"Really?" Was what his mom said the moment he suggested working at her Cafe.
"Yeah, Charlie's interested in the position too!" He quickly added. Just on cue, Charlie poked her head into the frame of the video feed in the call from behind Kai, "Hi, Mrs. Owens!"
That didn't seem to convince his mom because she was still squinting at them through the screen of their smart tv. "It's important to learn how to earn money through your own hard work!" Kai pushed. He wondered if his mom could see through his nervous smile. Yes, Kai was a good actor; but to his family, he was not. Both Edward and Godiva were blessed with the gift of reading his expressions well, and no years of acting could help him hide anything from them.
However, beyond his expression and overall acting skill, his reasoning behind getting the position could be deemed questionable by his mother. Kai and Edward lived quite comfortably in one of Fashion District's trendiest apartment complexes and Godiva definitely did not have any difficulties in providing them with anything they wanted. They might not be rich in a manner where they have a garage full of vintage foreign cars, but they could afford a number of holiday trips to numerous lands around the world in their lifetime as proven by the collage of framed pictures decorating their hallway. Godiva owned a couple of businesses in the length of Fashion District's most crowded street; one being her cafe, another being a jewelry boutique. At the moment she was establishing partnerships for her Wedding Planner business with partners in Italy.
She was never against any of his boys working for the experience. It was just that, considering they were well provided for, she thought they would seek an opportunity that requires less menial work.
"And Edward?" Godiva asked.
Edward, possibly hearing his name mentioned, showed himself from the kitchen. "I'm doing an internship at Tech-X". And as though it couldn't be heard well enough by the speaker, Kai echoed it to his mom on the screen, "He's doing an internship at Tech-X".
"Okay. Well, it's great that you want to earn your own money, honey; but weren't you doing that babysitting job?"
"I did not consent to that job! Mr. and Mrs. Harrison forced me into it!" The couple living on a unit on their floor needed somewhat to watch over the demon they called their son while they were out on a date.
"Okay, but you've never shown any interest in my Café or businesses before, so I can't help but wonder, honey". She had a point - because Kai had not, and was still not, interested in the job. Vi insisted he took the job.
"We saw our seniors working there, Mrs. Owens," that was Charlie. Kai did not expect her to just let that out to his mom - now they were not going to get that job!
"Sorry?"
"Yes. Vivian Parker. She's a dance student at our school. Kai met her yesterday and she told us all about working at the cafe and how much she likes it. She then told us about the position," Charlie explained, "And I'm sure you've heard about Vivian from Belle. Vivian is known throughout the school for being that one girl that does everything well".
"If you are making the cafe your hangout while being paid -"
"No! Mom, of course not! You know me better than that. Besides," Kai grimaced, "If you knew Vivian, she's not keen on taking it easy. I can easily see myself getting my ass kicked by her if I ever mess anything up". There was always something akin to simmering anger and frustration in Vivian that seemed like it would explode any time. Kai honestly did not want to be anywhere near her when it did happen.
Actually, that's perfect. "Go ask Belle. She will attest to it. Vivian will not hesitate from chastising anyone, the owner's child or not".
His mom sighed, "I guess there's no changing your mind".
**
"Oh my God, you are twins!" Ken's eyes grew comically large over the sight of Kai standing next to Edward at the Cafe. The cellist still had his jaw slack as he walked around the two. "It's real! I'm not imagining it, what the fu -"
"Hush it," Vivian snapped; sharp and curt; while looking like she was ready to stab with a poisoned blade anytime at Ken. To their misfortune, she was given the position of the Cafe acting manager for the length of Belle's maternity leave; which means she would not only boss over them for their espionage work, but she would also boss over them at the cafe.
"But look, Viv! They're like a pair of dolls!"
The Owens twins were blessed with both their parents' good looks and, especially, Godiva's good sense of fashion, though both were polar opposites when it comes to style. Kai dressed like a misunderstood artist who tried to blend in whereas Edward presented himself like an intentional geek. That very day the latter was wearing an oversized anime shirt over a long-sleeved shirt next to Kai, who was wearing ... fishnet shirt?
"Right? Aren't we cute?" Kai hooked an arm around his twin's shoulders. Said twin was the epitome of unbothered. He had his full attention on his phone. It was bizarre because Kai was practically squealing to his ears the whole time.
"Do you guys speak at the same time and stuff?" That was Samuel, who had one fist under his chin in thought.
"Yes!" Kai answered the same time Edward said, "No". Kai frowned at the shorter twin, "We literally do!"
The whole gang rose their eyebrows at the scene from behind the cashier counter, perhaps finding the twins to be an interesting show only Fashion District could breed out. But then again, a lot of their customers couldn't stop staring at pointing ever since the two entered. The brothers were an interesting sight to see.
"They also still sleep with each other," Charlie told the group; which got Vivian cringing.
"Eww, really?"
"Just sometimes, Ed-ed is too busy to spend time with me nowadays," Kai mocked sobbing, "He has school projects. He goes to JSU, you see".
"Woah".
"Right, woah. Ed-ed's smart!" Kai beamed like a single fluorescent light in the middle of a dark lighthouse. The rest of them questioned how two strikingly opposite personalities could be related. Even with Kai technically bouncing in glee from simply introducing his twin to his co-workers, Edward maintained a disinterested front. It was strange to see such a flat emotion showcased on the same face they often see smiling left and right.
Edward huffed and shrugged off his brother's hold on him. "Alright, that's enough. I gotta go," he muttered in a fashion that is so different to Kai's usual loudness. Edward gave his brother a half hug, then went to kiss Charlie on the cheek. "Bye," he said with one last glance to the rest of the group. He left with slight rush to each of his step.
"That's.... not what I expected," Ken commented once the guy was out of their line of sight. "If it's this guy's twin, I was expecting someone more rambunctious. That guy looks like our presence alone offends him".
Charlie shook her head, "Edward does not hate you! He's just awkward around new people, but once you get to know him, you'll find that he's a very nice guy!"
Ken rolled his eyes. Trust the Romeo and Juliet to stay optimistic no matter the situation. Just yesterday Ken heard Charlie calling the one senior everyone hated at their academy 'Misunderstood and lonely'. It didn't seem to strike her that the guy was just an asshole. Hence, Ken wouldn't really buy her judgment on others.
"Why did we recruit these two to the team again?" he asked Vivian, who was busy putting freshly baked muffins to the cake display.
"They're charming. They will mingle well with famous important people," Vivian said. True enough, Kai easily charmed all guests, especially females, that were visiting the café. Charlie was stationed to hand out flyers of their weekend special outside; and already, more males stopped to hear what they were selling. "Most importantly," Vivian added, "Those two are very good actors".
Ken hummed. In just a week, their team had taken over the Cafe's main staff. Belle, the café manager, had comfortably passed down to Vivian most of the reign of the Café. Once she was on maternity leave, Vivian would replace her as the manager from the afternoon to the evening, while also balancing her espionage work and her dancing gig from the school.
Ken and Samuel only began working there to spy on their target's recurring appearance in the district. They were both hired to perform on the mini-stage; sometimes alongside others, sometimes just the two of them. "Are you sure we're doing this right?" Ken asked. He had always voiced his opinion that they should just focus on the school and get closer to Brianna Drake in spite of her lack of presence. Yet Vivian did not like doing the waiting game. She opted to keep moving; to keep on finding a shortcut.
"Yes. We are doing this right". Vivian had tried approaching Brianna Drake by taking on more dancing gigs to be placed closer to the dance program director, but even when she was named one of their program's best, Brianna Drake still felt like a distant figure. Moreover, Brianna Drake clearly had made a point of not discussing her personal life because whenever Vivian asked around, whether to the staff nor to fellow students, they all clammed up just as instantly.
It was said that the closest person to her from the school was probably Katrina, the alleged lover of her son. They said Katrina was often found by her side and it was common to find them arriving at school together. Word had it Katrina was a relative of the Drakes.
Vivian was as lost about Katrina as she was about Brianna Drake. Katrina Walts did not have any friends at Kingston Academy and no one there knew her beyond her remarkable achievements. Her socials were full of professionally taken pictures of her on multiple stages across the continent yet none were ever close and personal. Her family's socials were of the same tone.
Some girls at the academy had performed with her and they all said she was a very silent person. It was believed she was verbally challenged.
As for this Cafe - Vivian did not know if it might take them closer to Katrina and, eventually, Angelo Drake, but it had to. It must.
And it would. She didn't think it would be this fast, but her spy training taught her to be ready at all times.
It was only 3 hours into their shift when Katrina Walts herself entered the Café dressed smartly in a cream-colored turtleneck dress. Tall and slender, Katrina was blessed with the figure of a talented dancer and a face that came straight out of a painting. Vivian had imagined how this meeting will play out. Katrina would arrive at the order counter, and Vivian would act surprised. "Oh my! Katrina, I didn't expect to see you here. You may not know me, I'm Vivian, from Kingston Academy's dance program. I've heard a lot about you!" Vivian would greet her, and she would proceed to converse with the young woman and lull her into some form of friendship.
Yet here she was; a deer in headlights. She was a lone pilot to the order counter; Kai was making coffee and Charlie was tending to the tables. Ken and Samuel were all the way jamming the stage with what sounded like progressive jazz, while Johnathan was in the kitchen to help the cook prepare for their evening menu. Perhaps the one witness who actively saw Vivian slowly turning into one unmovable statue was the bartender, who just started to open up their bar for their later afternoon and evening guests; but even he would pay no heed to the new girl who was probably starstruck to the recurring appearance of a celebrity customer at Café Olivier.
Move mouth! Vivian ordered to no avail. Talk to her and make yourself reckoned!
"Welcome to Cafe Olivier! Would you like to take a look at our selections of pastries and cakes before you order?"
Charlie! What a smooth save. The young lady stood right by their cake display; form perfect and friendly as Katrina turned her head slowly to her way. "You have a good eye!" Charlie exclaimed as if to no one, "That cake is one of our latest recipes and you'd be the first of our customers to try them if you're interested!"
Vivian could barely hear the older lady muttering, "Latest recipe?" but Charlie either ignored the timidness or did not notice it, "Yes. In fact, we'll give you the cake for free as long as you give us a proper review on its taste. How does that sound?"
Katrina's brows met in thought before she muttered, again, very lowly, "Three".
"I'm sorry?"
"I'd like three," she said, "Please".
Three slices of the same cake were quite the overkill even for a sweet tooth, Vivian thought. That was until she noticed the figures that entered the Café next. One was dressed in layers of figure-fitting dark coats. His appearance was sleek and expensive; a pair of thin-framed glasses hung over a thin nose. He barely paid them any mind as he was too busy engaging someone over his phone call. But what was more unexpected was the taller figure leading the way.
Vivian was definitely not a stranger to this person. In those pictures of Angelo Drake, he was more often seen next to the alleged Larks heir; sometimes opening the door to him to numerous venues. He was tall with wide shoulders; his light blue eyes piercing.
At this point, Vivian knew him by no name. But to you, dear readers, it was one you knew by Ivanov Phillips.