Chapter 3 – Scott
When I got to the bistro, I had to admit that I was surprised. The ‘line’ that my father had talked about was actually almost a block long, and since there was only another hour that the place was open, I wondered how fast the line was moving. It wasn’t moving fast enough for my liking. I had things to do, after all, so I tried to cut my way into the place.
I was met with some resistance from the people I was cutting in front of, but it wasn’t until I got into the building that I realized that these people were serious about their coffee. What could be so good that I was getting confrontational looks and comments? I was not used to that, to say the least, and when I finally got to the front, I was met with even more attitude.
“I’m sorry, sir, but you’ll have to go to the back of the line and wait like everyone else.”
I stared at the blonde for a moment and then kind of waved her off. The name tag said that her name was Melissa. What was wrong with her? Didn’t she know who I was?
“I don’t see any harm. No one seems to mind, and I’m really busy. There is an opportunity for the owner if I could just see what all of this excitement is about.” I waved my hand towards all of the people behind me. They were obviously watching me to see what was going to happen next.
“Sir, go to the back of the line.”
“I would like to speak to the owner.” I tried to sound like I was irked, and in fact I was. Why couldn’t they see that I had places to go? If I was there for a coffee, I should get it and not have to wait all of this time.
“I’ll bring her out here, but I’m telling you now that if you’re going to argue with her, you’re out of luck.”
The woman in front of me was so sure that a seed of uncertainty filled me. I don’t know why I was all of a sudden nervous to meet a girl who I’d been told was young and distraught, but I was. It was something that I wouldn’t even admit to myself, but the fact wasn’t changed.
I stood my ground, not knowing what else to do, waiting for the owner who was going to become my father’s next victim. When the cashier emerged with a grim smile on her face, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel about everything. I knew that I wasn’t ready for the tall, willowy woman who came out, though. That was something that I knew for sure.
She was young, but there was an agelessness to the green eyes that looked back at me. They were the color of dark emeralds and held years of hardship in them. I knew that my own eyes showed more depth than most could muster. It wasn’t just her eyes that caught my attention, but the way her lips looked when she pressed them together. It took a minute for me to realize that she was talking to me. I was thinking more about the way the woman’s apron accentuated her curves than the words that were coming out of her mouth.
“Is there a problem, sir?”
I didn’t like her calling me ‘sir.’ I wanted her to call me by my given name, and so help me I wanted to know hers. There was something achingly mysterious about her, but when I finally paid attention to the look on her face, it was clear that she wasn’t as happy to see me as I was to see her. She was giving me a look like I was the lowest scum on the planet.
“Yes, I was just trying to get one of the coffees that I’ve heard so much about, but your cashier wouldn’t sell to me.”
“Did you cut the line?”
Of course I had, and everyone in there had seen me, but I didn’t want to tell her that. I didn’t have to, though: someone behind me was kind enough to do it for me. The owner smiled at me. “Well, there you have it, sir. You have to wait in line like everyone else. I don’t care how much your shoes cost; in here everyone is the same and has to wait the same. If you really want some coffee, you’ll wait like everyone else does.”
Speechless, I watched her turn around and stalk off to the back. I hadn’t gotten to talk to her or get a feeling for how easy it was going to be to take advantage of her. It seemed like the meek, delicate woman who was heartbroken over her father dying was nowhere to be found. She was not meek and mild by any stretch of the imagination. That woman was fiery, and although I felt embarrassed to no end, I wasn’t really upset with her. I was more shocked than anything else. I couldn’t remember the last time where I’d been talked to in such a way.
The person behind me came up and ordered. All of the grumbling and murmuring that had been roaring in my ears was gone. She had made her peace, and once everyone knew that things were going to be handled fairly, it hadn’t been an issue anymore. I had to admire her for such a decision. It had to be hard for someone like her to do. She didn’t seem like the ball-busting type, but I had to admit that my jewels were feeling a little tender all of a sudden.
Looking back one more time, trying to see her through the small window in the swinging door, I didn’t see the blazing red hair that framed her face and went down her back. I particularly wanted to see those sparkling green eyes again – although I would rather have seen what they looked like filled with lust instead of anger.
I called my assistant, and since she had given me so much trouble about that coffee and dealing with my father, I told her to go stand in line to get me a cup. I wanted to see what kind of drink was responsible for all of this nonsense, but I still wasn’t sure it was worth my time to stand in line. I would let Caroline do it, since she was the one who was so worried about making my father mad. The next time I went to the bistro, I knew that I’d have to have a better angle than the one I had now. I didn’t know how I was going to deal with her, but I knew that I would have to think of something.