Chapter X: The Lily's Dragon

"B-O-R-I-N-G" Dorotea complained with her head laying on top of the front counter. Time seemed to have moved slowly in her mind as the clock on the wall took an eternity to move its hands.

"Has time stopped because of my beauty?"

"... That clock is broken." Dante deadpanned at his mauve-haired co-worker and heaved a heavy sigh before continuing with his job of sweeping the floor.

The day has been slow inside the Vele Bianche cafe with the scorching sun making their potential clients too lazy to get out of bed and those out and about prefer the colder environment of the nearby mall.

"Been a while since I last heard you complain about something." Arturo pointed out as he placed the napkin, he used to wipe tables within the back pockets of his pants.

"Well... Sylvia was here most of the time..." Dorotea mumbled as she looked up. "We usually talk about trending clothes and music."

"You can do it with me!"

"Can it blondie."

"Oh? You wish to have someone to talk to?" Delta stretched out from behind Dorotea's back and tapped her shoulders. "I can talk with you, if you like."

"Uh... I can't possibly take time off your schedule Delta."

"Nonsense! We can talk about all sort of things."

Salvatore couldn't help but smirk at the sight of Delta harassing the flabbergasted Dorotea who was too scared to downright reject her. His eyes then went back to the broken clock on the wall and heaved a sigh.

"We actually need to get that fixed today."

"Can't that wait until tomorrow?" Arturo yawned. "I'm kinda sleepy with how slow business today is."

"I agree with Arturo, I am also busy staring at Dorotea's boobs, I mean smile."

"Of course, it needs to be today." a baritone voice echoed inside the empty cafe and everyone's eyes turned towards the newcomer with light brown hair and carnation-pink eyes.

"Oh, hey Filippo"

"Flavio, I see that you're still stuck on simping for Dorotea's boobs."

"Of course, I am!"

"You two are idiots." Dorotea deadpanned as she already gave up and was being placed under the hell of being a test subject for Delta's massages.

"... You guys are too calm about this." Filippo muttered in dissatisfaction and sighed helplessly while leaning against the counter.

"About what?" Dante asked.

"Hmm?" Filippo squinted his eyes at him before turning towards to Delta. "You didn't tell them?"

"Nope," Delta answered. "I was busy bonding with Dorotea."

Salvatore and Dante immediately broke into cold sweat as Marco, Flavio, and Arturo gazed towards Delta with confused stares. Only Dorotea looked like she was having problem between choosing to either be impressed or scared.

"... What news?"

"Why, the boss is coming for a visit!"

The sound of glass shattering echoed inside Sylvia's bedroom as she began to curse at herself while frantically running around.

"Oh man, oh man! I'm late!" She complained to no one and struggled to braid her hair in the usual pigtails that she wears them.

Shards of glass scattered about the wooden floor of her bedroom making her even more frustrated and resorted to using her feet to carefully pick them up.

After making sure that she looked fairly acceptable and cleaned out the remaining shards of glass that she couldn't pick up with her feet, she dashed right out of the apartment building that the cafe had moved her in.

The city was bustling despite the scorching heat that made Sylvia curse as she began to sweat which ruined some of her foundation that she hastily placed.

"Excuse me." she sheepishly smiled as she waved through the crowded areas of the city. The apartment complex was a fair amount of distance away from the care, giving the employees a much necessary exercise just to start the day.

"I hope the cafe isn't having a bad time because of m—oof!" her words got caught short as a tall man with short, chestnut hair suddenly walked out of his car.

"Mhmm?" he raised an eyebrow towards Sylvia who staggered a few steps back to regain her bearings before looking up at the man.

"S-Sorry si—"

"You should be more careful."

His voice was cold and sharp, like a blade made of ice, cutting deep in Sylvia's patience making her scowl.

"I understand."

"I thought it was common etiquette to look where they were walking." the man ignored her words and continued to attack her much to Sylvia's annoyance.

"S-Sorry..."

"I expected more with a woman such as yourself." he heaved a heavy sigh and closed his eyes, lighting a cigarette as he did.

"I already said I'm sorry!" Sylvia snapped which caught the man in surprise. "Just because you own a car or you're probably rich, doesn't mean you can just look down on me!"

She angrily huffed and walked the confused man that stared at her retreating figure before heaving a sigh that turned into a frown.

"That girl..."

It didn't take long for Sylvia to arrive inside the cafe's main building. She took on a smile and placed her annoyance at the very back of her head before entering through the doors.

"Hey guys!"

"Sylvia! Come quick!" Dorotea rushed and pulled her towards the back of the front counter. Sylvia could only stare at her in confusion before gazing at everyone inside the cafe.

Salvatore and Dante were visibly stressed as they tried their best to clean every nook and cranny of the cafe without any intent to leave behind the tiniest specs of dust. Marco was crouched behind the counter, hugging his knees in fear as Flavio and Arturo was on their knees praying at the corner.

"Uhh... What's happening?"

Delta's giggles echoed inside the room, making everyone freeze and slowly turn towards Delta whose smile immediately became serene and calm.

"The boss is here!" she happily announced and slowly walked towards the front door that slowly opened.

"The boss!?" Sylvia exclaimed nervously and craned her neck towards the front door before freezing on the spot.

"WELCOME TO CAFE VELE BIANCHE BOSS!" everyone apart from Delta and Sylvia shouted at the top of their lungs as a man with short brown-hair and sanguine colored eyes walked through the door, with a cigarette between his fingertips.