Novels by Tania- Patreon Catalogue

Book 1: "Sponsored Love"

*Patreon Exclusive* 

Description: 

One extended shift and one strange drink order was all it took for Stephie's life to change forever. After one kind act towards the Elderly Billionaire of her town, Stephie did not expect to gain a sponsor, nor did she expect to catch the eye of the Billionaire's son, the future CEO of Barlowe Engineering Industries. With a sponsor who refuses to let Stephie brave the harsh world on her own, and his son who swears that he could never see Stephie as nothing other than a threat to his fortune, Stephie finds herself in an inescapable predicament. How will this story end? Read and find out.

Chapter 1: 

It was closing time at Pepe's café; a quaint and humble space large enough to comfortably accommodate twenty-five seated customers and five more at the waitress' bar. Leather booths lined the front wall, and the large glass windows were decorated with orange, red, yellow and brown maple leaf stickers. The neon open sign which faced the street soon switched to Closing Soon. The usual strong scent of freshly grounded coffee beans had faded in the atmosphere, and blended perfectly with the soft aroma of the last baked sweets left in the store that day; vanilla with a hint of dark roast.

A couple who had shared blueberry muffins and hot cocoa in the far booth near the bathroom stood and made their exit while waiving at the waitress who stood behind the bar and wiped the counter for the umpteenth time since the start of her shift. The waitress, Stephie, a caramel-skinned girl with wild brown and blond curls and coils currently pulled back and tied at the base of her skull, wore a simple black shirt and black jeans. A white waist apron with large pockets was secured around her hips, as she vigorously tidied up the white quart countertop, freeing it from sugar granules, coffee stains and pastry crumbs.

The doorbell chimed to signal the couple's exit and under her breath, Stephie counted "3, 2, 1."

"Hey Steph, the last customer's out and the kitchen is clean, you okay to lock up?" Job, the evening lead cook expressed on cue with Stephie's count.

Smiling knowingly, with a soft chuckle and a subtle shake of her head, Stephie replied, "Go ahead. See you tomorrow."

"You're the best." Job grinned boyishly before going back into the kitchen to take his exit via the back door.

Sighing in routine, Stephie packed away the rag, then walked from behind the counter and across the café to turn off the neon sign. As she did so, a clap of thunder and a flash of lightning pierced the cafe's clear glass windows, as the running feet of the approaching rain began to trickle down the walls and street outside, and through the windows, casted slithering shadows on Stephie's cheeks.

Unbothered, Stephie sighed, "another quiet night in the rain." She muttered to herself.

Then retrieving the mop bucket from the closet near the bathroom, Stephie rose the stereo's volume, as a smooth piano ballad began to play on the overhead speakers, instead of the pop songs which had been the prime entertainment for majority of the day. Humming while swiping the thin, damp, grey mop on the greyscale tiles beneath her feet, Stephie began her evening closing routine.

The rain pelted the roof above, and drenched the street outside. As pedestrians ran for cover, and car tires splashed through the forming puddles, Stephie lost herself in the choreography of swaying from side to side, only stopping periodically to rinse the stringy cleaning cloth. It didn't occur to her that in her trance, the front door bell had jiggled to announce the arrival of a potential customer.

Carter Barlowe removed his hat and once dry black coat which now sported perfectly round water droplets on the shoulder blades. Swiping his hand on the material, Carter then hooked the coat over his left arm, and held his hat in his left hand, then he cleared his throat and spoke.