1 Chapter 1

“Mommy, mommy, wake up. It’s time to shake up, nanananaa nananananaaa.”

“Urge yes-yes, I am up.” Ella groaned and got up reluctantly.

“Stop jumping on the bed, berry; else you will hurt yourself,” she told her five-year-old daughter while rubbing her own sleepy eyes. She was way too sleep-deprived to match her daughter’s excitement this early morning.

“Okay-Doki, mommy.” She said cheerfully.

“How can someone be so perky like you this early in the morning?” She asked her, dumbfounded. But who is she kidding? Lilly has been an early riser

since she was a toddler, just like her father.

“Because I am an early morning riser.” Her little girl started jumping again on the bed.

“Ugh! No more jumping, Lillian.” Her mother told her firmly. This made Lilly stopped. Her mom calling by her full name is not a good sign.

“Come on, Lilly. Get ready now, and I will cook something for you,” Ella said while getting up from bed.

“Okay, Doki, mommy.” She ran out of the room to get herself dressed for school.

Ella would say that, for a five-year-old, Lily is definitely a smart girl. But sometimes, she can be a handful. Whatever it is, she is in her life, her oxygen.

For the past five years, she has been like her alarm clock. As mentioned, Lilly is an early riser. She is used to getting up at six every morning. Whereas

Ella is concerned, she can sleep till noon, but no such luck when you have a notorious little girl jumping on your bed at six am every morning.

So she finally got up, brushed her teeth, and made her way downstairs towards the kitchen. Ella thought about cooking pancakes for her little daughter.

Lilly loves pancakes. She is also a sucker for sweets, but what kid doesn’t like sweet food?

“Mommy, I am ready.” She ran downstairs towards the dining area and sat on the chair.

“And your pancakes are also ready.” Ella puts the plate in front of Lilly, filled with three pancakes with maple syrup on top.

“Yay, I plovv you mnomy,” she said with her mouthful.

“Love you too, Berry. But no talking while eating.” It’s beyond her imagination how this little girl in front of her can feed herself with three pancakes.

While she was digging into her pancakes, Ella took a hot shower and dressed herself for work.

“Hurry up, berry, or else we will be late for school.”

After twenty minutes, they both reached their destination.

“So here we are, Lily; Tinsley Grammy will pick you up. I’ll be a bit late today. Be a good girl, and don’t harass her.”

“I won’t, mommy. I will be a delightful girl,” she giggled.

“I am sure you will be. Have a good day.” Ella kissed both her cheeks.

“You too, mommy.” Lily pecked her mother’s cheek and ran into her school.

After dropping her off, Ella drives herself to work.

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“Dude, didn’t I tell you that we would get the best coffee here?” Daniel’s best friend, Timmy, told him.

“Sure, Tim. Whatever you say.” He rolled his eyes and went inside the café ‘The Brunch.’ He sure has heard about this cafe a lot. It has created quite a

goodwill.

After a few more sips and enjoying the ambiance, Tim asked his best friend.

“So, what do you think about this place?”

“Much better than I thought. It just has this unexplainable aura around it,” he said with complete honesty.

“Good thing we agreed to visit here. This deal with Mr. Thompson would be great for us,” he told him.

Dan thought for a while and answered, “Yes, Tim. If this place were expanded, it would do wonders. Great for our business and his too.”

He was not lying when he said that. This place is unique in its own way. It’s a cafe along with a spacious library on one side of the cafe. And on the other

side, there is a small sitting arrangement where people can sit calmly on the couch and do their work. And in the middle of the room, tables and chairs are

arranged for people to eat their snacks and enjoy the coffee. The colors of the walls are neither too bright nor too dull. It is the perfect balance of the

combination of colors. In the background, slow music was playing. It is pretty lively and yet peaceful.

Overall, this place is good. It gives a comfortable and pleasant feeling. But minor changes here and there and a bit of expansion to the place could

definitely do wonders.

“I hope that things work out with Mr. Thompson. This place is really something and would create a good amount of profit with some changes,” he told

Tim about his thoughts.

“Yes, hopefully. I will call and inform him about our arrival. Anyway, we have a meeting with him tomorrow, so we have got enough time.” Tim

answered happily.

They both drank their coffee peacefully. Few customers were coming in and going out. Even at nine o’clock in the morning, this place is pretty full.

Suddenly, his train of thoughts was disturbed by the ringing of a bell. Dan glanced towards the door of the cafe. He saw an average height woman rushing inside the cafe. He was not able to see her face, as there were people around her.

She pushed past the crowd and ran towards the counter in haste. He guessed she was late for her work. His eyes were following her around like a magnet.

She seemed familiar to him, but he didn’t want to let thoughts go there. Just when he was about to get a glimpse of her face, Tim butted in.

“Dude, we should get going, or else we will be late.”

He reluctantly got up and left. Dan really wished to see her face. Maybe he will if the owner of this place agrees to their deal, which he has to anyhow.