Chapter 7 - The Coffee Shop

Ariel POV

I have been trying to land a job, but these miserable people pay too little. I had no idea that living like a regular Joe would be such a hassle. Now I am appreciating the perks of being the king's favorite daughter. I loved to tease my sisters about that.

I let out a deep breath and made my way back to the cabin I was sharing with Sonia and Anya. Another day, and another unsuccessful try.

“Hey, Melissa… How was your day?” Sonia yelled at me from the kitchen.

“Hey, Sonia… Again no luck… Everyone wants some sort of experience, and unfortunately, my ex didn't allow me to do much…” I said, trying to sound convincing, “And the ones that would employ me without experience want me to work almost for free!” I was exhausted.

“Oh! Sweetie… Something will come up… I am sure of it, besides Anya and I are not kicking you to the curb anytime soon… so take your time.” She softly comforted me.

“I know… but I feel like I am abusing your kindness… and I don't want to be a permanent fixture here…” I joked.

“Oh… shush… you are like a little sister to us… so what is family for? Remember, once we were in your shoes… being cast away because we loved each other…” She said sadly.

“People are such judgemental jerks…” I blurted, and she laughed.

“Touche…” She giggled.

“Now, be useful and help me with dinner, Anya should be home soon.” She gave me a stern look. I guess the kind of look a loving teacher gives to the hardest-to-deal-with students.

“Alright, I will get to it…” I pouted feigning annoyance. Sonia has taught me many things around the kitchen that now I am capable of cooking several dishes by myself, without creating a complete mess, and fairly eatable.

Surprisingly the one in charge of dinner was Sonia. Anya is the best cook there is around, she cooks for the fricking king herself, but after the long hours she works, and the countless time she spends around a stove, the least we can do is to cook for her.

We cooked some pasta with chicken. Sonia used an Alfredo sauce to give some flavor to it. She ground some parmesan cheese, and we buttered and seasoned some bread. I fixed a salad, and we were ready to eat.

I saw Sonia´s eyes glaze and then she let out a sigh. “Anya will be late… she said that we should go ahead and eat dinner.”

“Why do they make her work these long hours?” I asked while plating my food.

“They don't make her… She does it because of Matei…” Sonia shook her head.

“Who is Matei?” I asked.

Sonia laughed “Really you have been living under a rock…Matei is the king's son. This year he is in my class, he is the sweetest kid I have ever met… If only…” She paused.

“If only, what?” I blurted.

“If only his dad would acknowledge him. He lives for that man, and he doesn't spare a glance his way.” Sonia said with a heavy heart.

“Why is he so mean to his own child?” I wondered.

“Because his mate died in childbirth… Rumor has it that he blames the poor infant for her death…” Sonia shook her head in disbelief.

“Well, I think he is an i***t…” I shrugged my shoulders, and she burst out laughing.

“I think the same, but please don't let them hear you, or you will be punished…” She advised, after composing from her fit of laughter.

The next day I woke up early and got ready to try and find a decent job. I took the bus and decided to try a different area. This area looked fancier and a little on the high end. I walked into a restaurant but the manager immediately kicked me out, then I headed to a coffee shop right across the street.

An old lady greeted me, “Hello dear, how can I help you?” Her soft demeanor and her motherly attitude made me feel entirely at ease around her.

“Hi, I am actually looking for a job… and I was wondering if you might need help around here…” I softly asked.

“OH! Dear angel!” She said loudly, making me nervous about her expression. How in the world did she know I was an actual f*****g angel?

Then she continued, “I was just about to hang a sign out the door… I need a server/cashier to tend the coffee shop” She clapped her hands, probably excited that she was having someone willing to work there.

“Hi, my name is Stella, and you are?” She asked,

“Melissa…”

“Well, Melissa, do you have any experience?” She asked, and I shook my head.

“Honestly, no… but I am a fast learner, and I assure you, you won't have a single complaint about me…” I quickly rushed, trying to convince Stella to be hired. I was exhausted, and I needed to feel useful. Sonia was right, it is almost therapeutic to have a job under my circumstances.

“It's OK, Melissa… I can teach you… I hope you don't mind the pay…”She took a piece of paper and wrote a figure. I lifted my eyes from the paper, surprised. This is the highest wage I have been offered, with or without experience, and one of the perks was that all the tips will go straight to my piggy bank.

“Thanks, when can I start?” I beamed.

“Do you have time now?” Stella quickly replied, and I gave her a big smile.

“Sure!... I would love to!” I clapped my hands excitedly.

Stella quickly gave me a brief tour of the coffee shop, then she told me that within an hour a lot of people that worked at the nearby offices will come out for lunch, and it will be a bit of a rush to keep up with things.

I have always had plenty of energy and I have a gifted memory, so I feel confident about handling the task. I was dead wrong, it was madness. The long lines, and the people rushing in and out, didn't give me space to even breathe.

Of course, I messed up the orders many times, and people were angry about my lack of attention. Stella, with her kind smile, assured them that it would not happen again, and she did major damage control.

By the time the rush hour ended, I was certain that I would be fired on the spot. I thought waitressing would be an easy challenge, but I was dead wrong.

“Stella, I understand if you…” I began,

“Shus! You did marvelously… the last person that tried to handle a rush hour, and made as few mistakes as you, was me, thirty years ago! You are definitely a keeper…” She patted my shoulder.

“Go, fix yourself a cup of coffee, and relax for a while… at six the madness begins again! I will be at the back office,” She chuckled.

I nodded and went back to the kitchen, and saw her retrieving into the back office. I let out a sigh and stretched my sore back. I have never worked this hard in my entire life, not even when training for long hours with Jaziel. My body was exhausted,

I quickly fixed a cup of chai latte tea. I didn't want to burst Stella´s bubble but I hated coffee… I am more of a tea girl…

The front doorbell chimes and I quickly settled my tea on the side. I rushed to the front to help the incoming customer.

“Good evening, how can I help you?” I politely said, distracted by fixing my apron.

“You must be new here…” His baritone voice called my attention and for the first time, I met the eyes of the god standing in front of me.

“Yes, I am… Now, how can I help you, sir?” I quickly went into service mode, bright smile and such, not wanting to distract myself from the gorgeous guy in front of me. My heart ached for Jaziel, but I still have eyes to appreciate a good male candy.

He gave me a small smile, “I will have a latte, skim milk, extra foam…” He quickly said, and then he finished “And your number…” His bright smile was captivating, but what was more heart-touching was the stupid dimple that formed on his left cheek, just like my love.

“I will be in the back office with Stella.” He quickly said and tried to step into the service area of the coffee shop.

“Excuse me… You can't go in there!” I quickly said, “If you want to see Mrs. Stella I can announce your presence…” I stood my ground in front of the wall of muscles.

“Feisty…” he chuckled…

“So? Am I going to announce your presence?” I raised my eyebrows defiantly.

He chuckled, “Or I can go in as I planned!” He tried to sidestep me.

I quickly lifted my feet, tangling the stranger in my leg, losing balance along. The noise of glasses, plates, and kitchen utensils flying around was quite loud, that at that very moment, Mrs. Stella walked out of her office,

“What is going…?” She was saying when she saw me wrestling the guy on the ground. She burst out laughing.

“Melissa, stop…” She laughed a bit more.

“Come on Lucca, you know better than that….” Stella reprimanded the guy, and now I know his name is Lucca.

The guy untangled himself and extended his hand toward me. I reluctantly took it, and he helped me stand up…

“If I behaved, what would be the fun in it, aunty?” Lucca said to Stella.

“Melisa, let me introduce to you, my nephew and the Beta of this realm, Lucca Amato,” Stella said to me.

I was expecting Stella to reprimand me, after all, I was the one that made the back a mess, but instead, her words surprised me, “Now Lucca, apologize to the young lady… '' Stella raised her eyebrows, and the muscle mountain cowered in fear.

Lucca lowered his gaze, like a scared puppy, and then he scratched the back of his neck, “I am deeply sorry, Miss Melisa… I hope you can forgive me, and give me the chance to become your friend.”

His voice was sincere and truthful.

“It's OK, now let me get that latte for you.” I quickly said and left the area. Lucca Amato, you seem like trouble already.

Lucca POV

I was running some errands in the city. Near Max´s corporate office is my aunt's coffee shop. My mom died when I was a young pup, and I was raised by my dad and his sister, aunty Stella. She is the greatest and her coffee shop is one of the best in town.

I decided to stop by and check on her, I walked in, and the little bell announced my arrival. The last time I was here, she was alone, and she has been struggling in finding the proper help. When a beautiful blonde girl walked out the back and into the front I was dumbfounded.

f**k she is gorgeous, I believe I will visit my aunty quite often now.

I am almost 29 years old, and my mate has been a no-show since I turned 18 years old. 9 years in search of my mate, and nothing. Recently I have considered going for a chosen mate, but I have to be very careful, many girls will seek the opportunity to gain the status and power that my position offers.

She was friendly and polite, so I decided to purchase a latte, just to have her hand me something later. When I tried to walk to the back office to meet Stella, she was completely shocked, and she tried to stop me.

I know I am strong, but I decided to tease her. She is so cute when angry, that I pushed over the line. Surprisingly, she stood her ground, and I was not expecting her to make a defense maneuver that had us both stumbling to the floor.

I managed to place myself under her, trying to cushion her fall with my own body. I was partially successful because the feisty blonde kept engaging me in defensive locks. Of course, her strength was nothing compared to mine, but it was impressive the way she knew how to defend herself. It was so impressive, that I was getting turned on by this gorgeous woman.

My aunt came out of her office, and she was greeted by the blonde girl wrestling me. I could see in her eyes the amusement, and I wasn't disappointed when she burst out laughing at the scene.

My aunt quickly broke the scene apart, and surprisingly made me, the Beta of the whole realm, apologize to this sexy vixen that has caught my eye. If someone can force me to do something it is the owner of this coffee shop—my beloved Aunt Stella.

Melisa went on fixing my coffee, while my aunt asked me to step into her office for a while. As soon as I stepped inside she smacked my head.

“Lucca Amato… what the hell?” She rolled her eyes.

“What aunty? You can't deny it, she is really beautiful…” I said in a shy voice.

“Yes… I know and when I hired her, I thought of introducing her to you! but you have to show up and be a d**k… now tell me how are you going to make a good first impression on her?” She placed her fists over her hips.

I lifted my hands in mock surrender and chuckled… “You taught me better, and I can pull out my charm…” I winked at my aunty.

“Dear goddess, you are just like your father…” She softly patted my chest.

“A charming and handsome man with an incredible sense of humor…” I quickly said.

But she surprised me, “No, a cocky bastard…”

Touche! Aunt Stella, you know how we Amato guys work. Now, I need to think about how to get close to her sexy employee...