“Will that be all ma’am?” she asked the couple that came in not quite long.
“Yes please,” the lady said and cuddled closer to her lover.
“I’ll be right back with your order,” she nodded and then turned to give them their coffee and cheesecakes but she could swear that she saw the man wink at her when she turned. “Probably my eyes” she whispered to herself then gave the order to Camila who was behind the counter.
“Whimpy customer?” Camila asked when she collected the paper to start making the coffee.
Joan went to clean one of the tables that were just occupied by a customer to make more space for new customers to sit.
“Winked at me in front of his girl” Joan replied in disgust then went to the back to wash the rag and grab another one.
“Disgusting” Camila placed the coffee and cheesecakes on the tray for her to carry.
“I know, and I want to badly pour this scalding coffee over his head” Joan glanced at the man who was already looking at her while he ignored what his girl was saying.
“And make him bald” Camila took a peek at the guy “Sure, also putting salt in his coffee sounds like another good idea to me”
“What if she drinks it instead? And I can’t risk this job, the same applies to you” she pointed at her then carried the tray.
Just as she turned around, she collided with another person and all the content that was placed on the tray fell to the ground. She felt sad and embarrassed that she wasn’t that careful to look before doing this to a customer.
“Oh my GOD, I am so sorry, I didn’t know you were coming behind me, I’m so sorry,” she took out tissue wipes and started cleaning the man’s shirt.
“Oh yeah, clean up your mess like you don’t always do” the familiar voice spat and she stopped then looked up to meet the eyes of the man she never wants to see again.
Anger brewed in her and she glared at him “I told you already that I don’t want to see you ever again and you dare show your shameful face here?” she shook her head and bent to start cleaning the floor.
Henry held her by the arm to stop her and tightened his grip on her.
“It’s a coffee shop and I can be here if I want to” he grits and she manages to release his grip on her arm.
“Don’t ever touch me, you filthy man,” she rubbed her arm against her apron.
“What’s there to touch? You’re not even that pretty or perfect or working like you think you were” he mocks with a laugh. “Why do I need to touch you when I got myself that hotshot over there who knows how to keep her man happy” he points to the lady who was seated at the table by the door.
“You can’t blame your infidelity on me, you were the one who chose to go south and I’m not holding you back, get on with your satisfying woman and let me do my job,” she bent again but Camila came and told her to go back while she cleans it and deal with Henry.
“Don’t worry I got this” she assures her and continues cleaning. “Help serve those couples,” she points to the couple whose order was ruined by her ex.
“Already did, just go back, I’ll do this. I know this is hard for you” Camila insisted then took the mop and rag to continue from where she stopped.
Joan stood to leave but was stopped when Henry spoke again.
“Wow, you couldn’t take the stain off my shirt, bravo” he clapped “Why should I be surprised that you couldn’t get it off? You could barely hold up your dad’s company before it went bankrupt” Camila stood up in a flash and punched him right across the face.
“There are things I take and things I don’t and one of them is saying hurtful words to my best friend, you either take your phony little girlfriend out of here without a fight or I have to use you to mop this floor” she moved a step closer and smirked “I’d prefer the latter,” she said.
Henry held his jaws and flexed them to reveal the blood that came out from that punch he received, he spat on the floor and glared at her then turned around and left the café. His girlfriend was running after him.
Joan went to hug Camila from behind and cried on her shoulders.
“Thank you” she muttered after a while.
“You’ll be the one I’ll use to mop the floor if you tell me to thank you again” Camila warned playfully and they both laughed.
…
The day closed in pretty fast and before anyone knew it, it was evening which meant time to lock up and go home, Camila had to leave early to visit her mum at the hospital, Joan waited till there were no other customers before cleaning up, and locking the café properly then she headed home.
She stretched and kicked the air as she walked to the bus stop to wait for a bus to go home. She was too cramped to walk home and wanted so badly to sleep on her bed.
The day was pretty crazy with her crazy ex showing up and pushing it to her face how incompetent she was at keeping her relationship from failing and also at keeping her dad’s company from failing too, what he said hit a nerve and she couldn’t help but blame herself.
Camila told her countless times not to put the blame on herself because things happen and most times we can’t stop life from being life because one way or the other, no matter how good or hard-working you are, life will always kick you in the butt and make you feel bad about it.
She wants to believe Camila but she couldn’t help but blame herself for the failure of her dad’s company. If she had not been too busy with other engagements and actually focused mainly on the Kingswell project during its production, then she would have sensed if something was wrong.
“All should just stop” she sighed then lined up to get inside the bus that just came.
In no time, she was already at home and had already freshened up and made dinner. Her parents went for an evening walk so she was waiting on them and decided to sit in the living room to watch a movie or anything to keep her mind off things.
As she scrolled through channels, she passed one that was reading the news then took it back by two channels then increased the volume to hear what was been said.
“It’s also said by the now CEO of the Reliso’s company, Darken Reliso, that he plans to expand the business of his father which he just took over months ago, and that the company he bought from the ‘Crashing Bernad’s’ will be used for other businesses he had in mind in the near future,” The newscaster said and continued casting other news.
Joan felt offended with the term that was referred to her dad’s company, It didn’t crash, something just went wrong and she is keen on finding that, she just needs funds for it and resources to get along with it.
Her salary from the café can barely keep them going at three square meals, now that the landlord decided to lift up the price for the rent. It isn’t easy for any of them but they are trying their best.
Now that she knows of Darken’s intention to completely ruin everything for her family and use her dad’s company for one of his businesses, she knows that she needs to take action and stop whatever plans he has for their company.
“I need to buy back Dad’s company, no matter what it takes. I will not let that man keep pushing us in the mud over and over again or even let him empty Dad’s company for his personal use” she said to herself as she stood to pace the small living room.
‘Even if it takes you to marry that fine man whose hug you can still feel after over a week of seeing him?’ the voice in her head said and she stopped pacing then thought about how good of an idea it would be if she went ahead to marry him for the money and support he will give to making her dreams come true.
“Can I stand him?” she asked herself then shook her head and cleared her throat. “Loveth, listen, you can’t let anyone ride you or make you feel small. You are the daughter of Gary and Flora Anderson, the girl who looks forward to being the best and making her parents proud,” she stood straight, with her head held high, her eyes set like she was on a mission.
“I can do this, I can always ignore him when he starts his tantrums,” she said then walked to her room to grab her phone so that she could put a call through to him.
The phone rang three times and she got nervous and wanted to disconnect when she heard the voice of a deep male voice. With how the person spoke, it seemed like he just woke up from a really deep sleep.
“Hello?”
She wanted to say something but somehow the words were trapped in her throat and it made her throat dry. ‘What should I say to him?’ she asked herself.
“Who’s this?” the male voice asked, now sounding clear.
“Um… I am, this is Joan” she said after a while.
Nothing was heard from the other end of the line and she thought he must have disconnected the call, and then some shuffling was heard followed by rounds of coughing.
“Bless you…” she trailed.
“You called” his voice sounded relieved.
“Yes, I… um… I take your offer, I’ll be your pretend girlfriend” she said letting out a sigh.
“Okay, that’s great” he sounded excited then cleared his throat “That’s good, I’ll text you tomorrow so we can discuss this further,” she nodded then disconnected the call.
Sitting on her bed, she placed her phone beside her and closed her eyes for some minutes.
“GOD, I hope I made the right choice”