1 CHAPTER 01 : THE BEGINNING

Charlotte's POV

The night breeze came by. It was a pleasant feeling if it's during the day. But having yourself, being cornered by four men in their suit with blood flecks all over them, making it worse. Shivers ran down my spine while I looked at them one by one.

"So, what is your decision?", the man that was standing in the middle asked with an angelic smile.

A man on his right was holding a gun, another one was on his left holding a laptop, and the other man was right beside me, having his knife on my neck.

On that night, my whole life changed...

•

—A few weeks before

"Have a nice day", I waved at the customer as he walked out.

I sighed and sat down while keeping my eyes on the counter. It was a tough day in the cafe, serving the customers that kept coming during rush hour. It was great to have many customers, but without other hands helping, it's really frustrating and tiring since I had to double my speed for making beverages, serving snacks, doing the dishes, and all.

"I should have hired employees, two or three will do", I mumbled, "No, one will do, I'm going to keep an eye on them and ended up serving here as well"

I did put a lot of consideration into something that has to do with money. I was raised in an orphanage. The head of the orphanage told me that my mother passed away when I was four, but my father's existence was unknown. I was sent there by a lady—she said that she's mother's acquaintance—but she refused to tell her name. Since then, I grew up with other orphans. Fortunately, the sponsor of the orphanage supported our education until high school.

To continue to college, we had to pay for it ourselves. I'm now in my second year of college. I'm taking night classes since I need to work during the day to pay my fees. Fortunately, I managed to open a cafe as a result of my saving and hard work after graduated school. I did invest almost all of my savings in this cafe. It's a great risk that I was taking but it worked, the profit not so much but enough for my daily and college needs.

But, surely, I need to double up my strength. Working alone in the cafe, focusing on my study, and living as an independent modern girl since I was no longer living in the orphanage. It was tough at first. Searching for a cheap but comfy place to live now is really difficult. Luckily, there's one near the campus with a low rental cost. Not a big one but comfy enough for a single person.

Then, I should be working to pay off my study and rent, it's impossible to just depend on my saving. Looking for jobs online and offline but I got none of them, just a few times interview session yet not accepted. Thus, I searched for a place to open a cafe. With fortune by my side, I found someone that wanted to rent the first floor of her building. It's in the middle of the city and just two blocks from my place. So, logically, it's close to my college as well. Seeing that it's a strategic place, I signed the contract with her. She was such a nice lady. She even suggested helping me decorate the cafe.

Soon after, the business went smoothly. Like what I had predicted, many college students came whether to hang out or study. Not only that, since it's in the middle of the city, many people came. The money that I got could pay off all my bills.

So why wouldn't I have anyone to work at the cafe?

Well, that's...

"Charlotte!", the voice echoed through the room as the doorbell rang at the same time, catching a few people's attention and gazing at the door.

"Look what I found"

The girl, Chloe—my best friend—came to me with 6 cartons of milk.

"Milk?"

"Yes! It's a 70% sale! Gosh, I love sales!", Chloe squealed as she put them on the counter, "You said that you ran out of milk and haven't had time to do the groceries. So, here!"

"It might expire soon", I mumbled as I picked up a carton of milk, "A week to go"

"What?", she exclaimed, "I should have checked it, either way, I wouldn't have bought 15 cartons"

"You what?"

"9 more are in the car", she pointed out.

This girl...

"Well, forget that, I bought you cheese tart and some bread, still warm!", a plastic full of bread and tarts was placed in front of me.

Okay, my beloved friend, you know me well.

She took the apron that was placed under the counter and wore it, standing by the cash register, "Go take a rest you workaholic, I'll be here for the next two hours"

Chloe helped me a lot here, when she needed money for her own life, she would work here part-time. In the end, she worked for me even when she's not broke. Plus, it's really great to have your bestie beside you.

"Aww, my baby, why do I need an employee when I have you", I nudged her.

"It should be a boyfriend", she said with a smug smile plastered on her face, "But seriously you need a boyfriend"

Hitting her lightly, I complained, "I don't have time for romance"

"You always say that, you should have your twenties filled with love"

"I'm just 22", I protested.

"And I've already had 19 exes.", Chloe shrugged while making coffee, "Should I make it 20?"

"I feel sorry for your current boyfriend", I said, being sarcastic.

"I still have to make it 20", I looked at her with an unbelievable look on my face, "He cheated on me, did that jerk think that I'm an innocent and dumb lamb?"

Okay...I was speechless.

"My experiences with 19 exes taught me well when someone's cheating behind me", she boasted. I mean how could she be extremely calm?

"You should end it immediately"

"I will if I catch him in action", she said while pouring the milk in her cup, "It wouldn't be fun if I haven't humiliated him"

"Are you okay?"

She stopped pouring. In other words, she froze with her gazes still fixed on the cup.

"Hey, Chloe", I touched her shoulder, then she looked at me.

"I poured too much milk", she pointed at her cup with full milk in it, after that she laughed, "I won't say that I'm not heartbroken but it's okay, he's not my first", she poured the milk into another cup until it's half-filled, "Though I said that I will humiliate him, I might not able to face him if one day I caught him with someone else"

I looked at her, feeling sorry, I hope she could get a nice person one day.

"Miss", someone called.

"Oh yes, welcome to Lottie's cafe, what would you like to order?"

•

—The next day

Boyfriend?

I've been thinking about it the whole night. It's not like I want to be unmarried until the day I die. It's just that I'm very occupied with lots of work and study. In order to become a young Flexer, I need to work hard right?

I mean, who doesn't want to be rich at a young age?

I sat by my counter and looked toward the entrance. It's not crowded now but soon it'll be lunchtime. I wonder why Chloe hasn't come yet.

Thinking of her, I felt sorry. How come she's so cool about her boyfriend's affair? But her boyfriend looks so innocent with his baby face. How dare he did that to my half!?

"Indeed, all men do is lie", I mumbled, feeling annoyed.

"But girls love lies"

I looked up to see a tall figure standing in front of me.