Iridessa stood behind the bakery counter at Mrs. Lopez's establishment. Every Saturday, she faithfully worked for the elderly Mrs. Lopez. When Iridessa initially arrived in Greenwich, searching for a place to live, it was Mrs. Lopez who kindly extended her a temporary home until she could secure an apartment with her friends. Mrs. Lopez had become a motherly figure to Iridessa, and the way the women treated her was akin to a mother's love. Iridessa would forever hold a deep sense of gratitude towards her.
"Hey there, Mrs. Grayson! How's it going?" Iridessa greeted cheerfully, flashing a warm smile as she glanced up from behind the counter.
"Hello, Iridessa! I've been good, thank you. And yourself?" Mrs. Grayson replied, her eyes twinkling with delight.
"Just the usual hustle and bustle," Iridessa chuckled.
"That's life honey, so today I'm here because I couldn't resist popping in for some of Mrs. Lopez's delectable treats. What's your recommendation for today?"
Iridessa motioned towards the array of pastries on display. "The sweet bread rolls are always a crowd favorite. Or maybe you'd like to try one of our new empanadas? They're absolutely heavenly."
Mrs. Grayson's eyes lit up as she surveyed the options. "Hmm, tough choice. I'll go with a dozen of those sweet bread rolls, please. And throw in a couple of those empanadas as well."
"Great picks," Iridessa said, swiftly wrapping up the order. "Anything else you'd like today?"
Mrs. Grayson shook her head. "No, that's all for now. But please let Mrs. Lopez know that her pastries are as scrumptious as ever."
Iridessa assured Mrs. Grayson with a smile, "Rest assured, I will pass on your kind words." As she handed over the bag of pastries, Mrs. Grayson leaned in, speaking in a secretive tone.
"You know, Iridessa, I believe my son would absolutely adore meeting a charming young lady like yourself. I'll have to bring him by one of these days."
Iridessa maintained her smile, trying her best not to roll her eyes. Mrs. Grayson always attempted to find a match for her. "That's very generous of you, Mrs. Grayson. I would be thrilled to meet him."
With a contented smile, Mrs. Grayson bid farewell to Iridessa and exited the bakery, leaving behind the lingering aroma of delectable baked goods.
As Mrs. Grayson departed, Mrs. Lopez emerged from the back of the bakery, wiping her flour-dusted hands on her apron. She chuckled upon seeing Iridessa's flushed cheeks.
"Did that nosy old lady mention her son again, dear?" Mrs. Lopez asked, grinning knowingly. Iridessa couldn't help but laugh.
"Yes, Mrs. Lopez, she did. She seems determined to play matchmaker."
Mrs. Lopez chuckled. "Well, you can't fault her for trying. Her son is a fine young man, though a bit shy. I'm sure he'd be lucky to meet someone as lovely as you."
Iridessa felt a warmth spread through her at Mrs. Greyson's words.
"I appreciate your kind words, Mrs. Lopez. However, at the moment, I'm not really interested in pursuing a relationship," Iridessa replied, her mind drifting to thoughts of Idrus, causing a melancholic smile to grace her face.
Concern laced Mrs. Lopez's voice as she noticed Iridessa's sad smile. "What's troubling you, dear?"
Iridessa let out a soft sigh. "I went on a date, Mrs. Lopez. I had hoped for a better outcome, but things didn't go as planned."
Empathy filled Mrs. Lopez's expression as she spoke. "That guy clearly doesn't know what he's missing. You are truly wonderful."
"Perhaps he couldn't see the value in staying," Iridessa mused, grabbing a towel rag to clean the already spotless counter.
Mrs. Lopez shook her head and lightly tapped her forehead. "Don't say that. Sometimes people fail to see what's right in front of them. But trust me, dear, someone who can't appreciate you doesn't deserve you."
A faint smile tugged at Iridessa's lips, touched by Mrs. Lopez's words. "Thank you, Mrs. Lopez. Your words always give me strength."
With a reassuring squeeze of her hand, Mrs. Lopez offered her final piece of advice. "Keep your head held high, dear. The right person will come along when the time is right."
Iridessa forced a nod, even though she didn't feel like it. "I'll remember that, Mrs. Lopez. Thank you for being here for me," she said, trying to sound grateful.
Mrs. Lopez smiled and went back into the kitchen.
As Iridessa continued her day, serving customers and trying to keep her mind off of Idrus, she felt a sense of relief. For the first time since she met him, her mind was clear. But just as she was about to enjoy a hot chocolate for herself, the door chimed, signaling the arrival of a new customer.
Iridessa turned to see who it was, and her breath caught in her throat when the stranger walked in, Who was this man? He seemed like a completely different species altogether. Tall, with slicked black hair, pierced ears, and dressed all in black, he commanded the attention of the entire bakery.
Their eyes met, and Iridessa quickly looked away, feeling her face grow hot. What was happening to her? From the corner of her eye, she watched as he approached her, standing right in front of her.
"Um.. hello." Iridessa stuttered, feeling a bit flustered. She glanced up to see the large man chuckling, revealing dimples on both sides of his cheeks. He reminded her of Idrus in size and build, but there was something different about him. Despite his piercings, he exuded a polished suave demeanor. His dark eyes, similar to Idrus' but held a mysterious quality that intrigued Iridessa.
"Welcome to heaven's delight, w..we have a variety of pastries to choose from, the..," she began, listing off the options. Before she could finish, the man interjected.
"What do you recommend, corazón?" His deep, husky voice sent a shiver down Iridessa's spine.
"All of them are good, sir. You can choose any," she replied, trying to hide her embarrassment as her cheeks flushed. She couldn't understand why she was feeling so flustered.
"Please, call me Rafael. And what's your name Preciosa?" Rafael's words made Iridessa's cheeks turn an even deeper shade of red, then Rafael understood why Idrus was drawn to her. The scent of her pure blood was intoxicating, and Rafael knew he had to have her.