Versailles Series Book 5: The Barista

CHAPTER 6

~ tabi ~

Flashback...

Paris taught me a lot in my career and my life. After coming back home, I worked twice as hard to open my first dream restaurant. I also didn't let my life revolve around the people I call family. I didn't stop dating people just for an unrequited love for Calhoun.

A lot has changed since I left. My father has retired and is spending most of his time at home. My sister became a flight attendant making her the dream daughter that she always has been. I knew staying at home would just pull down my morale but I needed everything I could save to open up my restaurant. As much as I want to rent my place, I need the money. That's why I also worked endlessly in Paris to save as much as I could.

Calhoun is now an A-list celebrity. He has dated different women too since I last saw him. I thought he was dating his co-star, Asia Vallejo. I haven't met her yet. We are so busy we barely even see each other.

I am at a hotel right now waiting for my target. Carrie Versailles. She's the owner of this hotel I am sitting on. The restaurant space was up for bidding and I want to be the one to get that. I submitted my interest but haven't gotten any response.

I stood up when I saw her go out of the elevator. You can't miss her. She wears a pantsuit like it's her armour. Don't forget her signature wide hat with a mesh veil that has concealed her face since forever.

"Do I know you?" Tanong nito sa akin. She's so tall she's towering over me. Her strawberry blonde hair cascaded her back which made her look more regal than she already is.

"I'm sorry for catching you up like this. But I submitted a proposal for your restaurant here."

She glanced at the man beside him. "What's your restaurant's name?"

"Tasteful Trails."

"Do you think ambushing me like this will get you the deal?" Her voice was sharper than it should be. I can't blame her though.

"N-no Ma'am. But I badly want my restaurant to be in one of your hotels. I worked at one of your hotels in Paris and I want to provide the same level of service here in your boutique hotel."

I think she looked at me for a few minutes before speaking. "I admire your guts. Say, you have the deal."

"Miss?" Sabi ng kasama nito.

"Worry not, Waldo. If she doesn't work out for a month I can always kick her out."

I smiled. "Thank you! You won't regret giving me this opportunity."

"Thank me when you have signed a longer contract."

Pagkatapos niyon ay umalis na ito. I can't believe it. On instinct, nilabas ko ang telepono ko at tinawagan si Calhoun.

"Hello?"

I cringed when I heard his sleepy voice. "Sorry...nagising yata kita."

He cleared his throat as I heard some ruffling of the sheets in the background. Baka kagagaling lang nito sa taping o shooting. "Do you have an emergency?"

"I have great news!" Excited na sabi ko.

"Come to my condo. Bring two boxes of pizzas." With that, he hung up.

I expected he'll yell at me for waking him up but that's not Calhoun. He never gets angry at me. Since I came back, he is almost always available to me which is a bit different from the version of him that I left with. Like now, with just one call to him, he will free up his sched even give up his sleep.