Sinning In The City

Chapter 31 - After the rain...

The note was laying on the coffee table by the couch. Roxbury saw it the minute he took the blindfold off.

We will be at the coffee shop. Layla.

Roxbury looked around the apartment just in case he had woken up before the girls had actually left, but the quietness of the place was an answer in itself. He slowly stood up as the details of the night came back to him. He smiled and shook his head in disbelief before heading to the shower.

A few minutes later, his hair still wet, Roxbury was fast on his way to Brew Me Softly. He opened the door and recalled the day he first saw Layla there. It wasn't that long ago but still felt like years had passed by. As he approached the counter, Roxbury was greeted by a joyful Natasha.

"Well hello handsome, how may I help you?"

Layla was standing next to her friend, chuckling. They were both wearing the coffee shop outfits.

"She's in training." Layla explained him. "Don't order anything fancy, please." She added with a smile.

"well... I'll have the usual, then." Roxbury said.

Natasha looked at her friend, who approached the cash register and tapped the touch-screen monitor a few times.

"Plain ol' coffee for Mr Porter." She explained. "Coming right up."

Roxbury sat down at his usual spot on the terrace and Layla was quick to follow with his magic beverage.

"What's that all about?" He asked as she sat down next to him. She knew he was asking about more than just Natasha's new job.

Layla remained silent for a few seconds, but she knew she could confide in him.

"Well... It seems that Natasha has decided she needed a career change." She offered tentatively.

Roxbury took a sip, looking straight at Layla, and waited for her to keep going. Sometimes, the best follow up question is silence. Obviously Layla was thinking of a way to present the news in a joyful way but he could tell she was preoccupied about her friend.

"She's broke and we were evicted." She finally let out. "Actually, we both are broke and without a roof."

Roxbury showed no emotion as he heard the news. He knew that often times, people in dire strait need a cool headed confident to face a situation. And, quite frankly, this was not all that bad after all. The two friends were fairly young and it wasn't all that uncommon for anyone moving to the Big Apple to face some tough financial times, especially early on. This town could either make you or break you.

"What kind of help do you two need?" He asked, even kill.

Layla's tough uprising kicked in.

"I don't need anything!" She shot back.

They both remained silent, looking at each other. They didn't need to say anything to both understand they had just showed pure judgment in the way help was offered, and perceived.

"Let me re-phrase it." Roxbury said after another sip. "You're about to make a lot of money Layla, so you know giving you an advance is no problem."

She nodded.

"So my question was more about whether you need a place to stay for a few nights or a strong should to go bust that door open and get your stuff out." He added with a heart-warming smile.

Layla could have kissed the man right there on the spot. But she was still working for the coffee shop, and didn't want to send the wrong signals.

"You're awesome." She whispered. "I'd want nothing more than break in and take our stuff out of that place... but I kinda feel that wouldn't be the best career move, right Mr. Agent?"