"Welcome to Maya's coffee shop. Free treat. Enjoy," I recite the familiar greeting with practiced smile, placing yet another perfectly arranged cup of steaming coffee and a of freshly baked cookies before the waiting customer. The satisfaction in their as they receive their order is a small reward for the effort put into each creation.
"Thank you so much, miss," the customer responds warmly, their gratitude echoing in air as I turn away, my mind already moving on to the next task at hand. With strides, I make my way back to the counter, the steady rhythm of the day's propelling me forward.
But before I can fully immerse myself in the bustling atmosphere of the café, Grace's cuts through the din, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Don't you still want to rest, Ellie?" She inquires, her concern evident in the furrow of brow as she delivers yet another order to a waiting patron. She's been hovering me all day, her persistent questioning bordering on exasperating.
Her well-meaning intentions do little to ease the frustration bubbling within me. I do appreciate her concern, but there's a fine line between care and meddling, and 's been toeing it all day long.
Her skepticism, though born out of genuine concern, feels like an unnecessary into my autonomy. I've been managing just fine, thank you very much, and constant prodding is starting to wear thin.
"I am fine, Grace," I reply tersely, my tone betraying my growing irritation. "I'll rest I'm ready."
It is a simple statement, but one that carries the weight of my determination. I refuse be coddled or babied, even if it comes from a place of love. I'll navigate this day in own way, on my own terms, no matter how much Grace may protest."Yeah, . Leave us to this." Here comes the voice of another one, Janine. I appreciate confidence in me that day I rambled in this place and all she saw was an affluent who could afford this coffee shop even though I was the impoverished queen of , but now she is annoying. She stayed back with all the other five waiters, cashier, and the chef.
I won't refute the fact that I am depleted and that, too, the overwhelming sensations of this cafe inundated with people on my very first day are taking a toll on me. I so afraid of opening it today and not seeing even a single customer walking in.
God knows the skepticism of this day didn't allow me any slumber for the past two , but attesting to how it has thoroughly overrun now, some few minutes to seven the evening, I am offloaded of all the distress.
I am definitely going to treasure this God-given special bounty for the rest of my life.
I am going to honor that nice woman's request, which is why I did not rebrand the . I don't quite understand the reason behind the name, but it will always remain
Maya's coffee shop. I owe that woman at least that much. And for all that I hold , I beseech the heavens that she recoups. Beautiful souls such as her merit a , joyous life under this sun. I hope she really gets help and regains her health. I looking forward to having that cup of coffee with her here someday as she the origin of this coffee to me like she promised. Until then, I will take care her shop and try to be happy every moment I live here.
As for these workers of mine, can they just get off my neck? "You guys should move asses and cease vexing me. I will rest when I feel like it," I retort to them, and
Janine walks to take orders like the rest of the waiters, while Grace shuffles to me.
"Wow! My boss has quite a dirty mouth. You might chase the customers away with ." She lets out as we crouch down at the counter.
Well, it was a free treat today to mark my first day as the cafe owner, though the don't have to know that, and since the cashier had no work to do here, I her the day off.
I look at Grace, "I surmise I wasn't that audible,” I state, and my breadbasket rumbles, me that I haven't taken anything to my system from the morning.
"If you continue working like this, you will develop migraines and lose like twenty in a week from starving yourself," Grace states.
"Come on..."
"Don't come on me, Ellie,” she cuts me off. She is acting all bossy here, like she is my , honestly. “you can't overwork your ass and starve your belly at the same time you have a death wish. I will go get you coffee. Cookies or cake?" She asks.
Eyes roll! What am I? A kid that she needs to feed and babysit? "Cake. And hurry the up before I blackout from anger." I mumble, and she walks away, wiggling her .
Shit! I'm really drained. Maybe I should take their advice and quit being a tenacious, bitch. Boss, huh! Cliche, right? My happiness right now is immeasurable, and 's high time I share it with my special someone. He still doesn't know anything, and I 't wait to catch a glimpse of his reaction and hearken to his impressions about this.
I fish out my phone, dial his number, and wait for his response.
"Hi, gorgeous! How was your day?" He speaks after picking up on the third ring.
He is always on time for everything. Never late. Never keeps me waiting. "I'm fine, . My day was fabulous. The best day of my life, I must say," I say, and I he can sense my enthusiasm through the line.