34

Ashely
I observed Ingrid who took slow steps towards the counter like a woman aware of the eyes boring holes at her feminine frame.
“I would like to order a cup of coffee and a cheese-cake, please?” I heard her say in a soft tone.
I fought the urge to rip that smile off her face while I struggled in getting a cup and raced towards the coffee-maker machine.
Emily’s face was still bent, her eyes fixated on the ground and her expression bearing that of embarrassment and burning rage.
“You look nice. ” I heard Leo say and I rolled my eyes. He flirted with everyone, including me and I had no idea why I felt bothered about it and why my heart kept racing anytime he spoke, laughed or even chuckled.
I heard quick heels advance towards a table and push a chair back, humming silently.
“Why are you hiding like you did something wrong?” I whispered towards Emily while watching Leo with a hand in his apron and the other touching his hair as he chatted with Ingrid to keep her busy.
“It’s nothing, ” she answered, “I just want her to leave, okay?”
“And you’re just doing to stay here as if you are in the wrong when she is?” I asked.
“Ashely, I really don’t want any drama. ” she responded with a sigh, arching her back further.
I sighed heavily, my eyes fixated on hers. I turned around with my hands crossed across my chest said;
“Her coffee and cheese-cake is going to be get cold so you better give it to her.”
“Wait?” Emily responded, completely startled and taken aback by my words, “No.”
“Yes you will, ” I retorted but my voice was low and subtle, “You will go right there, look her in the face and serve it to her.”
She shook her head violently while I nodded affirmatively.
“You can do this, girl. Don’t be a coward. ” I cheered her on while she rose on her feet, adjusting her black pants before edging closer to me.
“W-What if something goes wrong?” she stammered the words out of her mouth.
I placed a hand on her shoulder, patting it as a form of encouragement, “And that is when I come in. ”
I gave her a smile before sending her off on her journey of hell.
I moved towards the counter, my eyes facing my prey and my ears, ready to listen.
I watched as Emily slowly walked towards Ingrid and Leo who were still chatting about nothing I had no idea about. The second Emily dropped the coffee and the plate of cheese-cake with a spoon hanging at the edge, Ingrid’s facial expression changed from her lips parting slowly to give a toothy smile.
“Is that you, Emily?” I heard her say.
“Who else would it be?” I heard Emily respond with a stern look on her face.
“I’m sorry if I startled you at your place of work. ” Ingrid batted her fake extensions while her lips bathed in red spread to give a wry smile.
Leo looked at me with a lot of questions that wanted to be asked. I guessed that he got the hint that there was something going on between Ingrid and Emily so he briefly winked at the latter before setting off towards the counter where I was seated.
He nudged me by the elbow, “What’s going on? Things look tense over there. ”
I squinted, wanting Leo to stop speaking so I could pick up their conversation from where I stopped eavesdropping and now to worsen it, they were both talking in hushed whispers.
“What-”
I heard someone yelp in shock and I turned my head instantly. My hand flew over to my mouth at the scene that unfolded before my eyes.
Emily was pale and rooted on the spot with cheesecake smudged over her face while Ingrid rose on her feet, poured the remaining coffee which she hadn’t gulped down her throat on Emily’s hair.
I felt the space close in on me as my right hand clenched into fist while I advanced towards them with hasty steps. I knew that I had to do something to protect Emily.
“How dare you call me a slut? Your boyfriend chose me and not you. Why are you still butt-hurt over that like a child?” I heard her yell with her hands squeezing the empty coffee cup.
Before Emily could respond, I jumped in front and stood in the middle of both women.
“Why are you causing an uproar in a bakery in the early hours of the morning?” I scrowled, my fist hitting the table.
“Step aside, ” Ingrid retorted, “You have nothing to do with this.”
“I have everything to do with this. ” I verbalized, placing a hand on my hip, “Didn’t you take advantage of the fact that you were housing Emily and then you decided to seduce her boyfriend?”
“What are you talking about, you crazy lady?” I heard her scream.
“Get lost, ” I retorted sharply, “Before you embarrass yourself any further.”
I watched as her eyes darted towards a far corner before turning back to look at us, her lips still spread to give a smile. She then raised up her hand to hit me across the face.
I was ready for her hand to dare touch my face when I sighted a large hand grab her by the wrist.
Leo.
She tried to wriggle her hand free but he kept a firm grip, refusing to let go.
“Why are you interfering in what is absolutely none of your concern? Let go of me, right now. ” Ingrid shouted.
“You walk in here like a woman with class and you throw a cheese-cake and coffee on my co-worker. Is that how you appreciate her service?” I heard Leo ask.
“She called me a slut. ” Ingrid countered.
“Then you could have just ignored it, instead of acting violent and ridiculously crazy.” I heard Leo retort with rage in his eyes.
“Crazy?” Ingrid exclaimed, “Where is your boss? I need to speak to her.”
“You won’t see her, not today. ” I cut in with a smile.
“So it’s highly advisable that you walk out of here, if you still can,” I heard Leo say, still holding on to her hand, “-And please remember to stop seducing a person’s boyfriend. ”
Ingrid opened her mouth, unable to gather the will to speak and then I heard her scoff.
“Let me go. ” Ingrid shouted again.
“Not unless you apologize for what you have done and the mess you created.” I heard Leo say.
“I won’t do that so let me go this instant before I report to the authorities.” Ingrid yelled like a kid being denied a candy.
“What authorities? Would you also explain to them how you assaulted a staff in a bakery shop?” I cut in angrily, unable to bear her moan.
“Maybe she could,” I saw Leo’s face spread into a grin while he spoke, “And you should also explain why you’re disrupting us from continuing our business. ”
Ingrid went silent as if her tongue had been cut off. Where did all that energy from before go?
“The apology?” I heard Leo speak, “And I’ll release you. It’s a fair deal. ”
Ingrid mashed her lips together, trying to pick up her broken pride when she uttered;
“I am sorry.”
“Excuse me, can you say it a bit louder?” I heard Leo say, “Did you hear it, Emily?”
I shot a glance at Emily who shook her head violently and I cut in.
“Say it again, ” I said, “Please.” I finalized sarcastically.
“I am sorry for making a mess and disrupting your business. ” Ingrid muttered, her voice a bit louder than before.
“Fantastic,” I heard Leo respond before releasing his hold on her wrist, “Emily doesn’t have to accept your apology, just so you know.”
Ingrid let out a bitter chuckle and zipped open her bag, smacking wads of cash down on the table andglared at the three of us before nearly pushing Leo off her way, stomping on her heels out of the bakery.
“I thought she would stay behind for another cup of coffee. ” I heard Leo exclaim sarcastically.
“Which I would gladly throw on her hair.” I completed with a smile, “Now who is going to clean up all this mess?
My eyes travelled to the ground which held a puddle of brown coffee mixed with the yellow muddles of cheesecake.
“What about me?” Emily exclaimed with a giggle.
“You look quite alright.” I raised my head to look at her with a smirk, “You had nothing to be afraid of. ”
“You aren’t the one who has a hair that smells of cheesecake and coffee.” Emily countered back with a chuckle.
I rubbed the tip of my nose in amusement and noticed Leo staring at us in something I found hard to decipher.
Was it admiration?
“Thank you, Leo. ” Emily spoke with a smile while my lips spread father to produce a triumphant grin.
“Anything for you, cutie. ” I heard Leo say and in an instant, my face fell and darkened into a sad frown.
I thought I was the “cutie”
Why did I feel a burn in my chest when he said that to Emily?
I felt the need to walk away and my ringing phone became my saving grace.
I pressed the call button slanted it across my ear while sighting someone walk into the bakery and I then decided to race towards the rest-room.
“Hi.” was the first word that rolled off my lips when I shut the door and locked it with the key.
“Hey, Ashely.” I heard a voice speak and then my legs felt like jelly when my senses realized who it was.