Tea Shop Love

Let's get professional, he said

Running down the street I reached the beautiful Tea Shop. The lights were off and from the outside everything looked dark and most certainly closed. I looked at the reflection in the mirror and saw a girl in her pyjamas with her wet hair stuck to her sides and a look of exhaustion. All together, I was a complete mess.

I couldn't stop myself from asking what on earth was I doing coming down here, running down here, just because he had called. Am I really that desperate for this? Is it for the competition, or the job, or the tingly sensation running along my bones? Deep down I knew the truth, I was here because he called, and that was enough for me to leave everything behind and come, the real question was why.

Alex had left me intrigued, I wanted more of whatever he wanted to give me.

Checking the time I had made it in ten minutes. I couldn't see anything so I relaxed against the crystal wall of the shop and looked through my purse needing a smoke. Just as I was about to light it a soft sound of bells got my attention. I turned to look for the sound and as I did the door of the shop opened and out got an amused Alex holding the door.

"Anytime you like you can come in." The irony in his words resounded hard against me so I pulled the cigarette out of my mouth and with a single nod followed him inside.

As we walked to what looked like his office I let my eyes roam around. The shop at night was beautiful, the wooden walls blended in the dark creating all types of shapes, the little light reflected from the street gave the shop a new shape, what in pure daylight was just a shop turned into a world of shadows and aromas. I wished I had brought my camera with me. I had seen such beauty in the shop, but now I was deep in love with its magic. Too distracted to notice Alex had entered the office I found myself in front of it. Leaving behind my thoughts I entered and went to sit on the wooden chair in front of him.

"I see you've found a liking for my shop, well if you stay know there's so much more you will discover." Alex said with a smile which I noticed only reached his lips.

"Is everything alright? I could come another day." I didn't really know what to say, he's expression said "I want to be alone", but he had called me so I was really confused.

"I called to tell you you're hired, however this job does not consist only in taking care of the Tea Shop, but that can be discussed another time. You see I have a son, Max, and I need to be with him so I need someone to cover for me at least three days per week from four thirty to nine pm. If you agree with this you can start tomorrow, however I won't sign you a contract until I see you can be trusted with the shop, and I will be here watching you." His tone was deep and serious. Here I was no friend, he was my employer and I was his employee.

He was staring at me with such intensity it was turning me on. Luckily I was seated and he couldn't notice my jelly-like legs or the way my eyes lowered to his kissable lips and the million scenarios I imagined which were less than professional.

I knew saying yes would mean forgetting about any attraction I felt for him. Ready to reject his offer I looked at him and unable to speak I felt myself nod. What? no! Say no! the voice in my head was screaming at the top of my head, but from the outside I couldn't even mutter a word. He was looking at me so intensely I had forgotten all about my previous thoughts.

"Yes, I'll take the job." Were the only words I managed to say. "Well then, everything is clear, please be on time tomorrow, I take punctuality pretty serious." His tone was distant and cold, but his eyes had turned a darker shade of green that said otherwise. "Alright, so I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" I wanted to get away from there, he made me all hot and bothered and I new he could see that from the smirk plastered on his face every time I spoke.