Nadia's POV
I woke up the next morning ten minutes before my alarm was supposed to go off. Instead of going back to sleep, I hauled my body out of bed and into the shower. My shoulder had its own heartbeat, the swelling exceeding what I expected. I hoped the hot water might subside the pain, but instead the throbbing increased.
After my shower, I went around the hall way to the kitchen with my hair wrapped in one towel and my body in another to eat before I got ready for work. There was a note from my dad on the counter.
"Night shift again, I'll be sleeping all day and going to work about 6ish. See you later." At least he's writing me notes now.
When I got to work, I noticed two cars in the employee parking lot: one that I didn't recognize at all and the other my boss's. As I approached the door, I could see Besnik speaking with what looked like a new employee, based on the company issued apron employees are required to wear tied around his waist.
"Hey Besnik," I called as I adjusted my watch and bracelets. I tucked my necklace inside my shirt, the rings scratching my upper chest slightly.
"Nadia!" He came over to me and engulfed me a warm hug. I looked up and meet the new guy's gaze whose half smile seemed to be painted on his face. His beautiful features caught me off guard and all I could do was blankly stare back.
"Come here, Sunshine, I introduce you to New Boy." Besnik's Albanian accent tainted his sentences and grammar.
"This Ashton! He's New Boy." Ashton and I shook hands. "You help New Boy. Work hard I come later. Limtumirë!"
"Limtumirë," I called back at Besnik as he exited the coffee shop.
"You know Albanian?" Ashton inquired. He had an Australian accent that twisted his pronunciations, but I enjoyed it.
"Only a few words I've picked up from Besnik," I replied kindly. "Have you swept or washed the windows yet?" Ashton shook his head and followed me to the storage closet where I gave him a broom and a dust pan. I picked up the window cleaner and the paper towels.
Aside from the radio playing, the store was quiet. I could hear Ashton's broom scratch against the tile floor and sweeping into the dust pan. I tried to keep my attention only on the windows, but I kept catching myself staring at him. He was tall, at least six foot, and his almond brown wavy hair complimented his light brown eyes. He had massive biceps and I could see his toned back through his tight black shirt that occasionally rode up, exposing his Calvin Klein boxers. As his body started to turn around in my direction, I quickly looked back to the window and pretended to be working.
"You've been cleaning that same window for sometime, huh?" Ashton called, embarrassing me. I blushed and moved to the next window. Based on his tone, he knew I had been watching him.
"It's nine, could you unlock the door please, Ashton?" I asked over my shoulder. I felt him walk by me towards the door. I watched him lean down towards the lock and fiddle with the key. He glanced over in my direction and made eye contact with me. His smile and wink cleared up any doubt I had; he knew I'd been distracted by his presence the whole time.
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Ashton's POV
"Hi welcome to Howard's! What can I get started for you?"
"I need a large iced coffee with skim milk."
"Will that be for here or to go?"
"For here, I'm meeting up with some friends." The girl looked about 16 and her face was a light shade of pink the entire time I talked to her.
