Hunger

Third P.O.V

A week in Adelaide's life flew by as she indulged herself in her office and café's work.

It was now Sunday and Adelaide was blankly looking at the seating arrangement from the marble counter at 'Tackles'.

"Earth to Adelaide?" – she heard as a palm flashed by her eyes.

Blinking she looked up to see Benjamin smiling down at her with a rag in his hand.

"Still hungover??" -mirth was evident in his voice as he spoke and started wiping the counter on which she rested her back on.

"I guess I need more sleep." -replied Adelaide as she yawned and stretched her arms. "Last night was so chaotic." – she shuddered as she recalled the events of last night.

-Flashback-

The most awaited welcome party of Adelaide was finally here and Gemma had zero plans of having a simple party. In fact, she went as far as to invite her peers from another team and booked a room in a bar for them all.

What's worse was that Gemma's peers were the hard-core party people and so they kept everything beyond hyped throughout the night. They went on dancing, drinking and playing games for over five hours and Adelaide being the MVP for the party was given no slack.

After days of exhaustion, Adelaide let herself go free and went all out in enjoyment as she too willfully participated in everything that perked her interests. Although wild and chaotic, Adelaide enjoyed it so much that she came home wasted with not only alcohol but also a severe lack of energy.

-Present-

Adelaide's morning images flashed in her mind. She recalled how horrible she felt in the morning with her head throbbing and her eyes and body craving for more sleep.

"I never want to drink ever again." – she groaned as she felt like she could puke any second now just by the mere recollection of herself.

"And how many times have you said the same thing before you go drinking again?" -Carson spoke blankly very well knowing how Addie didn't miss any chance at partying and drinking.

"Tie me up next time please."

"Your wish is my command, Princess." -Carson replied as he followed his pretence and bowed before Addie only to throw the dirty rag on her as he stood straight.

Adelaide couldn't comprehend what had just happened. She suddenly felt something wet on her face. Taking the rag away from her face, she lifted it in the air and glanced at it for a fleeting second before she was ready to pounce on her smiling best friend who seemed to be creating some distance between himself and her.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"- Adelaide raged.

"For asking for my help and doing nothing yourself!" -Carson shot back as he felt like she was using him as her slave, although he knew she wasn't.

As they continued bickering, Mr Riccardo entered the shop from the backdoor upon hearing what sounded to him like a children's quarrel. The sight before him justified his assumption as he saw Adelaide and Carson head-butting and glaring at each other.

He coughed grabbing the attention of the two grown-ups who suddenly felt embarrassed of the state they were found in. Pulling away from each other they faced the smiling man.

"Am I interrupting something?" -he asked very well understanding the blush that crept up on their face.

"No!"

"No, no!"

They both replied in unison.

"Well then I leave the interior to you two." -he remarked as he left laughing.

"This is all your fault."- Adelaide spoke first while glaring at him.

"Wouldn't have been if you worked as well" -Carson gave her the same look that she was giving him. Noticing each other's red embarrassed ears the pair moves in opposite directions and continue wiping the already set tables across the hall.

The white round and square tables we're placed throughout the shop accompanied with black cantilever chairs. The round tables stood closest to the counter and the square tables were situated towards the Picture windows and entrance wall where the painting stood.

The interior of the café was soon done. Adelaide and Carson were just admiring their hard work and efforts until Mr Riccardo dashed into the room. He looked like he was in a hurry. His skin was pale and his eyes showed concern. He frantically looked around until he turned to face and immediately said-

"I- I got to leave. Please lock the shop and keep the key. I- 'll explain later."

And with that, Mr Riccardo rushed out the front door and was not to be seen soon after.

Adelaide and Carson looked at each other with confusion.

"Hopefully it's nothing too serious." – Adelaide spoke while looking at the empty shop before her.

"I hope so too."- Carson replied before moving behind the marble counter.

"What more do we have left to work on?" -he questioned as he looked around searching for any spots that needed cleaning.

Adelaide came out of her daze and replied- "We seem to be done for the day."

"Then let's leave?"- Carson spoke as he removed the cloth from his head that was tied to prevent his hair from catching any dust.

"Yeah, I guess we should." -Adelaide spoke as she moved to grab her bag from behind the counter.

They were all set to leave and had started walking towards the door after checking their belongings. Adelaide had just opened the door to the café when the realization struck her.

"Ah! How could I forget?!" -she spoke to herself as she inwardly scolded herself for being so absent-minded.

"What did you forget?" -Carson spoke as he was eager to grab his lunch.

"I'm terribly sorry Bengie, we will have to wait here for a while." -she spoke as she flashed him an apologetic smile.

"And why is that?" -he replied with slight annoyance as his hunger was feeding off of him.

"The coffee beans will be arriving today."

"And?"

"And we will have to receive them because Mr Riccardo isn't here?" -Adelaide responded in a 'isn't it obvious' tone.

"Do we have to? I mean he could leave the beans at the door." -Carson reasoned.

"I doubt they'd do that. And, if I am not wrong, a signature is probably required."

Carson sighed before he pushed his hair back and spoke again. "What time was Mr Riccardo expecting it?"

"I believe he said three o'clock?"

"That's in forty minutes." -Carson replied after checking the time by his watch.

"So we wait." -Adelaide commanded as she closed the door of the cafe and moved towards the seats by the picture window.

Carson was ticked off. It had been an hour and thirty minutes and yet not one person passed by for any sort of delivery. He glared at Adelaide who seemed to be enjoying the view outside while he was famished.

Adelaide reasoned that eating after collecting the beans would be better in case the delivery takes place while they're eating. Carson who didn't want to quarrel again decided to be the bigger person and agreed to her proposal.

But then; the delivery was simply testing his patience.