Christian's eyes gleamed with calculation as he stared at the door moments after she had left. Her defiance resonated with him. His phone buzzed, shrill in the silence. "Yes?"
"Sir, we came across more info on her." the voice behind the phone cracked through the line. "The shop isn't the only fund source she has acquired. However, it is a cover-up"
Christian's grip on the phone tightened. "Go on"
"We've noticed strange payments. unaccountable to where it came from, but its receiver is Maeve, Brooklyn." His eyes narrowed, mind racing with implications. "Investigate further, do what you must get the owner of those payments."
The line went dead. Christian's gaze settled on the small coffee shop just down the road. He had watched her enter her shop minutes ago—the firm look on her face.
Maeve stood outside Oliver's door, clutching a plate wrapped in plastic wrap. Her sandwich and ham desserts, a humble offering, seemed inadequate for the apology she owed. Taking a deep breath, she knocked.
Oliver's voice, firm but welcoming, rang out from inside the apartment. The door swung open slightly, and she froze, a small plea in her mind to abandon conquest. However, she stood with a solid gaze at him. Maeve's heart ran a thousand miles in one second.
"Hey," Oliver said, eyes crinkling at the corners. "What brings you here?"
Maeve held out the plate. "I've come to apologize. For... everything." Her voice trembled underneath as she spoke, her eyes faced to the ground.
At first, Oliver was puzzled, but his expression softened soon after. "You didn't have to bring food," Maeve flinched as she heard his declining words. "But thank you very much. I was starving all day," he concluded with a light laugh.
Maeve's smile faltered. "It's just a sandwich and ham dessert. Not much, I know."
"This was my favourite back then, you remembered." Oliver's eyes sparkled, causing Maeve's cheeks to warm up in response, "I hoped you'd accept my apology for last night. I overreacted, but I hope this will allow you to forgive me." she took a deep breath to steady her voice as she concluded, "Can we start over as friends again?"
"How about you come on in first while I consider a response," he stated, already giving way for her to enter. And she did.
Inside, Maeve's eyes scanned the room, cardboard boxes towering over her like sentinels. Unpacking seemed to be a struggle he had yet to begin.
"I see you have yet to unpack. " She trailed her eyes over the boxes to settle into the kitchen. Maybe he had unpacked, seeing as the kitchen was in good condition. Once she took her seat, they talked into the night. The sound of their laughter and bright smile filled the room.
****************************************************************
A phone call buzzed into the night, hands stretched in search of the phone, picking up the dial on the first ring.
"Who is this?"
"I have a client for you. How does Thursday evening sound to you?" the firm baritone said from the other end of the device. It took a minute before a response was given.
"Make it Friday evening and send me the information ahead. I'll be waiting." The response was slow and groggy. The call was cut.
The busy hours of the cafe set in and all hands were on deck to keep it afloat with the rush of customers. Maeve was already exhausted by the time. They all lounged in the closet room, taking a short and required break. The customers had reduced then for them to sneak into the closet for a few breathers.
"I am tapped out as of right now," Rachel said, taking off her uniform.
Maeve glanced occasionally at her phone, responding half heartedly to Rachel's comment. And she eventually noticed.
"You have something going on this evening?" she asked, putting her uniform into her workbag.
Maeve looked up. It was as though her eyes revealed it all. Rachel gave a knowing glance, her smile barely hidden as she tried to sound less curious.
"When are you supposed to meet up?" Rachel asked,
"This evening around 5 o'clock," Maeve answered. Rachel checked the time, seeing as it was almost that time. She glanced at Maeve in shock.
"Oh my goodness, it's almost time and look at your state" she emphasised on the cafe shirt uniform she still wore. "You haven't even taken a shower. " Rachel had become hysterical.
"It's not that big a deal. I'll be ready in a nick of time and my dress is in my bag." Maeve had replied in an unbothered tone, dismissing it with a wave.
Rachel was bewildered by her. She shook her head against her original plan, storming after her. "You can't go on this date until I'm sure you are ready. Which includes taking a shower now. You couldn't have possibly thought it would be okay to appear with the stench of coffee and cream on your first date. That's not how it works."
Rachel pushed into the washroom used by the worker. "I'll go look at the dress you got and straighten it out for you." Rachel voiced out to her when the washroom doors closed.
A few minutes later, Maeve exited the washroom soaking wet, her dress laid out before the centre table in the room. "You are so lucky I carry my make-up with me wherever I go."
Soon after she was done and Rachel felt proud of herself as she watched Maeve stare at her reflection through the mirror in the closet room. It didn't look that bad. Maeve thanked Rachel, receiving a buzz from her phone.
Oliver had walked into Maeve's cafe. His eyes scanned around, hoping to find her. The infrastructure amazed him. The details put into it were captivating. However, he couldn't find her. It had been a last-minute thought to visit her workplace after she had mentioned the evening they bonded over the late talk in his apartment. He had meant to make it like a surprise entrance.
His head spun in the direction of her voice from the back room door. The lady behind her brightened with joy as she laid her eyes on him. A quick squeal and frantic, hushed comments were whispered to her. He wondered what they had said to one another. That was before he got distracted by her looks. She looked really nice. Was this how she dressed every day? Maybe he wouldn't mind stopping by for a coffee now and then.
"No, he is not my date," she answered the other lady with a small laugh.
A date? His brows furrowed. She hadn't told him she would be going out with someone or she had been with someone.
"He is my very good friend back in high school. He just moved into the room next to mine and we just clicked from there," she explained to Rachel, who was still dazzled by Oliver's looks.
"Hello, my name is Rachel, by the way. I'm also Rachel's friend. I school around here."Rachel introduced herself with a bit of her girlish charm. Her hands were extended out to him. It had meant to be flirtatious, but Oliver's mind swirled around Maeve, who looked stunning by the way in her dress. He turned to face, and she beamed, a small nervous look in her eyes.
"I didn't know you would be stopping, by the way. We would have had more time to talk," she said, her words regretful.
"You look good," Oliver said.
"You think so? It feels a bit much considering it's a first date and we barely know one another," she said, embarrassed a bit.
She was with anyone then, and this was a first date. It must be nothing then. He thought to himself. The sudden drop lightened into a supportive smile.
"I hope you have a good time. Maybe next time I'll inform you before coming here."
"Sure," Maeve took a look at the time. Startled by how late it had gotten, "I don't want to keep him waiting. Have a cup of coffee. It will be on the house." She pecked his cheeks before she left in a rush out of the cafe.