thank you’, relieved that I didn't have to say a word.

She rolls her eyes so far back I thought they'd fall off while Alex just flat out ignored him.

“A latte for her and milk coffee with extra foam for me”.

I scribble it down and with a hand gesture direct them to go to their seat. Immediately they leave. I breathe out heavily, air puffing out as my chest rises and falls.

The old man who was now in front gave me a worried look, I forced a smile to ease his mind before he proceeded to make his order too.

With all the will power I could muster I tried to ignore Alex and the lady, but their loud laugh erupting through the room at intervals made it difficult to ignore.

Some customers began to stare at them too, also being disturbed by their cackling, even the bomber jacket man threw a few glances at them.

But they continued, their voices loud as ever, seemingly unbothered by the attention they were getting, albeit negative.

Though struggling, I still try to pay no mind to them, refusing to allow their blatant display of affection get to me.

The little jabs I felt in my chest whenever they made a sound proved that my efforts were futile but I didn't show it, masking it by once again, drawing away.

When they finally exited the building the air around me felt fresher, the suffocating feeling dissipated, the heaviness in my chest gone in an instant.

I felt proud of myself for not breaking, for not giving them the satisfaction of seeing me cry, I kept to my promise.

Though I still felt that longing, my heart still skipped when I thought of the times we had together. I still managed the emotions fairly well and for that I gave myself an imaginary pat on the back.

The day continued to move slowly, a few more customers strolling in and out the cafe and soon closing time rolled around.

And the bomber jacket man is still sitting on his seat, unmoved.

By this time it was just me and him as I was left behind to clean up and close up as part of my punishment.

Taking a deep breath and tucking a bread knife in my back pocket I approach the man.

“Sir, we're closed”.

Slowly he looks up, eyes meeting mine. “I know”.

I take a few steps back as he stands on his feet, this being the closest we have been together all day.

I was close enough to notice his jet black hair peaking out from under the baseball cap, his intense light grey eyes and his full eyebrows.

He dips his hands into his pocket and brings out a little card.

“See you at this address Monday evening, don't be late”. With that he takes his leave, his boots making a loud thumping sound as he walks away.

I stay rooted on the spot, my heart rate, elevated. His deep voice repeats in my head, his grey siren orbs etched to my memory as I find myself in a trance.

Rigorously shaking my head I snap myself out of it, resuming my cleaning as I find myself thinking about him, curiously thinking about his identity and why he choose me.

Soon I finish up and make my way home, joining Daisy who was already fast asleep on the bed, making a mental note to have a conversation with her tomorrow.

Then he pops up in my mind again, our whole encounter replaying in my head like a movie, smiling at how scared I was when he said my name, of course it's…..

I shoot up from the bed, my heart rate elevated as I begin to really think about the moment with the man.

“My name tag was pinned to my apron”. I say in a whisper, getting off the bed as I begin pacing in the dark room, my heart beating through my rib cage.

“I didn't get the chance to wear it… the manager called me to his office so I didn't…”. My eyes dart everywhere as the pieces begin to fall in place.

“No

apron means no name tag”. I stop abruptly in the middle of the room, Irises blown wide in realization.

“So ho… how did he know my name?”.