A Demon's Chance (BWWM)

Chapter Two

She overslept.

Halfway through the night, her charger heaved its last shuddering breath and died, which meant her phone also temporarily took the plunge. Her alarm didn't go off, since, you know, dead phone. That made her late for work. There was a mad scramble of flying pants and hastily braided hair and she found herself darting behind the counter of her university's café ten minutes into her shift.

Reina managed to make a nearly seamless entrance thanks to the general chaos of the early morning rush. College kids needed their caffeine and the long snaking line out the automatic doors proved it. The only coworker who noticed her slither up to the counter was too grateful for the extra help to comment. She only offered an exhausted smile and took a step back, letting Reina shuffle into her spot.

Without missing a beat, she served the next customer, then the next, and the next. It continued like that for over an hour until only a few stragglers remained and she was finally allowed to let her face relax out of its practiced 'customer service' smile. Her back cricked in protest and she leaned a hip against the tabletop as her coworker came around to nudge her shoulder.

Xiu was a year younger than her and constantly reminded her of the fact with relentless teasing. "Getting old, huh? I hope you have been saving for retirement."

Reina fixed the woman with a limp sneer. "You'd miss me too much if I was gone."

"Bah." Her friend grinned in reply and swept a hand through the air, unimpressed. "You are not so special."

"Liar." She snorted a laugh and gently shoved her away, turning to greet a customer. An immediate sense of unrest filled her at the man's surly approach and a tiny voice inside her head groaned. Great. He stomped up to the register, a pinched scowl twisting his face, and slammed his cup onto the counter without preamble. It was loud enough to cut through the quiet din of the café and Reina glanced at the drink with a mute sigh. Qué hizo?

"I asked for extra sugar." He bit out the words with haughty arrogance and thrust the cup closer to Reina. "You didn't add enough."

Damn. Clearly, he needed it.

The corners of her mouth dipped in practiced concern. "I apologize, sir. I'll make you another—"

"I don't want you to make it." His eyes narrowed derisively and flicked up and down her body. Thin lips curled in distaste. "Get someone else to do it."

The insult was plain and a flare of heat licked up her spine. For half a second, she entertained the seductive idea of snarling back. Instead, she continued with a trained slickness. "Of course."

Xiu was standing at the opposite register a foot away and heard the entire exchange. Her posture was stiff, cheeks pink and flushed in anger at the offense made to her friend. Reina only had to glance at her. Wordlessly, she made the customer another cup.

He had his arms crossed tight across his chest but suddenly unfurled them to plant spindly hands against the counter. The man leaned into her space with a domineering glint and Reina glared sharply in unease. He noticed her discomfort and exhaled smugly. "I want a refund too."

"Do you have your receipt?" She didn't move and kept her gaze fixed on his with an unnerving intensity.

He faltered. "N-no, I threw it out. You don't need it anyway."

That was true. He'd obviously bought his coffee from their store. Now she was just screwing with him. "That's no problem, sir. Cash or credit?"

"Cash."

Reina's fingers flew over the register as she punched in the code for a refund and fished out the $1.39 he was owed. He'd bought the coffee at a promotional price. She dropped the change into his open palm as Xiu returned with his order. Xiu offered him the cup and he snatched it from her hand before pointedly raising it to his lips to take a cautious sip.