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The coffee shop was unusually quiet this morning. Just a couple of customers, and only a few orders. Vi kept looking over her shoulder, her stare jumping from the entrance to the clock, then back to the coffee machine in front of her. It sure took its time to spew out some extra steamed soy milk into the cup.
Venti-Half-Sweet-No-Foam-Extra-Hot-Soy-Caramel-Macchiato my ass, she thought. Vi glanced at the clock again.
8:29 a.m.
She would be here soon. Some people were punctual, and then there was her—a kind of person the time itself seemed to double-check with.
The door bells chimed, and a gust of fresh air slipped inside. Vi didn’t need to turn around. A sweet sensation prickled up her back, and that was enough of a tell.
“I’ll take over the register,” she yelled to someone in the kitchen, ran her fingers through her hair and hurried toward the counter.
Sorry, “Bob”. No extra pumps of vanilla and drizzle for you today.
* * *
Caitlyn had always appreciated the warmth of this place. There was so much on her plate lately that a simple morning cup of coffee quickly became the best part of the day—away from all the contract talks and business meetings. The low hum of random conversations against the smooth jazz tunes in the background felt like bliss in comparison.
Caitlyn closed her eyes, took a deep breath, savoring the thick aroma, and let her worries fade away. Enjoy it while it lasts, she thought, then headed to the counter.
A pink-haired girl met her from the other side. The name on her badge read “Violet”. Caitlyn had seen her around before, but this would be the first time they spoke.
“Morning,” Violet said.
“Good morning. One small Caffe Latte, please.” Caitlyn took out her phone and saw the latest notification from her secretary. Bad news. It seemed her morning routine had just been cut short. Gods, why can’t I find competent people for once?
“So…?” Violet’s voice came back.
“What?”
“Would you prefer it hot or iced?”
“Oh, that. Sorry. Hot, please. No extras. The usual. I am in a hurry.” She returned to her phone and opened the messenger.
“No preferences on the milk?”
“No. The usual,” Caitlyn said, her tone slightly more irritated. “Where’s Maddie? She’s usually behind the counter.”
“She’s on a break. Sorry if I am messing this up—”
“No, no, it’s fine.” Her phone buzzed again. “Just put it in a to-go cup. The order is for Caitlyn.”
“Would you love something to go with your drink?” Violet perked up and gave Caitlyn the most innocent of smiles. “Something like a cupcake, maybe?”
Is she messing with me? “Okay,” Caitlyn sighed in defeat. “Add one vanilla cupcake.” She tried her best to return the niceties. “In a bag. Please.”
“Excellent choice! That’ll be $10.80 total. Oh, and what was your name again?”
She’s definitely messing with me.
“It’s Caitlyn.”
Violet threw her a “right on it” two-finger salute, stuck her tongue out from the corner of her mouth, and began writing the name on the cup. Caitlyn shook her head, tapped the phone against the terminal, and went to take a seat at the nearest table.
Her phone was still buzzing with new notifications from all kinds of people—her secretary, her agents, her work partners, her friends...
Friends. Sure. She was tired of all those bootlickers, people nodding to her every word and never questioning back. Being stupidly rich came with plenty of downsides—you were cursed to be alone in a world where competitors saw you as an enemy, and everyone else saw you as a prize.
Caitlyn cast a quick glance toward the coffee machine. Violet sat next to it, one leg on the table and the other dangling off the edge. She was picking something out of her ear, her lips moving in sync with the upbeat song from the radio.
Those were the people she envied the most. Simple, honest. And some were kind of cute. Caitlyn chuckled at the thought and shook her head. What was that girl’s problem?
She set her phone aside, closed her eyes, and let herself relax on the couch.
* * *
“KA-THE-RI-NE?” There was no end to definitely-not-Katherine’s fury. Vi realized messing up her name on purpose took a wild turn.
“I am so sorry. That is how I heard it, I swear.”
“It’s Caitlyn. C-A-I-T-L-Y-N.”
Vi didn’t bother to hide her amusement now. “Please, let me fix it.” Even if this does not work, watching Caitlyn’s face turn red was so worth it.
Vi took the cup back and wrote her phone number instead. “There, I fixed it.” She handed her the cup and Caitlyn grabbed it without looking. “Oh, and here’s your cupcake,” Vi added. “Thanks for stopping by!”
Caitlyn rolled her eyes and hurried toward the exit. Vi watched with anticipation as the young woman stopped just before the doors, frowning at the cup in her hands. She took out her phone, pointed it at the cup for a moment, then threw both items into the bag and left.
“Ka-chik!” Vi mimicked the camera sound Caitlyn’s phone had just made and pumped her fist in celebration. It looked like there were finally some fun days on the horizon.
“Um, Vi?” Maddie’s voice came from behind. “Bob wants a word.”