Don't Even Know His Name

In all fairness to Jade, the man only ever paid in cash, and just as she could not ask about his family, it was too late to ask for his name.

…

Across the street, watching Jade leave, a black sedan was parked.

"Ok, we can go now."

"Yes, CEO," the driver replied. He did not seem to think the CEO's orders were strange; after all, they did do the same thing every night, albeit they were slightly later that night.

The young man wound up the window and leaned back into the soft, leather seat. As the day's stress seeped out of his body, a smile crept onto his face.

'What a wonderful woman. Despite everything, she still made something over herself, never giving up. Whereas I was handed everything on a gold platter. We're from two different worlds.

'Yet, even though I've seen supermodels and world class businesswomen, she's the only one who interests me. Her charm, her aura, her smile… she is truly one of a kind.

'Alas, it's a shame that it can never be.'

As the young CEO lamented the cruelty of fate, rain began to fall.

Pita pita pita.

The rhythmic falling of the raindrops on the windscreen added a certain melancholy to the atmosphere in the car, and the young man's mood dropped even further.

…

"Phew, got here just in time!"

At 11:00 AM the next day, Jade barged in through the back entrance to the cafe.

"Sorry I'm so late today. I had trouble getting out of bed…"

"Ha ha. We've all been there, kid," Bernie consoled with a chuckle. "You're not late, anyhow, just not early like usual. You've got to give yourself a break every once in a while."

Jade smiled at his kind words. "Thank you. I'll just…"

However, it seemed Bernie had not yet finished. "Besides, it seems like you'll be busier from now on."

"Huh?"

Before Bernie could explain, Harriet rushed into the kitchen. "Jade, I'm glad you're here."

"What's wrong? Has the lunchtime rush already started?"

"No, it's quite quiet for the moment. I have something to talk to you about."

"Oh? Talk away then," said Jade with a reassuring smile. Harriet had finished her degree that summer, and she had been working at the cafe throughout her degree. Thus, Jade had been expecting her to announce that she would be leaving for a new job, but she had not expected it to happen so soon.

"Firstly, you've been truly kind to me, even when your own situation was not great, so I wanted to thank you. That's also why I wanted to give you as much notice as possible."

"Really, you don't have to worry about that…"

"I'll be leaving the cafe soon because… I'm pregnant."

"Come again?"

"Alan and I are going to have a baby, so I'll be moving back to his hometown soon. We need to get married before the bump shows, otherwise there'll be a scandal in that small town."

In a daze, Jade failed to respond. Harriet abruptly leaving was not too surprising, but for such a reason!