CHAPTER 1
1358 Words
“CRINGGG!”
The sharp ring of the telephone jolted me from my sleep.
“Who could that be?” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes, still half-asleep.
“CRINGGG!”
“Give me a sec!” I called out, forcing myself to wake up. I wiped my face with my hand and stumbled toward the phone.
“Yes?” I answered groggily.
“Perv, bro!” Ah, it was just Rex.
“What is it?”
“You need to be at the shop early today. The General Manager is dropping by. Sophia said everyone has to be in ahead of schedule,” he informed me.
“Got it, I’ll be there early,” I replied before hanging up.
I stretched and made my way to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face before relieving myself. My gaze dropped down. Damn. Still sensitive from last night.
My shift didn’t start until eight, and it was only six. Might as well have breakfast outside and go for a jog at the park. Jogging first, then breakfast. That was the plan.
I tucked away the spare cash I earned last night in my condo’s secret vault, then changed into my jogging attire—sleeveless shirt and jersey shorts. Grabbing my MP3 player and earphones, I headed out.
Once outside, I finally pressed play on my music list.
—
My condo was conveniently close to Luneta Park, my usual spot for morning runs and stretching.
As I jogged, I couldn’t help but notice the stares I was getting—teenagers, older women, even a few grandmothers. Was I really that attractive? Or was I just imagining things? Geez. I may date older women, but I draw the line somewhere.
Ignoring the attention, I focused on my pace, the rhythmic pounding of my feet matching the beat of my music. Beads of sweat formed on my skin, glistening under the early morning sun.
Spotting a nearby restaurant, I decided to take a break. I wiped the sweat off my forehead with a towel before stepping inside.
“Good morning, sir! Please come in,” the usher greeted me enthusiastically.
Wait—was he… blushing? His eyes twinkled as he looked at me. Okay, that’s a little weird.
Before I could move further, he suddenly stopped me. “Excuse me, sir, but would you mind if I ask for your number?”
Tsk. Seriously? What did he take me for? Some kind of gigolo for hire?
“No,” I replied flatly, brushing past him and settling into a corner seat.
A waitress soon approached, smiling brightly. “What would you like to order, sir?”
I pointed at an item on the menu.
“Which one exactly?” she asked, leaning in a little too close, her ample curves now at eye level. She had seen what I pointed at—this was just an excuse. A show.
I sighed internally. Sorry, miss, but I’m not here to pay for a night with you. People pay me, not the other way around.
I pointed again, though I did take the briefest glance at her tempting display. No harm in appreciating the view.
“Nice,” I remarked with a smirk.
She giggled. “Thanks.” With that, she walked away, her hips swaying just enough to suggest an invitation.
I simply shook my head, amused.
Reaching for my phone, I realized I had left it at home. s**t. So much for running errands after this. I needed to head back right away.
My meal arrived, and I ate quickly. When I finished, I called the waitress over and handed her the payment.
Leaning in slightly, I whispered, “Keep the change, honey.”
I chuckled at the way her breath hitched before I turned and left, hailing a taxi back to my condo.
—
The moment I stepped into my room, I searched for my phone. Finding it, I quickly unlocked the screen. No missed calls—good. But three unread messages, all from unknown numbers.
The first message:
Hi. I’m the one who asked for your number at Manila Hotel.
That was it. Short and simple.
The second message:
I’ve heard a lot about you. I’d like to hire you. How much?
And the third:
I’ll wait for your call.
I checked the timestamps. The messages were sent last night. Wasting no time, I dialed the number.
Calling…
I glanced at my wall clock—6:50 AM. The line rang a few times before the call connected.
“Hello, good morning. I thought you weren’t going to call,” came the smooth voice on the other end.
“Morning. About your message—when do you want this to happen?” I asked, getting straight to business.
“Are you free tonight?”
“I am if that’s when you want it.” Disappointing clients wasn’t my style. I catered to their desires on their terms.
“Alright. Your place or mine?”
“My place.”
“Okay, send me the address.”
I texted it over immediately. “You can come around nine.”
“Got it. See you tonight.”
The call ended.
Shit. It was already seven.
Rushing to the bathroom, I took a quick but thorough shower, emerging fresh in just fifteen minutes. There was no need to scrub too hard—I kept myself impeccably clean.
Dressing swiftly, I grabbed a taxi to Moonlit Coffee Shop.
—
The moment I arrived, Rex greeted me. “Hey, man, you made it. Hurry up and change, the General Manager’s almost here.”
“Got it,” I replied, heading straight to the locker room to put on my uniform.
Once I was in line with the rest of the staff, I found Rex again.
“Bro,” I nudged him.
“Yo, stand here,” he said, pulling me beside him.
“So, did you know the General Manager has a daughter?” he started, a sly grin on his face.
“No,” I answered, adjusting my apron.
“Dude, she’s not just hot—she’s successful. A legit model for Playboy in the US. And get this—when the General Manager flies to Australia to manage the company there, his daughter’s taking over all the coffee shops. And she’s going to be based in our branch.”
I raised an eyebrow. “When’s he leaving?”
“Not for a while. He’s waiting for Manager Perla to retire first.”
Ah, Manager Perla—the old maid. She had been running this place for years.
“She once said she wouldn’t leave unless something ‘good’ happened to her here,” Rex added.
“What does that even mean?” I asked, tying my apron properly.
“No clue. Maybe she’s hoping for a bigger retirement package,” he joked.
—
Before we could continue, the General Manager arrived. Despite being sixty-five, he looked nowhere near his age—wealth certainly had its perks.
We all straightened up, offering a respectful bow as he stepped onto the podium.
“Good morning, everyone,” he greeted.
“Good morning, sir,” we chorused in response.
“I’ll speak in Tagalog so everyone understands,” he continued. “Starting today, we’re implementing strict punctuality and loyalty checks. If any staff member clocks out before their shift ends, they will be dismissed. Understood?”
We nodded.
“You are paid well and receive numerous incentives. I do not want to regret hiring any of you. From now on, value your work. No more AWOLs.”
His speech dragged on, but finally, after an hour and a half, it ended.
Rex sighed. “Man, did you hear that?”
“Yeah.”
“No more sneaking out early for you.”
I groaned. “Damn that old man.”
Rex smirked. “So… how was your night?”
As we wiped tables, I filled him in.
Mid-laugh, we froze.
Manager Perla stood nearby, arms crossed. “Realonda, come with me,” she ordered, turning toward her office.
I tossed the rag aside and followed her upstairs.
- Writer
