Chapter 2

Jena

“Good evening,” Jena said as a bunch of well dressed businessmen entered “The Happy Days,” her coffee shop.

“Coffee, black,” the old man said without looking at her.

The group headed straight to the back of the cafe, but only the older man sat at the rounded table. Two younger guys stood behind him, like a couple of—

Bodyguards, of course…

Jena suddenly realized maybe this guy was famous.

So what?

Well, she could take a picture with him, maybe that would help her shop’s Instagram gain more traction, and with that, more people would come and finally the whole coffeehouse would start making money.

At least enough to make the rent, that’s all I’m asking.

She could only hope.

The plain black coffee the old man ordered was ready so she brought it to him.

He didn’t seem familiar at all. And the air on that corner of the shop felt different… tense.

The gray haired man looked at her for a second before grabbing his cup. Jena smiled at him but he turned away, taking a sip of the beverage.

She turned to the bodyguards and nodded politely. One of them had a snake tattoo that went from his neck up to the side of his right eye.

He licked his lips and glared at her lustfully. A cold shiver ran down her spine, fear flooded her. She looked down and turned away, heading back to the counter.

Another second there and I would have broken down in tears.

These weren’t good men. She knew that now.

The door opened again and a slick haired, fifty-something Italian-looking man entered the shop. Two big guys towered behind him. The older man took a brief look at her and cleared his throat.

“Coffee,” he uttered, “black, very hot.”

He took his gloves off, then turned to the men behind him, “wait for me here.”

“Are you sure?” His blonde companion asked, with a deep, resonant voice. The sound of it made her tremble. It was so masculine.

She was suddenly embarrassed, her face turning red.

“Don’t question me,” the older man replied, “I don’t fear anyone.”

“We’ll be right here,” the other man said. His olive skin and black hair contrasted heavily with his bright, blue eyes. He took his gloves off and combed his hair, turning to her.

Another shiver, maybe even more violent than the previous one. It took him a second or two to speak, she didn’t say anything, either, they just stared at each other as if they had met in another life.

“Two coffees,” he grunted, his baritone voice echoing in the silent room.

This must be my lucky day.

The older man walked towards the table in the back.

“You brought your grunts here?” He asked out loud in a playful-but-mocking tone.

Something felt off, these men didn’t look like friends. It was like standing next to a ticking bomb.

It’s just your imagination, don’t worry.

Someone tapped her hand. It was the blonde guy, his perfect green eyes suddenly locked with hers. The touch of his hot skin on the back of her hand raised goosebumps all over her body.

Relax, Jena! What the hell is going on with you?

“Three black coffees, please?”

“Oh, yes, I’m sorry,” she said and turned to the machine to prepare them.

Shit.

She was so taken aback by this that she forgot she had to actually make their order.

The pair of guys sat at the bar, looking at her through the mirror on the wall. Jena had to consciously avoid staring at them, one of them looked like a bigger, meaner, hotter, Enrique Iglesias, the other a younger version of Brad Pitt, only even better looking.

I didn’t even know they made guys like those anymore.

She almost giggled, but stopped just in time. They will totally think I’m laughing at them.

“Something funny?” The Blonde asked and her stomach churned.

Jena turned and found them staring at her with a smile on their faces. Suddenly, she was very aware of every move she made. It was like being in front of her class back in high school.

“No, I—”

She tried to say something but ended up blurting out nonsense.

“Hey,” the taller man said, “relax, he’s just kidding with you.”

He was telling the truth. Jena took a deep breath and cleared her throat.

“I remembered something, sorry.”

“Don’t worry,” the blonde said, “sorry if I put you on the spot.”

His smile. Oh God.

This was probably what people felt when they were star struck, only these two weren’t stars, just a couple of gorgeous men chit chatting with her.

She couldn’t articulate a word, she wanted to say something smart or funny but her mind was blank.

She focused on pouring the coffee on each cup, gave these men their respective orders and walked to the group in the back, she still had another cup to deliver. Focus on doing your job. That’s it.

The men stopped talking when she arrived, all four of them just quietly stared. It felt so weird.

These people are talking business. Or maybe they’re lawyers? Negotiating or buying or sharing information on something.

Whatever they were doing, she knew it was better not to stick her nose in it. She gave the slick haired man his coffee and turned around.

“Nice ass,” he said, and she pressed her lips. What was she supposed to reply? Thanks? Hell no.

She was disappointed, for some reason. She thought men like these didn’t talk to women like that.

She smiled and nodded, then, as soon as she stepped away, going back to the bar, he spoke again.

“I said nice ass.”

She half turned to him and nodded, “I heard you, sir.”

“Good, I thought you were deaf.”

She faked a smile and that was it. He turned to the other man, and began talking in again.

Back at the counter, Blonde and Blue Eyes looked at her with a face that looked like they were apologizing, but who knows.

They work for that guy over there, after all. Maybe she made a mistake and they weren’t the perfect people she made them up to be in her head.

“Don’t listen to him,” the blonde said, his voice soft and respectful.

“It’s not a problem,” she replied.

“We know,” the taller man said, “but still…”

Yeah. That was good enough. At least she wasn’t the only one who realized what their boss did was freaking annoying.

At least these two act like gentlemen.

She sighed. Maybe things weren’t getting better, after all.