CHAPTER 2
You know the feeling you get after you've been splashed with iced water?
That was what hit me when my eyes fell on a young-looking man with dirty blonde hair that was fastidiously combed.
A paralyzing realization that I must have said my thoughts out loud washed over me, which made my limbs heavy as if anchored to the ground.
"You know," he began "I heard she isn't very likable"
"T-T-that's not true" rushed out of my mouth in a stutter.
I cleared my throat in an attempt to hide the embarrassment building inside me.
His eyes flicker over my face. "Who is she to you?"
" my best friend?"
"Is she?" he inquired as he arched his brows making the mole underneath his eyebrow prominent.
"Yes?"
"That came out as a question. You aren't sure, are you?" his voice drops lower than usual.
Springing up that question, dug up a speculation I had buried deep in my heart. Abigail and I have indeed known each other for eight months now but I have this ill feeling that I was more invested in the friendship than she was and I took me up as a project to work on. Like a plaything.
When that thought first crossed my mind, I thought it was my insecurity playing tricks on me. I mean, for someone who has no other person to call a friend you wouldn't expect anything else but as time went by I started noting some things that may have partially proved my point.
At that time she introduced me to her co-worker as someone she happened to know. She apologized soon after but the words stuck in my mind like a magnet.
I waved it off with pretense and told her I understood.
Now, she left me by myself in a world I was not familiar with after she made a promise to be with me most of the time.
It might seem I was overthinking it but she could have at least introduced me to some of the guests before weaving off without a word.
My eyes scanned the faces of the guests and landed on her. She wore a hearty smile, partially hugging her dad, while talking to him.
Why hasn't she introduced me to her dad?
"A penny for your thoughts?" The voice of the man I was with pulled me out of my thoughts.
" oh! You know what? I don't have to answer that question" I retorted.
"Which one?"
I glared at him feeling a surge of confidence radiate through me. "You know which one."
He chuckles. "I'm Edward Brown," he said, as he stretched forth his hand ready to collect mine in a handshake.
"Marah. Marah Gale" I announced reaching out to receive the handshake.
"Marah Gale." He repeated as he tilted his head to the side. "not from around here, are you?"
"Isn't it obvious? I look out of place"
He glanced at me from head to toe. " I wouldn't say that"
I wrapped my arms around myself feeling slightly apprehensive.
"I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable"
"No it's fine" I brushed him off.
He seemed to have noticed the change in my countenance. "Champagne?" he asked as he raised a flute in his hand.
"Yes please."
Downing alcohol into my system would push these nerves away.
The waiter arrived just in perfect time holding a tray of champagne. Edward stretched his hand to pick up a flute.
"Here." He said as he handed it to me.
I gulped down the whole quantity in a rush and he looked at me like I grew two horns on my head.
The fizzy liquid left behind a lively acidic taste with a pinch of apple flavor that made me scrunch up my face in the process.
"Whoa! Slow down. You seem nervous."
"I am"
I chunked down more glasses of champagne without care that I started to feel lightweight.
Reached out to grab another glass and Edward beat me to it.
"That's enough now"
"What's enough?" I giggled
He searched my face. " Great! Now you are tipsy"
"No, I'm not"
"Yes you are"
"No, I'm not" Immediately the words came out of my mouth. I held out my hand for stability, grabbing onto the first thing within arm's length which happened to be Edward.
"You should sit," he said as he grabbed onto me and pulled out a chair. He gently placed the seat and proceeded to take one.
"Just so you know, I'm fully aware of what I'm doing" I blurted out.
"Hmmm sure" he voiced white pursed lips
" I should get you water"
He sprung up instantly and walked towards the waiter mouthing words I couldn't decipher. The waiter left through a backdoor and brought back a bottle of water. Edward collected the bottle and started in my direction.
He opened the cap of the bottle. "Drink," he said as he settled in.
I took a sip of the water and placed the bottle on the table.
"Why don't you tell me about yourself?" I uttered, feeling a surge of confidence radiate through me
"What do you want to know?"
"I don't know. What do you do?"
"Something extremely boring."
Without any control of my emotions, I burst into laughter
"What? No."
"Trust me, being a CEO can be immensely boring.
Thinking about what I do gives me a headache" he murmured as he rubbed his temples.
"Wait a minute, why are you here talking to me?"
He furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"
"Well, to my little knowledge, this birthday party is another business conference."
He snorted. " that's probably true"
He moved in closer to me. " That's why I'm here trying to woo you." his voice dropped lower than usual.
A heat of desire rushed into my face.
He gave me a boyish smile. I froze on the spot as I stared at him. A heat of desire rushed into my face.
I used the opportunity to study his face. He had big, soulful eyes like George Clooney's. His bow-shaped lips are so full making him look feminine.
He is pretty.
I realized with a shock that I had been gaping at him for a few good seconds. My forehead crashed against his in an attempt to pull away.
I brought my palm to the throbbing spot on my head and winced at the sharp pain.
He chuckled.
"Funny sight. Isn't it"
"Quite likely"
He set his hand on my head and massaged the aching spot with his thumb.
Fireworks exploded in my tummy.
He brought his hand to his side. Expressions passed across his face, but I couldn't read them
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"What do you do?"
"I make coffee."
"Interesting"
"How is that?"
"I love coffee. This is fate. We are meant to be together." He said as he clasped his hands together as if trying to make a point.
I cracked up. "Does that mean I'm fated to be with 74% of Americans who drink coffee every day?"
" They aren't here with you, are they?" He said with his
brows raised. "Which makes me the perfect candidate."
My eyes darted to the bottle of water in front of me. I saw through my peripheral vision that he was looking at me.
"Where?"
I swung my gaze towards him. "Where what?"
"Where do you make coffee?"
"Gregory's coffee."
A look of familiarity strikes his face "I know that place."
"It's a well-"
"Marah!" Abigail hollered at me as she made her way to us.
"I want to introduce you to my dad." She turned to Edward. "Edward"
"Abigail" her name scraped against his tongue like sandpaper.
"Come on" she beckoned upon me.
I got up and gave Edward an apologetic look. "I enjoyed your company. Thank you"
He gave me a faint smile. "Likewise"
She shot him a glare and sucked her teeth.
"What's that about?" I implored.
"I don't like him. What were you doing with him anyways."
"What do you mean what was I going with him? Left ditched me the second we got here and you know what I feel about places like this."
"Sorry about that bit I just had to be with daddy that very minute. I should get accustomed to the way he relates with his business partners."
"Oh"
We walked closer to where Mr Berlette seemed to be discussing with a ginger-haired lady. She nodded furiously at what he said and patted his shoulder before dashing off.
We were greeted with the sight of his grin then his eyes connected with him.
I'd never been close enough to see his face. He had the kind of face that stops you in your tracks. I stood and stared directly at his tall frame compared to my average one with a blank expression. My weight shifted from one foot to the other.
This is it. This is the moment he forbids you from being friends with his daughter.
You are not in the same class.
"Marah, is it?" his baritone voice drew me out of my thoughts.
That's what he sounds like?
His voice was deep, like a bass drum. Gruff enough to suggest a degree of toughness which gave away an impression of his age.
Aged like fine wine" the little voice in my head speaks up.
I realized I had never heard him speak before. Although I've been to their place countless times. We never crossed paths. Anytime I asked Abigail to introduce me to her dad. She always came up with an excuse as to why she couldn't. It's either "Daddy is too busy" or "Daddy is in his study right now"
"Yes," my voice hitched.
"Pleasure to meet you," he said as he reached out for a handshake.
"Seconded" I uttered as I returned the handshake with my sweaty palm.
His clasps lingered on for a while before he broke free.
"I've heard a lot about you. Thank you for keeping my daughter in touch with reality."
I tilted my head to the side. " well, err…sure"
Abigail smacked him in the arm. "Why would you say that?" She said in a whiny voice.
"I spoiled you a little too much," he paused as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "I still do."
A man who seemed to be wearing pants too small for his size beckoned upon Mr Berlette to propose a toast.
"I've got to go." He said quickly and proceeded to peck her on the head. He turned to me and gleamed at me. I smiled.
The toast was short and brief but nothing less heartwarming. Abigail sniffled beside me. I linked her hand to mine to comfort her.
She is being her dramatic self again
We raised our glasses, I clinked my glass against Abigail's and took a sip.
"Nice to see you didn't rush this one in"
I turned at the sound of the familiar voice which belonged to Edward." I wouldn't want to embarrass myself the second time"
"Nobody would pay attention to that "
"You did," I argued.
"I was thinking, maybe, you would like to grace me with your presence at Gregory's tomorrow?"
I blinked at him.
"Forget I asked that. That was rude of me. Trying to intrude on your private life. He rambled while avoiding my gaze.
"Edward"
"Hrm? " he darted his eyes to me.
" you can come by anytime and yes, I would like to grace you with my presence"
He cackled. " I feel full of the joys of spring hearing you say that to me"
I heard Abigail suck her teeth behind me and mumbled words I couldn't decipher.
"See you then," he said as he waved.
I waved back. I glanced at my best friend.
"What?" She inquired.
"Nothing."
She took a quick look at her wristwatch. "It's late. We should get going."
***
"Good morning, Greg." I chirped. Gregory, my employer, is a 60-year-old widower. He owned the coffee shop in 4th Avenue, New York, where I got my bread and butter. I worked from 8 a.m. till 8 p.m. Monday to Friday making coffee.
"Good morning, Marah. Did you have a great weekend?" He smiled adoringly at me.
"Yes, I did." I grinned like a Cheshire Cat and fixed my rumbled floral vintage dress. It was my favorite dress and I loved wearing it often. I bought it with my hard-earned money on my 18th birthday.
It was already eight o'clock, time for the coffee shop to open. I dashed into the kitchen to prepare for the day.
I learned how to prepare coffee from Grace, the barista at my old workplace. For almost a year that I worked there, she taught me how to do coffee artwork and techniques for preparing good coffee. I acquired the knowledge of the barista's complete guide to coffee and embraced it wholeheartedly.
"Hey, Marah. There is a man here to see you." Betty, one of the employees yelled behind me, that I almost dropped the mug was holding.
"A man?"
Could it be Edward? It has to be. He did say he would like me to grace him with my presence.
A creeping smile found its way to my face at the thought of him.
I went out of the kitchen and scanned the faces of the customers. I didn't see the familiar feminine masculine face.
I scrunched up my eyebrows.
Did she make a mistake?
As I was about to head back to the kitchen, my eyes caught a wave that came from the far corner of the shop.
My stomach twisted in knots at the sight of the man before me.