In the seemingly endless 10 minutes that followed, the young lady and Manuel sought solace in a quaint café across the street. Choosing a secluded table tucked away under the shade of a grand tree, they found refuge in its serene ambiance. The table, adorned with a delicately patterned pastel purple tablecloth, hosted a petite white vase embellished with intricate golden details. Two poppies gracefully swayed within. Neatly arranged at each seat were napkins, folded into a formation resembling a flock of birds on small plates.
Manuel delicately picked up a napkin, carefully enveloping Geheim to shield him from the chill. Gently placing Geheim within the folds, he then tucked the creature into the warmth of his shirt jacket, ensuring his tiny friend was shielded from the cold.
Manuel, his mind swirling with questions about the mysterious woman and her ability to see Geheim, was on the verge of asking when she extended her hand, gesturing for him to hold his queries. Intrigued, he complied, glancing at her with a perplexed expression. Summoning courage, he inquired about her name, to which she responded with a slight snort, granting permission. Retrieving a business card from her handbag, she handed it to Manuel.
As he looked down at the card, he jumped up, realizing she was the chairwoman of the company where he had a job interview scheduled that day. The shock faded as he realized he wouldn't have made it in time anyway, sinking back into his chair. Geheim, jostled in the process, emitted soft, pained sounds. Manuel quickly retrieved his tiny friend, apologizing for the disruption, then carefully placed Geheim back in his pocket.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Everlyn, I didn't mean to overreact," Manuel apologized. She replied, "It's okay, you couldn't have known. But please, call me Sophie." Manuel nodded, and silence settled between them.
The silence was interrupted by a young waitress who politely inquired, "What can I bring for you both?" as she handed them menus. Sophie returned the menu, saying, "Just a glass of water, please. We're waiting for my chauffeur." Manuel also handed back the menu, "Water for me as well," he replied to the waitress. "Right away," she called out, hurrying to the kitchen. Manuel and Sophie lapsed back into silence.
Two agonizing minutes later, the waitress returned with two glasses of water. For Manuel, those two minutes felt like an eternity. Worries about Geheim's well-being and the uncertainty of his job interview with the company's CEO weighed heavily on his mind. Sophie graciously accepted her glass from the waitress and placed it in front of Manuel, who was lost in his thoughts and barely aware of his surroundings.
The waitress inquired about payment, directing her question to both. Sophie glanced at Manuel and then settled the bill for both of them, sparing him from further distress.
Sophie nudged Manuel gently under the table as the waitress moved to attend to another table. Manuel looked up, and Sophie gestured towards his glass. "You might want to finish that quickly; my driver should be here in about 5 minutes." Manuel nodded and swiftly downed his drink. Sophie chuckled and started to enjoy her water with a sense of elegance and delight.
After finishing their drinks, Sophie stood up and signaled to Manuel that her driver had just entered the street, indicating it was time to leave. "Wait," said Manuel, "we need to pay." Sophie snorted, explaining, "I've already taken care of that." Perplexed, Manuel looked at her, and Sophie showed him the receipt as proof. Bewildered, Manuel glanced at Sophie. She shook her head, took Manuel's arm, and ushered him out of the café.
As planned, Sophie's driver pulled up right where Sophie could hop into the back immediately. Manuel could hardly believe his eyes—he was about to step into a grand white limousine adorned with golden ornaments. The driver circled the car, opened the door, and Sophie gracefully entered. Manuel stood there with his mouth agape. The driver cleared his throat, but there was no response from Manuel. Clearing his throat louder, and still getting no reaction, the driver took Manuel by the arm, assisted him into the limousine, then swiftly returned to the driver's seat, accelerating away.