CHAPTER 8: NEW FRIEND

ELISABTH checked her phone for the umpteenth time, toes tapping, and patience wearing thin as she waited for Missy to arrive. They had planned to meet at their favorite café, a quaint little spot tucked away in a bustling corner of the city. It was their usual haunt for brainstorming sessions and catching up on the latest gossip in the industry before.

Not actually so favorite since it's almost been a year since they last went here.

Nonetheless, she was also hoping for a wind up even such short time.

Well... it was quite challenging for Elisabth to sit still and wait, especially when she just had left their suite too early, escaping Vane while he was still asleep soundly. It seem like the fatigue from pestering her from previous days took a toll on him, as he had not even bulge when she rose from bed.

She played with the tips of her long, lustrous blonde wig as she sighed impatiently. Waiting is just so fucking boring for her.

"Ahm, excuse me, miss?" She froze as she look up at the male voice, fearing that somebody might have recognize her. Sighing in relief when it's just one of the waiter. He seems to be around in his mid-twenties, with a friendly demeanor but that doesn't put Elisabth at ease. He had a neat appearance— golden complexion skin, his dark hair slicked back— stylish and trendy yet professional. He has hazel eyes which appears luminous under the sun rays. 

Most of all, his smile is quite charming.

"Are you going to order, or just keep looking miserable?" he added. Okay, his personality is not quite charming at all.

"W-what?" she gaped at him, momentarily taken aback by his directness. She had been lost in her thoughts and hadn't expected such a blunt comment. The waiter, seemingly unfazed by her reaction, just rubbed his nape.

"I'm only teasing. But you really need to order now something. My manager is giving me the stink eye, you know?"

She quickly scanned the café, looking for Missy, but instead noticed the growing crowd. Feeling the pressure, she glanced back at the waiter. "One Americano then," she said, deciding on something simple to get him off her back.

He nodded, raising a brow. "Coming right up," he said before heading back to the counter.

The café was getting busier, and the noise level was rising, making her feel more anxious. She glanced around nervously, her fingers drumming on the table as she tried to calm her racing thoughts— in which was interrupted when she felt the vibration from her phone.

Fuck, finally! She grabbed her phone eagerly.

Missy:

Sorry, B! We have to cancel our meet. I need to take care of something in our team. I'll call you later for updates! 

"Really?! After waiting for a damn hour?!" Elisabth hissed, slamming the phone on the table. The outburst gathered a few unwanted glances from the other patrons, but she was too pissed to even care.

"You looked pissed," a familiar smooth voice spoke from behind. A cup of coffee entered her field of vision, place on the table with casual precision. It was the waiter from a while ago. 

Elisabth didn't answer and took the coffee for a sip. 

"Did you get ditch?"

Annoyed, she looked up to him. The way the sun was striking his face and eyes was quite distracting— they— he just glows perfectly!

"Excuse me?"

He knows the sun adores him, huh? He keeps greeting the rays. Elisabth scoffed.

"I'm sorry, it's just that you look you got bailed on."

"I'm sorry, it's just that it's none of your business," she retorted, irritation was apparent to his audacity. He was meant to serve, not to pry!.

"Maybe I'm just trying to help," he said, shrugging— taking a seat across her. "Or maybe I just don't want to see someone as pretty as you having a bad day."

Elisabth rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corner of her lips. "Nice try," she said. "But flattery will get you nowhere. And didn't your manager monitoring you?"

She frowned when he just stared at her dumbfounded. "What!?"

"Oh, about that...? I am actually the manager here." delicately pulling the name badged pinned on his right chest, which she only just noticed. She quickly read what was written.

 CAFE MANAGER

 NIGEL

"I didn't expect you'd go along with it," he added, stifling his laughter. Her face went red in embarrassment.

 "Jesus! You had me fooled!"

Nigel shrugged playfully. "What? It's not my fault you were too distracted to notice something so obvious. I bet I could ask you for a thousand dollars, and you'd just mindlessly hand it over."

Elisabth narrowed her eyes. "You wish! Don't get too confident over some orchestrated child's play, Nigel. It's not something to brag about." Then she rolled her eyes.

He chuckled. "Orchestrated child's play? Fair enough. So what really brings you here?"

"I told you it's none of your business."

"Ow, come on!" 

"Fine! My friend I was supposed to meet canceled our plans last minute. Are you now happy?"

Nigel raised his hands in a playful surrender. "Alright, alright. No need to get defensive. Just making conversation." He grinned, his hazel eyes sparkling with amusement.

Elisabth huffed but couldn't help a small smile. "You're too nosy for your own good, Nigel."

He leaned back, still smiling. "It's all part of the job, you know? Keeping things interesting around here."

She rolled her eyes but chuckled softly. "Well, you definitely succeed in that."

"Wait, we've been talking for a while but you still haven't told me your name yet. Playing mysterious, are we?"

"What? Did you ask?" She smirked.

It was his turned now to roll his eyes. He looked silly doing so! "Seriously? Fine, what's your name?"

"El—" She almost said her name before catching herself. She paused for a moment, contemplating whether to say her real name or keep up the charade a little longer. After a brief pause, she decided to keep him guessing. "It's Rose."

"Rose..." he repeated, seemingly familiarizing himself with it. His eyes lingered on her face, studying her features carefully. Elisabth bravely meets his eyes despite her uneasiness. 

Then he leaned towards her not breaking the gaze. 

Too close.

The side of his lips slowly turned upwards. "So, Rose..." he trailed off.

"You look really familiar. Have we met before?"