He was Stranger

Café.

It was a rainy Wednesday. Although it was a small and on the outside of the city, The Caffé Arancione busy. It was popular, due to our handsome staff.
I worked behind the counter making coffee whilst the boys waited tables. The aroma of coffee beans and freshly made waffles from the back lit the place up. Creating an orange haze in the air.
The windows had beads of condensation dripping down and creating clear silver trails down the fogged window.
The walls in the coffee house were painted a peach orange the whole place was styled in the 70s. The pin-stripe patterned velvet couches paired with brown leather seats. The walls were decorated in potted plant life. Ferns and succulents you name it in the back right corner was a large leafed plant. It reached to the ceiling.
The kitchen door was a western bar door and  next to it was an open space in the wall for the chef to pass waffles and cakes through.
It was busy yet peaceful. People were quietly chatting away. No one was too loud or rude.
Peaceful.
I was pouring the boiled water over the coffee and watching when it changed colour as it drained through the filter.
The entrance bell rang and I turned to the door “Welcome!” I chimed they nodded at me and sat down by the window. The closest table to the coffee bar.
My ear picked up the conversation between two people who had just sat down.
The voices muttered in a passive aggressive tone almost catching my full attention. I placed down the pot and headed to the cups squatting and listening in closely.
“I heard the boss of this cafe works for them.”
“Isn’t he like a sponsor or something, apparently Diablo sorted out the guy who tried to prey on his daughter.”
“And I thought they just dealt drugs, I didn’t know they looked after the neighbour hood, who do they think they are the Cray’s?”
“They’re still a petty gang compared to us.”
Gang? Thinking about it, I had heard rumours about this area being ridden with gangsters, when Liz and I first moved in but I never believed it.
I started working here a few weeks ago they moved me from their other chain near the dorms to here.
I stood up again quickly and got back to working. Making ever espresso with grace and every latte with finesse.
When the waiter took their orders, they asked for two black coffees. These two were peculiar characters. We made expensive coffee how can someone just want a black coffee at this price?
A chill suddenly grew into the air. I hear a patter and clink of the chain door that separated the upstairs office from the cafe. I turned my head to see my boss walk out.
What always caught me first was his round dumpy face and his shiny balding head. His shoulders were broad for a short man and he was just under over-weight. He always dressed in a cotton shirt, black tailored trousers and pointed shoes. A forest of hair seemed to breath where he had unbuttoned a few too many buttons. Within the jungle was a gold chain topping off his classic look.
A hand appeared from the chains. A hand that had one shiny ring that caught the light almost blinding my eyes.
That’s when the two men left in a hurry. I had almost finished their coffees, they were a very strange pair to me. They did look a bit rough around the edges but they seemed mostly normal. It’s just the atmosphere that they created in a few short moments.
However I just continued to work. Minding my own business. Until I spotted a familiar figure on the corner couch with my Boss. I only caught him in the corner of my eye but I then turned my attention towards it.
It was the stranger from the elevator. My brain again started to tick away finding where I knew him from.
Today he was dressed in a white polo shirt with red lining around the collar and over his broad shoulders he wore a black bomber jacket.
Only now, in the orange haze of the coffee shop, did I notice how unbelievably attractive he is. How could I forget a face like that?
I couldn’t help but keep glancing over to him. My coffee work got a little sloppy. He was such a distraction. He just sat muttering with my Boss until they pulled their attention to the cafe I saw them look at each waiter and discuss.
I was half way through an order when I checked to see who they were looking at next.
That’s when I met his eyes. In this light he’s eyes were golden like honey and were framed by a ring of green on the outside of his pupil. He didn’t break the stare and kept talking to my boss whilst looking to me.
He smirked at me.
I quickly broke the stare between us and went back to making coffee. Placing cups and plates on trays. Getting the odd costumer arriving from the rain. After an hour I looked back to him.
His honey eyes looked back to me. My face felt hot and the collar on my uniform felt tight. I turned back to my work and didn’t dare to look again. I started to nibble on the corner of my lip almost peeling dry skin from the bottom lip.
“One Latte to go please.”
I was pouring milk into another coffee before I turned around.
“Would you like that...” I trailed off when I saw elevator boy looking at me “Small or large." I cleared my throat.
“Large.”
His eyes had gone greener and were only dusted with flakes of gold. They we’re truly beautiful.
“coming up.” I cracked an awkward smiled and finished preparing the tray for table 5.
I pulled out a paper cup and a lid. Placing it on the side, I used the coffee I had just filtered left over for the espresso. Everything I did, I did carefully my hands slightly trembling from nerves. I poured the milk into the metal jug and used the steam to heat it up.
“I haven’t seen you working here before are you new to the neighbourhood?”
Okay a casual conversation.
“Yes, I moved here during the summer with my friend. We live in the apartment complex down the road, I also used to work at the twin shop by my uni.” I poured the espresso into the cup.
“I know a few people who live there, the apartments are quite cute.”
I grabbed a spoon and started to pour the milk into the cup not letting the foam fall.
“I know right. I haven’t seen what the others look like but I'd like to think my apartment is cute.” I place the foam onto the top of the latte before containing the heat with the lid. “Here you go.”
He swiped the cup and started to leave.
“Excuse me you haven’t paid.” I quickly chimed.
“Welcome to the neighbourhood, Mia.” The bell chimed as he left repeating my name chimed in my ears.
I never knew it could sound so Nice.