Chereads / Melting an Ice Cold Heart / Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: A Trip to the Café

Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: A Trip to the Café

The morning was like how a usual Saturday morning was in the Flameheart household. Alena woke up early and prepared breakfast for her parents and herself. Toasted bread with scrambled eggs and fruit salad and some orange juice. After preparing breakfast she cleaned the house and cleaned the dust from the windows and doors of the house. Then she went to study and did her homework before leaving for the cafe.

Yesterday was a long day for Alena, quite tiring. She was out for the whole day and thus Mrs. Flameheart didn't want to let go of her daughter and hugged her tightly before she left for work. Mrs. Flameheart was extremely worried and Mr. Flameheart was busy comforting her yesterday, she hoped today her daughter would be back home on time as her heartfelt a little anxious as she watched her daughter leave for work.

"Hey", waved Andria at Alena as she joined her in the locker room, her long hair tamed under a hairband.

Alena was pulling up her stockings as she looked up and replied," Hey. How are you doing?", she had just finished getting ready for work.

They both smiled at each other and chatted about the normal mundane things in life like school, tests, etc. for a while before they joined their respective roles in the shift.

'Ding', her phone sounded, capturing her attention. She was still working when she received a message from someone anonymous. An unknown number.

'Please do think about it Miss Alena, we are awaiting your response,' the message read. She sighed and wondered who it could be. Scrolling down, there was a name signed 'Maria'.

"Alena, take the order for table no. 10!", shouted Mr. Takeshi from the kitchen, placing a tray of cheesy fries and a special grilled veggie sandwich with a glass of ice tea. He pulled her out of her trance.

"On it", she shouted back. She was a little startled but got back into her work mode.

"Hey, did you notice?", whispered Rita coming close to Alena who was wiping the table after some customers left.

"Notice what?", Alena furrowed her brows.

"A new store opened on the opposite street, it's apparently an outlet of the popular dessert bakery brand 'Jean's Crème Brûlée," Rita pointed towards a store straight ahead visible from the windows of the café as she wiped another table next to the table Alena was at. "They opened today officially. It's their first day and look at the crowd gathered near the store! It's big! Apparently, Mrs. Hales is pissed off today. Even some of our loyal customers were seen entering there", the corner of her lips pulled downwards in despondency.

"Hah, the customers went to the new shop obviously since it's better than ours", Tracy snickered as if she was secretly amused by that fact.

"What are you girls talking about?", asked Mark smirking, joining in the group, he was intrigued.

"What are you all doing, chattering and wasting your time away? Get back to work immediately!", prodded Mrs. Hales frowning at her employees.

"Geez, she's really in a bad mood today", muttered Rita as all of them dispersed to carry on with their work.

"Yeaahh maann", whispered Mark elongating the words, dreading going back to work.

It was very hot today, Kai felt like visiting an ice cream shop and having his regular vanilla mint chocolate ice cream and get some refreshing beverage and some pastry for dessert.

"Stop the car. Find a place nearby to park," ordered Kai to his chauffeur who rushed to open the door for young master Kai. He stopped right in front of Jean's Crème Brulee.

"Welcome, young master!" greeted a woman with a face full of makeup and a lipstick-stained smile, as soon as he stepped inside the shop. She was the new salesperson of the store and soon the manager and leading salesperson were called who guided and showed Kai around, finally stopping to ask him what he'd like to order.

The people in the queue waiting for a long time were surprised and confused as to who was being given so much priority, some complaining and ranting when they noticed a bunch of bodyguards standing outside the store. They figured it was some celebrity and some tried to take a peek inside the store to find out who it was. Some others pulled their smartphones out to click a picture but the guards blocked their ways by standing in front of them. The guards glowered down on anybody to intimidate and shut them up who tried to protest and grumbled about the wait due to the celebrity inside.

While Kai was looking at the confectionary decorated and lined up in front of him. While selecting an appropriate confectionary for himself he noticed the shop across the street and inside the shop a woman with long ginger red hair. His thoughts immediately wandered and displayed an image of Alena.

He wanted to go and check if it really was her. He felt an urge to go and check it himself. He wasn't sure if it was her. It could've been any other random person, of course, there do exist many other redheads as well, although there are not many redheads around in this town.

He shook his head to stop overthinking and tried to focus back on selecting his dessert. His eyes kept wandering to the shop across and he heaved a sigh. He messaged the bridged of his nose and decided to go and check it out for himself. He couldn't help it after all.

The bell by the door jingled, indicating the arrival of a customer. A customer wearing black sunglasses and a cap entered the shop. He kept glancing in the direction of a certain redhead.

The arrival of the customer drew everyone's attention. "Welcome to the café, master. Please take a seat," greeted one of the girls who was dressed up in a waitress outfit with an apron. The waitress was intrigued by the customer's look as she bowed and gestured towards an empty table for two.