Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

72. Take care of you

The next morning, JJ is sitting at the counter at the coffee bar waiting for Guliz to finish making coffee.
"You're so slow Guliz. My food's almost done," he groans.

"Okay, okay," she huffs and turns to place a cup in front of him.

"Thank you."

"I haven't done this in years."

"You're fine." He takes a bite of his scone then pauses. "Wait, you don't make your own coffee at home?"

"No," she snorts. "I press a button and the machine does all the work."

JJ rolls his eyes at this and then continues eating. His chewing stops and his jaw drops open when the clicking of heels sound from the left down the bridge. What's that? I hear heels...I don't like that... He slowly raises his head. The sound makes him jump in his seat every time a step is taken. "I know that sound...it's her..." He whispers. "Aylin is here. It's coming isn't it?"

Guliz peeks down the hall and shakes her head. "It's not Aylin, it's Mrs Huma." She rushes to take a large sip of coffee and puts down her own cup.

"She's here to fire someone," JJ mutters nervously, "and I'm the weak link in the chain...I'm at the bottom..." He shifts and fumbles trying to get up. "She's come to fire me..." After what he did the night before he was even more panicked.

Huma smiles smugly at all the faces staring at her entrance. She knew how to make an entrance. She revelled in being seen.

"Good morning," Guliz greets happily. "Welcome."

"Good morning," Huma smiles at her.

"Good morning Mrs Hunla." Nailed it! He freezes and stops smiling. No, that's not it... "Huliya...?" He gulps.

"Huma JJ," Guliz hisses and smiles at Huma, lightly shaking her head in apology.

Huma raises a brow at the young man nervously hiding his eyes from her now. "Ethiopia?" she asks unsurely.

JJ looks at Guliz and whispers, "She's saying Ethiopia...that's very far away...she's sending me there...Oh God," he gasps and grabs onto his chest, falling against the back of a chair.

"I'm talking about coffee," Huma says insistently. "Coffee. Is it Ethiopian grains? It smells very good."

"Oh," he relaxes right away. "You hear that Guliz? Ethiopia. Coffee. Not JJ."

"Er, yes Mrs Huma," Guliz smiles awkwardly. "I think they are from there. This brand anyway."

"Oh wonderful!" Huma gushes.

"Mrs Huma," JJ says and takes the cup poured for him. "Please have this one. Freshly brewed. Very nice. It has a gorgeous bitter aftertaste."

"Hm," Huma hums, impressed. "My favorite kind of coffee. Bitter." She takes a sip. "What is your name?"

"JJ."

"Mm mm," she frowns and swallows then raises her chin. "No, I don't like it for you." She sniffs and puts down the cup. "Office boy is better."

Guliz pulls her lips in and puts a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing at JJ's stunned expression. His eye twitches when Huma turns her back on him.

She just stands there. When nothing happens she looks over her shoulder at him and then her coat. "Office boy?"

"Yes?" he says through his teeth.

"Take this coat," she shirks it and he catches it. "Hang it up." She takes her cup and her handbag and looks around.

At that moment, Deren sidles up alongside JJ from the back and makes him jump when she starts speaking.