“Care to explain or continue your lie?” Christopher and Fatima are both sitting across from each other at a table in the coffee shop. She was contemplating what she should answer him and if she can get out of the situation. She was fidgeting in her seat like a fugitive caught by a cop. “Listen, I told you you heard me wrong-“ she got cut off.
“Tell me the truth or you’re fired from this job,” he threatened and her eyes widened. She crossed her arms and scoffed. “You can’t. Grian owns this shop,” she fought back and he laughed. She looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.
“Honey, this coffee shop is signed under my name. Grian is my secretary, I asked him to interview you,” he said with a smirk and her jaw dropped. She looked at Nikki who smiled guiltily.
“You lied to me?” She furiously asked, believing Christopher a little and he shrugged. “You lied to me first,” he argued and she stopped and cleared her throat. He does have a point. “Still!”
“There’s no way you’re the owner!” She refused to believe what she heard after thinking.
“Grian won’t lie to me.” Christopher scoffed. (So much faith in that guy,) he thought to himself before shaking his head.
Christopher pulled out his phone and called Grian and told him to come to the coffee shop this morning. As they waited, both Chris and Fatima looked at each other. One with an amused expression and one with an annoyed one.
Grian arrived at the coffee shop and explained everything to Fatima. She breathed heavily as she listened to his story. “He wanted me to interview and hire you and so I did and I sort of pretended to be the owner for his sake and-“ Fatima slapped him across the face. He was taken back and he blinked a couple of times, comprehending what just happened.
“That’s for lying to me,” she said and he didn’t know what to say.
“You lied as well!” Christopher butted in and she glared at him.
“I lied to you but I didn’t to Grian!” She argued and frowned.
She turned to Grian and shouted, “But you lied to me!” He held his aching face as she shouted at him. Christopher stood up and stood beside Grian, in front of Fatima. “Ah, so it’s okay to lie to me?” Chris asked, thinking what he’s hearing is unbelievable.
“Yes!” She didn’t hesitate to answer and he was in disbelief.
“I’m sorry, Fatima,” Grian told her before looking down at the floor and she crossed her arms. She glared at Christopher before looking at Grian then turning around. She walked to the back of the counter and ignored the men. “I don’t want to talk to any of you two.”
“I can fire you for being rude to your boss, you know!” Chris said and she rolled her eyes.
“Do it then,” she provoked but he couldn’t say a word. He closed his mouth and crossed his arms. “How can I make it up to you-“ Grian got cut off.
“Shut up, Grian!” Fatima irritatedly commanded and he shut his mouth immediately like a puppy. “Hah! Yeah, shut up, Grian!” Christopher repeated and laughed. His laughter stopped when he looked at Fatima who’s glaring at him. He cleared his throat and shut his mouth.
“Come on, you seriously can’t be mad at me for that. You lied as well,” Chris said and she rolled her eyes.
“Can all of you just shut up?? Gosh! The coffee shop has been closed for hours because of you three!” Nikki butted in the conversation and scolded all of them before walking to the door and flipping the sign to “open” before unlocking the door.
The three frowned at each other and Grian sat next to Chris while Fatima prepared the cups for the coffee getting served today. Fatima is still a bit mad but she does know Chris presented a valid point. She lied, and he lied, therefore, they’re both even. She sighed and ignored all thoughts and continued working.
By the time lunch came, the men were working while they’re at the table while Fatima and Nikki continued working till there were fewer customers. “You should eat, Nikki. I’ll eat after you eat, I’ll attend to the other customers by the meantime,” she told Nikki and she nodded. Nikki smiled before grabbing food for herself and sitting next to her brother and Grian.
As they were eating, Nikki started to try and convince Grian to attend the party they were invited to. “Oh, come on! It’s only once in a while, who cares if you don’t have a date?” she questioned and he rolled his eyes.
“I just don’t want to come along,” he said and raised his arms.
“Who’s your date anyways, huh? Chris, you better watch out. Your sister might be dating someone.” Chris turned to Nikki with a glare like he’s warning her not to do what he thinks she’s going to do. “He refused to go with me, okay! I’m going alone,” she said and pouted.
“You’re going with Hannah, right?” Grian asked Christopher and Fatima looked at them and waited for his answer. He nodded at Grian.
Nikki thought of a brilliant idea. She suddenly spoke while her mouth was still full. “Take Fatima with you,” she whispered to Grian before looking at Fatima who’s taking the orders of the table two seats beside them. He sighed and laid his head on the table. “She’s mad at me,” he said and Chris rolled his eyes.
“You are not taking her,” he butted in.
“You’re with Hannah, stop trying to keep Fatima to yourself,” Nikki scolded and his jaw clenched. Grian smirked at him, making him even more furious. “I told you, she’s not yours anymore,” he leaned forward and teased his friend before smirking again.
After Nikki was done eating, she went back to work so Fatima could also eat her lunch. She took her food and sat at the table as far away from the two as possible. “I’ll ask her out to be my date,” Grian said teasingly to Chris before patting his back and leaving to approach Fatima. He was about to follow his friend but he suddenly received a phone call.
“Don’t,” she said when she saw that Grian was about to sit in front of her. He stood straight up and smiled. “So, uh- how’s your younger brother?” He started a conversation and she eyed him before answering.
“Good. Still alive and well,” she said and he nodded, trying to think of anything else to say.
“What can I do to make it up to you, hmm?” he asked and she didn’t respond. He nodded to himself before he bent over and placed his elbow on the table and his head resting on his hand. “Nothing. Just leave me alone,” she answered and he frowned.
“I saw your mother yesterday,” he said and she looked up for the first time after refusing to look at him. Her expression clearly asked for more information. “If she’s bothering you and your siblings, I can help you move to a better place. A lot safer than where you live right now,” he offered and she sighed.
“How’d you know she was a bother?” She smiled sadly with her eyebrows raised.
“The landlady was trying to keep her away from your place. If you want to move places because of her, just tell me, alright?” Fatima sighed and her thoughts were a mess.
AN HOUR AWAY from the coffee shop, Fatima’s mother met up with two men who’s wearing black clothes. Loud murmurs and music is heard every inch of the place while alcohol and smoke are smelled. “How much money are you willing to give me?” she asked before smoking her cigarette. The two men crossed their arms and leaned back.
“It depends. Show us a picture,” they demanded and she smirked. She put out her smoke before pulling out a picture from her purse. The two men leaned forward to take a good look at the picture and they nodded. “A hundred thousand,” one of them offered and she shook her head.
“Too precious to be sold at that price,” she said and smiled deviously. She hid the picture from them again and tilted her head, waiting for another offer.
“Three hundred thousand.” Her eyebrow raised and she extended her hand for a handshake. The men smiled and shook her hand. “Give me a month,” she said and smiled before handing the photo to them to which they tried to pull from each other.
She stood up from her seat with a smile on her face before walking out of the bar thinking it’s her payday next month. She laughed loudly at the thought of it before hopping on a cab and driving off to the place where she currently lives. Where she’s away from her family that basically disowned their own mother.
BACK AT THE COFFEE shop, the day finally came to an end and they closed the coffee shop. Fatima always glares at Christopher whenever she sees him and he doesn’t appreciate the mean look. “Stop with that,” he said and gestured his eyes and her eyes.
“Now that you know who I am, I don’t need to pretend I’m okay with you anymore.” He scoffed and walked towards her and they were only inches apart.
“Are you forgetting I’m still your boss?” he asked and she cleared her throat and backed away. She fake-smiled and gestured to him in his car. “You should go home, sir. It’s kind of late. You don’t want to get jumped, don’t you?” she said, still wearing the fake smile.
He looked her up and down before saying, “Is that a threat?” She scoffed and crossed her arms. She was about to answer when Nikki and Grian approached them. “Stop fighting, it’s late already,” his sister said and sighed heavily. These two won’t stop since morning.
“I’ll drive you home,” both the men said in unison. She looked at both of them and scratched her head. She glared at Christopher before sweetly smiling at Grian. “Let’s go, Grian?” she said and walked to his car and he smirked before following behind her.
Christopher watched in shock before kicking a rock in their direction and placing his hand on his waist. “Those two are going to make me crazy!” he exclaimed before Nikki dragged him to his car.
Once Fatima and Grian arrived at her place, they both got out of the car. “Thanks,” she said and he saluted.
“So, you’re his secretary?” He nodded and smiled guiltily.
“He seems to have so much free time, considering he always goes to the coffee shop,” she said and he laughed.
“Yeah, he does.” He walked her all the way to her door.
Fatima was about to go inside their house but Grian grabbed her arm. She looked at him while raising her eyebrows and he scratched his head. “Are you free this weekend?” he asked.
“Probably working at the coffee shop, why?” she lightly laughed and so did he.
“I’m going to this.. uh- party. It would be lovely if you could be my plus one,” he said with a smile.
“Are you asking me out on a date?” she teased and he chuckled.
“Come on, it’ll be fun,” he tried convincing her. She squinted her eyes to give some thoughts. “I don’t have anything to wear. Only the rich will probably attend that party. Sorry.. I can’t come,” she refused and shrugged.
“I’ll help you pick out clothes to wear,” he said and she shook her head.
“I have no money for that. And I don’t want to make you pay for it so no,” she said and he frowned. He then thought of a brilliant idea so he could convince her to come to the party.