Chapter 1

Somewhere in the middle of New York City an old cafe which tends to be in business for a couple of generations alerted its occupants of a new guest.

Ding!

The door opened smoothly revealing a woman. She was dressed in a black sweat pants and matching long sleeved shirt to go with. Her short blonde hair reached her shoulders and swayed with her movement giving room to her emerald green eyes to take in the view of the cafe, her work place.

"Vanessa!"

The woman cringed at the high pitch voice unaware of the body running towards her at lightning speed. Before she could turn around completely to look at the person she felt her body take a ninety-nine degree turn and hit the hard fall. Closing her eyes she groaned at the impact of her back hitting the ground and the weight crushing her. 

"Argh... "

Violetta moaned in pain and felt light headed. The body on top of her seemed to have realised what had happened and quickly got up in a flash. Violetta felt relieved and sighed. She wasn't expecting this surprise welcome, at all.

"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry V. I didn't mean to send you falling to the ground."

Violetta craned her neck to look at her co-worker, Jennifer Williams, whose face was red like a tomato with fast tears cascading down her cheeks. What a sight.

"Stop crying Jenny, you didn't hurt me." Violetta tried to give some sought of assurance that she wasn't hurt to get this big baby to stop crying.

But Jennifer wasn't buying her lie as she continued to sob loudly attracting the other workers who seemed to have noticed the situation and rushed over quickly.

"Oh my gosh! What happened?"

Samantha, the manager, asked as she took in the situation.

"First, help me up." Violetta stretched forth her hand and was hoisted up to her feet. She leaned on the counter for support and rubbed her back slowly. Luckily it wasn't something serious.

"What happened?" Samantha asked again.

"I happened to have slipped when Jenny hugged me and that's how I ended up on the floor." Violetta explained

"Are you okay dear? Do you need a doctor?"

"I'm fine. You can go back to work." Violetta gave a small smile and shooed everyone away.

Jennifer on the other hand was still a crying mess. No one seemed to notice her or they just decided to ignore her as they went about their daily activities.

Violetta sighed and walked towards Jennifer before enveloping her in a hug and rubbing her back. She knew her technique was working as she felt the crying baby began to quiet down except for some few sniffles and hiccups.

"I'm sorry V."

Violetta heard the tiny voice from the crying baby and released her. Her expression was stoic and a little pained from falling on the floor. She patted Jennifer's head and said "Next time when you want to give me a surprise welcome, do it slowly so that I don't break my spine."

Her statement seemed to have lightened the mood as Jennifer giggled and then pouted "Why are you late?"

Violetta stared at the clock above Jennifer's head and saw that it was 9:30am. She returned her gaze to Jennifer and said "I went to visit a friend who was sick."

"Oh, and how is your friend?"

Violetta saw how Jennifer's eyes widened with worry at the mention of her supposed sick friend. She thought of something to cover up the lie and said with her famous expressionless face "He is fine. Almost healed."

Looking at Jennifer who heaved a sigh of relief she too also heaved a sigh of relief internally. If it was up to Jennifer they would have been on their way to visit the supposed friend with a big basket of fruit and a teddy bear with the words "Get Well" on it. Violetta shivered at the mental image and tossed it aside. 

"Can I get changed now Miss Williams or do we still have some other things to discuss in front of the door? "

Jennifer face flushed with embarrassment as she thought of what happened a while ago and shook her head before skipping away.

Five minutes later Violetta emerged from the staff room with a pink apron with white polka dots on it, with the words "My Sweet V" stitched on it. Anytime she takes the apron out of her locker she shakes her head and wondered how Jennifer managed to get a hold of her apron. Struggling to tie her apron on her back she frowned and let out series of curses. Though she was a grown up and faced with a lot of responsibilities, she was able to do things smoothly and quickly but there was one thing she couldn't do for the past years of her life...She couldn't tie a knot. Being laughed at for this reason she didn't seem bothered at the fact that she was awful at tieing knots.

Suddenly she felt warm hands take the two ends of the apron from her hand and made a tight knot behind her back.

"This is becoming serious."

Having worked here for a month she was familiar with that voice. The one that almost broke her spine some minutes ago.

"I don't think so. You're making it seem like it's a life or death situation."

Jennifer turned Violetta around and placed her hands on her friend's shoulder. "I think we need to restart the lesson. What am I even saying? V, you're the worst and hopeless student I have ever taught." Jennifer sounded like a fed up teacher who gave up on her unteachable student.

"I am happy you know that." Violetta answered with a blank look. She agreed to Jennifer's statement and didn't feel disappointed. It wasn't like she didn't try to put what was being taught into practice but it was impossible. Jennifer's "How to tie a knot 101" course was an absolute failure. Violetta wondered why this cry baby made it her life mission to teach her how to tie a knot. It was like the world was going g to end if she doesn't.

"Come on V, at least try for me. " Jennifer pouted with her famous puppy dog eyes that always worked on Violetta but this time it didn't affect the woman in front of her, instead what she heard made her sigh

"Even if it was for my ancestors and descendants it is still impossible."