SOME EXCITEMENTS

"Why is it on sale? I mean, it seems to be busy and earning something, if not a lot." I state.


"Well, our boss is an elderly woman, and she just wants to retire, miss. Her health doesn't even allow her to come here anymore."

Ooh.

"I see. Doesn't she have a family member who can run it for her instead of selling it?" I mumble, almost finishing up my coffee.


The news is exciting me in a way I can't imagine, fueling my desire for continuous sips of coffee to hide my excitement.

"Her only child is abroad, miss,"


"She can at least hire someone to manage it for her," I state.

"She doesn't want that. She just wants to sell it."

"Okay. Thank you. Here is my payment." I hand her the note and wait for her to bring my change. I can't afford to give her a tip.

It would feel incredible to own this shop. I can't imagine anticipating this. Those few cooking lessons I have had with Damian have aroused a strong desire for this sweet aroma in me. I can't fathom being surrounded by this aura the whole day. To have this shop all to myself. It sounds like building castles in the air, but even knowing that I still can't hide the smile on my face.

"Here is the change, miss."

Ahem!

"Thank you." I take my change and toss it in my purse. I can feel my phone vibrating as I do so, but once more, I don't care to look at it.

"So are you interested, miss?" The waitress asks with a broad smile on her lips.

"Huh? What?"

"In buying the shop. The price isn't too high, and I am sure you will make a lot from this. It's always this busy, and even a lot on weekends."

Huh! It gets busier than this. That's awesomely crazy! "Well, I don't think I can afford it for now," I state it with a tinge of sadness.

"You haven't even asked the price, miss. Besides, you look classy. Are you sure you can't afford it?"

Shoot! I should probably ditch all these pieces of clothing I brought with me and buy new ones if only I had money to do that. They are a complete mockery of me. Damn!

"I'm sure, Jannie. For now, I really can't." I stand to leave, but she holds my hand, halting my steps. "Wait, miss." I look at her as she fishes something from the pocket of her black uniform dress. "Here is my boss's number. I see that you are interested in the shop. Why don't you give her a call and see if you can reach an agreement?"

She is seeing too much of me, but I don't blame her. The excitement that drove me inside must still be etched on my face. I nod slightly. "Okay. Thank you." I lazily take the card from her hand and walk out, smirking at myself.

I hail the first cab that I see, and after giving the driver my address, I hop in and settle at the back.

I stare at the card in my hand. If only the waitress knew what a poor, pathetic soul I am, she wouldn't have wasted her time giving me a card or answering my damn questions. It was good dreaming about owning the shop for those few minutes, though, but...

As I open my purse to dump the card inside, my eyes fall on my DL, and a crazy idea flushes across my mind—a really crazy one, but sometimes we have to let go of some things, not because we don't want them, but because there are more important things than them, right?

About forty-five minutes later, I am walking inside the gate of my abode, a combo of feelings causing a commotion inside of me. At the parking lot, my eyes spot my baby—my beloved Porsche Cayenne. It pains my heart that I am actually considering this, but I have no other way to save my ass. After all, things come and go.

"What in the hell happened to you?"

I leap as I turn around in the direction of that voice.

Shit!

My mind went haywire, and I forgot to call him. He worried too much, though. I'm not a kid that would get lost in the streets. Come on!

I breathe out a deep sigh. "Sorry, I just got carried away by all the stress, and I forgot to let you know I would be late," I mumble.

He inches closer with a face that I don't like. I have too much already; he better not add to it. "Really? And you did not even hear your phone ringing? I have called like twenty times for crying out, Ellie!"

"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't know it was you. I thought..."

"You could have checked to confirm," he cuts me off angrily, but more than anger, it is the concern that I detect. He has been worried sick ever since that card issue with my father. He thinks that man might be here in this city looking for me. 'It is ten at night, Ellie! I thought something bad happened to you and you not picking up my calls drove me insane."

Ten? Goodness! I didn't know it was that late. "I am sorry, Damian, okay? Sorry, it won't happen again." I apologize because I know he really is angry right now. I worried the hell out of him for him to react this way. He has always been understanding and supportive of me, even in areas where we differ.

"Where were you?" He queries.

"Passing time in a coffee shop," I respond.

He raises an eyebrow. "A coffee shop? Was there a guy near you?"

Hello, what's that again? Is he jealous? No, is he actually serious right now? "You really think I have time for such bulshit in my situation?"

"No. But guys out there don't know that."