Aeson's Ox Blood

Chapter Four

I opened Danny's front door and went down the stairs to find myself at a road I didn't recognize. I turned to my right and saw the shop Danny must've been talking about.

If I wasn't looking for it, truthfully I'd see right past it. It was normal and fit into the background, with its medium brown paint and one large window. 'Ox Blood' was sprawled out in little spooky words on the window.

I quite liked it, honestly.

I attempted to fix my tie but gave up, instead leaving it draped over my shoulders. I opened the front door and an overwhelming smell of coffee beans hit me as I walked in. Above me, a small metal bell rung and Danny's head popped up from under the counter. She nodded at me to come closer.

As I approached the counter, Danny grinned. She was now donning a black apron and I could see the beanie displayed the shop's name in white calligraphy. "So, how you like it?"

I smiled back warmly. "I like it. It's very... homely and quaint, like a coffee shop should be. You know?"

She nodded. "Yes, I'm glad you think that way!" Danny cheered as a young girl came in through the back doors carrying a wooden crate. She was walking backwards to open the door, humming to herself. But when she turned around and saw me, she shrieked and dropped the crate. I nearly returned the scream.

Danny spun to her quickly. "Hey! What the hell are you doing, Aphrodite?"

The small girl held a hand to her heart. "That guy scared me! What is he doing here?"

Danny huffed and crouched to start gathering up the contents of the crate. She spoke from under the counter, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Who, the small scrawny man?"

"Hey!"

"That's a friend of mine. He slept over last night because he got fucked up."

Aphrodite squinted at me, her brown eyes lined in black like a cat. "He looks really really familiar." Oh, no. "Oh, I totally know you! My mother talks about you all the time; you're that amazing man who practically saved one of the most powerful businesses in the world. - "

Danny popped her head up and scrutinized me. "Really, is that the case...?" She muttered before going back down.

" - My mother is literally in love with you, calling me during classes to excitedly remind me of her impending meeting with you."

"A meeting?" I picked up, ignoring all the facts about me and my 'rise to fame'. "Do you happen to know the date of this meeting?"

Aphrodite snorted. "She's only told me 100 thousand times, you know. June 30th, 2015."

I thought about it. That was next week, I knew that. But I never really had an idea what was going on during these meetings. I just had a lot of them and took what was thrown at me. I honestly don't do much during them except sit and listen. Then when it ended, I stood to shake everyone's hand and say, "Thank you. Good job today". Don't get me wrong, I don't zone out. Some of them just aren't good enough for me to remember.

I hummed in thought. Aphrodite stared at me. "If I give you her name now, will you remember it later and flatter and flirt with her at this legendary impending meeting?"

"Uh, well. Sure."

The younger girl smiled at me and told me her mother's name. I thanked myself for having an amazing memory because otherwise I'd feel bad for forgetting this girl's request.

"Oh, my gosh! Don't you just love it when one of your worker's drop your products that you bought then leaves it for you to clean up by yourself?" Danny grunted, lifting the box onto the counter with ease. Aphrodite crossed her arms with a frown. "I mean, I expected it from my shitty employee, but you Ace? I thought you were a gentleman."