Chapter 20

IF it was Jake's girlfriend who Lina saw in the mall with him, Bella had better say goodbye to her ultimate crush. What a tragic love story my best friend's best friend would have. I felt bad for her.

But, once again, we never found out who that girl Lina saw with Jake was. It could be his cousin, his sibling, or whoever it is. Bella is still hoping that it was Jake's girlfriend until we can confirm it.

The night shift went well; there were customers in the shop from time to time, so we didn't have to stay up late tonight for our responsibilities. It was already 10 p.m. when the customers began to leave one by one after finishing their cup of coffee. When someone entered the shop, I was leaning against the counter.

I didn't get a chance to look at the man's face because he was too busy roaming his eyes around to find a perfect spot, even though there weren't many customers by this time and there were plenty of vacant spots. But he seems to find a comfortable place to sit.

And, because I was assigned to take orders for tonight's shift, I take the mini notebook and my pen and place them inside the pocket of my apron. My gaze was fixed on the man's broad shoulders as I walked slowly towards him, who had finally found the perfect spot for him to sit. I couldn't see his face because he was sitting with his back to me. But based on the white polo he was wearing, I could tell he was a successful man and a very professional individual.

My head bowed slightly as I approached the man's table to retrieve my mini notebook and pen from the pocket of my apron.

"Sir, what is your order?" I inquired, ready to take the man's order. But when I lifted my head, I saw the man's face and recognized him.

At that realization, my eyes widened and my mouth gaped open.

It's a small world, isn't it?

“You?!” I exclaimed incredulously as I pointed the pen I was holding at the man, who was now staring at me, perplexed by my sudden reaction.

Our gazes locked while he maintained his perplexed expression. He raised an eyebrow when he realized what was causing my reaction.

“You?” He asked my question again, but I didn't respond.

"Are you all right, Audrey?" Lina called from behind the counter.

“Yes! Don't worry about me!” I yelled, not taking my gaze away from the very familiar man. I cast a glance at Lina, who was working behind the counter, and simply smiled before she returned to her work.

When I turned to face the familiar man, he was now expressionless. Is he that cold? Inside my head, I asked sarcastically.

"What exactly are you doing here, mister who-stole-my-chocolates?" I inquired, raising a brow at him as I snapped back to reality.

"May I have a cup of coffee?" He replied hesitantly.

I tickled my tongue at the side of my cheek to keep myself from exploding with rage because I had run into the person who had once ruined my day. I can still recall his expression, so he can't get away.

"I mean," I paused and sighed deeply. “Urgh! But never mind!”

"So... Is this where you work?" He inquired and even wandered his eyes around the place, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Oh, cut the drama," I remarked wryly. "We're not close enough for you to ask me personal questions," I mumbled, rolling my eyes.

His gaze is fixed on me, and I can't help but hear a sarcastic chuckle escape his lips.

As he crossed his masculine arms across his chest, he raised his brow.

“Oh? Is that a personal question?”

"Let's get right to the point here, mister whoever-you-are," I sniff. I don't care if I sound rude to him, but it was all his fault all along!

"What is your order?" I asked directly to the point so that I could leave.

If I were with him, I don't think I could stay any longer. If I stayed with him here any longer, I'm afraid I'd have no choice but to kill him for taking advantage of me the last time we met. What a jerk.

I could still recall the plot he hatched that day when he used me to his advantage! I could still remember the words slipping from his tongue like sweet candy just to fool the cashier into thinking we were a couple. Tss. What a scumbag.

Oh, no! What was the point of having people like this man?

"One hot cup of coffee," he replied, and I scribbled it down quickly in my mini notebook.

After that, I gave the man one last look before quickly leaving him at his table. This night shift was supposed to be easy, but it turned out to be quite the opposite.

To calm me, I exhale a deep sigh. I gave Lina that man's order, and she quickly made it while I sat and leaned against the counter. This night has already been ruined by seeing that man's face.

I thought the world was huge, but we ended up running into each other again. Gosh! Why are these unlucky occurrences befalling me? Is it possible that something I did wrong in my previous life caused all of this to happen to me?

When Lina finished that man's order, I begged Lina to just serve the man's order because I don't think I could still resist punching that man in the face. I couldn't bear looking at his goddamn face; whenever I saw it, all I could think about was what he did and how he used me the last time we met.

"It's your job, Audrey," Lina said when she refused to serve the man's order.

“Please? My stomach aches," I reasoned, hoping she would agree. I don't ever want to see that man's face again! I felt very unlucky whenever we met.

“Okay?" she inquired. "However, why?"

"I told you my stomach hurt, okay? Don't worry, he's handsome, your type," I said, winking at her, and she seemed pleased.

By the time the last words came out of my mouth, I was mentally shaking my head and wanting to vomit. Yuck!

Don't be fooled by a person's face; everyone has a skeleton in their closet. And by that man, I mean he enjoys taking advantage of others.

Lina agreed to serve that man's order, and I just stood at the counter waiting for her. Lina smiled sweetly and even tackled some strands of her hair to her left ear from where I stood. Lina, you're amazing! You're deafeningly deafeningly deafeningly deafeningly deafen.

Okay, he's attractive, but that doesn't change the fact that he's a jerk.

Oh, I despise him.

Lina couldn't help but smile when she returned to the counter where I was waiting for her.

"Wait, what happened to you?"

She didn't respond; instead, she grabbed both of my shoulders and shook me while screamed, making me dizzy.

"Could you please calm down a little bit?” When I recovered from what she did, I was irritated and turned to her.

“Girl! Did you two happen to know each other?" Lina inquired, oblivious to what a said.

"No," I simply replied, because it's true.

She looked at me as if she didn't believe what I was saying.

“Girl! He warned me not to assign you too much work! He even offered me a tip!”

Lina's words caused me to sneeze. That's one of the people who enjoys exploiting others for their ends. What my coworker said didn't bother me.

When I looked at the man who was now standing on his own. My gaze was locked on him, and he now looks at me coldly, as if he didn't use me for his gain before leaving the shop as if nothing had happened.