Coffee shop trial run

This work took over a month, but it finally came together.

Emma assisted the barista, Shawn, who not only loved coffee but also had an impressive knowledge about it. To show his gratitude, Noah gifted him a $100 membership card.

Shawn, two years younger than Noah and a beta, had a baby face that made them both think he was still in college.

"Noah, the supplies have arrived!"

Hearing the call from the door, Noah, wearing a black apron, poked his head out from the back. "Wait for me! I'll be right there."

Together, they moved the materials to the shelf, both sweating and panting from the effort.

"Here, drink some water to cool down," Shawn offered, extending a bottle toward Noah.

Without hesitation, Noah took the water and thanked him. "I'm really sorry for asking you to help before we opened," Shawn said, leaning back in his chair.

"No problem at all! You couldn't manage it alone, and I was just sitting around," Noah replied, recalling Emma's words about Shawn's impressive skills and his steady stream of work. "What do you want for lunch? I'll treat you as a thank you for your help this morning."

Shawn turned with a smile. "Pizza sounds great!"

They arrived at a bustling pizza shop, staring at the array of meal options. "Do you want anything else with the pizza?" Noah asked.

"Any dietary restrictions on your end?" Shawn replied. Once Noah confirmed he had none, Shawn eagerly filled out the menu. "Let's go big! I promise you won't regret it."

Noah glanced at the mountain of food on the table, feeling a bit overwhelmed. "Is this... too much?"

"Not at all! Eat as much as you want. I have a huge appetite," Shawn assured him. "And if we can't finish it, we can always take the leftovers home."

Noah observed Shawn, who was about his size, incredulously. But as they ate, he realized that Shawn's appetite was nothing short of impressive.

"You…" Noah hesitated, and Shawn chimed in, "Are you wondering if I'm a big eater?"

He took a long swig of Coke, sighing with satisfaction. "My appetite isn't enough for my family. My mom always thinks we're not full, so we end up eating even more."

"If I don't eat enough, she'd probably take me to the hospital for a check-up!"

Noah chuckled, "Your family sounds interesting."

After lunch, Noah reported the store's opening progress to Ethan. Sometimes he received quick replies, other times they were delayed, but Ethan always provided suggestions and feedback.

With the supplies from earlier, Noah experimented with desserts: chiffon cakes, mousse, mille-feuille, pudding, and cake rolls. While cutting cards, he casually asked Shawn, "Do you want to keep a copy of all these?"

"Absolutely! It'd be a waste not to eat them," Shawn replied, writing notes at the table.

Noah looked at the magnetic card in his hand. Normally, a former employee wouldn't have access to the company, but Sam had sent it. He was more familiar with Felix and barely knew Sam, so it surprised him that someone like Sam would extend such a gesture.

But Sam didn't seem to mind. When he came in, he appeared genuinely happy. Noah suspected it was part of Ethan's request to take care of him, so he sent a thank-you message via Messenger that day.

Scrolling through his messages, he found Ethan's note: [This will be more convenient for tasting new products in the future.] It made sense, as Ethan had made a similar request during their last check-in.

Since the president's office was on the top floor, Noah decided to catch up with Emma during the lunch break. They found a quiet spot to chat.

"How are you and Elijah doing lately?" Emma asked, taking a bite of lemon mousse.

"It's been okay. We went to that new restaurant together last time and really enjoyed it," she replied.

"Noah, I've been meaning to ask—are you divorced from Oliver?" he inquired.

Noah maintained a neutral expression. "Yeah, we divorced about a month ago. We just grew apart after being together for so long."

Emma frowned, "He was lucky to be with you! If he doesn't appreciate that, it's his loss. I heard he was getting close to the general manager of his company…"

"Just rumors, I wouldn't worry about it," Noah cut in, standing up with two large bags. "We can talk more about this later."

He knocked on the door, raising the bags. "I'm here to drop off coffee. Since he's not around, could you help me pass this along?"

"You don't have to be formal," Sam said, noticing the bags in Noah's hands. "What's in there?"

"These are for the boss. I won't bother you anymore."

Sam noticed the difference in quantity and sighed inwardly, thinking how fortunate Mr. Harrison was.

"Boss, these are the coffee and desserts I just made. I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I brought one of each."

Ethan took the bags and set them on his desk, eyeing Noah's reddened palms. "You don't need to worry about waste; pick what you like, and I can take the rest home."

"No, just leave everything. I'll eat them all and provide real feedback," Ethan insisted.

Noah studied the overflowing bag of goodies and hesitated. "Boss, you don't have to push yourself."

Ethan felt conflicted but masked it well. His furrowed brows relaxed slightly. "I'm not pushing myself."

"Really? Because it looks like you're taking on a lot," Noah said, leaning against the doorframe. "How do you manage everything?"

Ethan paused, considering Noah's question. "Honestly, it's challenging. Balancing the demands of the business and my personal life can be overwhelming. But I find moments like these—trying new products and discussing them with you—make it worthwhile."

Noah nodded, feeling a sense of camaraderie. "I get that. Sometimes I feel like I'm juggling too many things at once. But when I'm in the kitchen creating something new, it's like all the stress melts away."

Ethan smiled, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "Exactly! That's why I value your creativity and passion for this work. It brings a fresh perspective that keeps things exciting."

Noah felt a warmth spread through him at Ethan's words. "Thank you. That means a lot coming from you. I really enjoy what I do, especially knowing it contributes to something bigger."

"Speaking of contributions," Ethan said, gesturing toward the desserts, "I'm looking forward to tasting these. Your desserts have been a hit with everyone so far. Have you thought about introducing any new flavors?"

Noah brightened at the suggestion. "I was thinking of experimenting with some seasonal flavors for the upcoming holidays. Maybe a pumpkin spice mousse or a gingerbread cake?"

"That sounds amazing! We could run a special promotion and see how they do," Ethan replied, enthusiasm evident in his tone. "You have a knack for this, Noah. I trust your instincts completely."

"Really? You're not just saying that?" Noah asked, surprised.

"No, I mean it. Your instincts have proven spot-on in the past," Ethan assured him. "Plus, your ability to connect with customers is impressive. They love your enthusiasm."

Noah felt a swell of pride. "Thanks, Ethan. I'll get started on some test batches and let you know when they're ready for tasting."

"Great! I'm looking forward to it. And remember, you can always bounce ideas off me. I'm here to support you," Ethan said, his tone sincere.

As they wrapped up their conversation, Noah felt a renewed sense of purpose. He appreciated Ethan's support and mentorship, which made his work even more fulfilling.