AN UNANTICIPATED SURPRISE

"High blood pressure, pneumonia, among other mild diseases that come with old age. I will be flying overseas to stay with my daughter for a few days. I will also seek better medical alternatives there," she explains faintly.


Poor woman. I don't think that's all there is to her illness, but I had no right to ask in the first place. I should stick to what brought me here and stop being too nosy. "Okay. I pray that you get better, madam," I mumble.

"Thank you. So, you want to buy the coffee shop? Aren't you too young to be scenting coffee all day?"

Well, that got me to smile. "Not at all, madam, I don't mind. I moved to this city a few days ago, and a lot changed for me. I want to work out my newly found passions," I explain, a flash of Damian and I in the kitchen crossing through my mind.


"That's good. The coffee hasn't found a potential buyer yet. Maybe because of the conditions I have set," she states.

That aroused my curiosity. I didn't know that there were conditions. "What are the conditions, madam?" I asked curiously.


"They are two," she starts. 'One is that I want the employees to stay, and the second is more of a plea. The Maya's coffee shop has made me known in this area for decades, and I would want my legacy to remain even when I am gone. I want it to remain a coffee shop. My coffee should remind people of me."

That's all?

"Is...that all?" I query.

"Yes, my child. Those are the only requests I have."

"Then I don't see any problem, madam. I don't have my own employees, and I don't intend on altering the business," I say joyfully.

"Then it's done, my child. I am handing over the coffee shop to you with one heart. Please take care of it. It's so sentimental to me," she states.

I'm mystified now. We were to discuss the price and all, so why has she gone all silent after that? She hasn't forgotten about the most crucial part. Money! The prize!

"The price, Madam Hannah! We haven't discussed it," I say.

She smiles faintly, looking at me with so much pride amidst her pains. "My coffee is priceless, my child. When I return from overseas, I will come to taste your coffee as I narrate the story behind it. I am gifting it to you, my child, especially because you agreed to my requests without any complaints or bargains."

What? Like a gift? But she does not even know me. My mouth is agape, unbelieving of her words.

"A...a gift?" I mumble.

"Yes. A gift. The price is that you take care of it." She repeats it again, so that the news sinks into my brain, but how?

"But..." I open my mouth, but I'm so overwhelmed that my mouth is completely dry of any words.

"Accept the gift, my child, and fulfil this old woman's last wish."

This is unbelievable! It's soo...

I wake up from the seat and embrace her for a hug. Pulling away, I crouch in front of her. "I accept, and I vow to take care of your coffee shop for as long as I live, madam," I mutter, tears falling.

She plops her right hand on my head with a faint smile on her face."God bless you, my child." I stand up, drying the tears. "I will send my lawyer with all the documents of transfer of ownership to you tomorrow, and then you can take over the coffee shop," she adds.

"Thank you very much, madam. Thank you." Sincerely, I don't know what to say. I am overwhelmed. This is unbelievable. It seems too good to be true, you know!

"Welcome, my child. I'm not sending you away, but I need to rest now. Good luck in the business," she says, and the nurse stands up beside her.

I nod to her vague image due to the tears streaming from my eyes. "Thank you. Once again, get better soon, madam. I will be looking forward to meeting you over that cup of coffee you promised," I say, and she nods her head infrequently.

I seldom bow in salutation, and the nurse shows me to the door. I amble out, still in bewilderment at what just ensued. This is another stranger being overly nice to me. It's so overwhelming.

I walk out of the gate to find Grace exactly where I left her, and she tenses at glimpsing me. "What the heck happened?" She asks, walking up to me.

"She didn't sell the coffee shop to me, Grace," I mumble, still in a state of awe. It still feels like I am dreaming.

"What the heck? Why? I thought she told you over the phone that you could reach a consensus on the price. What happened? Did she find a more loaded buyer to pay her in cash?" She rants.

Her intuitions are just on another level. I shake my head continuously to stop her from assuming more nonsense. She frowns. "No, Grace. She didn't sell the coffee shop to me. She just endowed it to me. She handed over the coffee shop to me absolutely free, and I didn't have to pay a cent. Free! Like, free!" I clarify in bewilderment, leaving her bewildered as well. Well, who wouldn't be blown away by the news?

She wiggles her head, batting her lashes as she speaks, "I don't understand. You mean?" She takes a moment to ponder what she heard, then adds, 'She gave you the shop all for free." I nod my head. "That is freaking... This is unbelievably hot news. But, how? Why?"

"I can't believe it either, but that is what it is. Her condition is that I keep the employees, keep her coffer, and take care of the shop. That is all," I state.

Her lips open and close in a ‘wow' gesture. She speaks after recovering from the shock. "I think fate is just reimbursing you for all that that father of yours did to you. Now that you have a business of your own, you have millions in your house. Ooh, and a prince charming too. Goodness, girl! I'm envious of you."

"Damian," I mumble out of the blue.

"Huh? Don't tell me you are going to dump me here and run to ride his cock as you celebrate this, Ellie! Come on!"

Shit! Her dirty mouth, though!

"No, you silly! He and I will definitely celebrate, but not today. Right now, you and I are going to discuss how we are going to run that coffee shop. Probably even expand it. What do you say?" I ask, and she withers, confusing me.

She frowns again in confusion. "Me? You want me to work for you, Ellie?" She murmurs.

Huh? What is she saying? "Of course. Forget about that damn nightclub job right this minute because you and I are going to run that coffee shop together."

She pulls me in for a tight hug, and I embrace her too. The new beginning is here. The new dawn.