Bittersweet

Mother Teresa says hi

EMILIA'S POV

The clock had just turned 12:00 indicating that my break had begun, my shift had been filled with people hurrying in wanting to buy a cup of coffee before beginning their day. I had forgotten how rushed the mornings were and my body was already beginning to give up.

Mrs Miller was out running errands and had asked me to watch over the store. After serving the last customer I dragged my feet to the entry door and turned the sign indicating that the store was now closed. I plopped down onto a seat next to the window while holding a blueberry muffin in my hand.

I took a bite out of the muffin, savouring the sweet flavour while gazing out through the window, I admired the vast array of people crowding through the streets, each with a destination of their own. My eyes zeroed in on a rather plump woman dressed from head to toe in what I could only assume was rainbow vomit. Her hair was hidden by a large pink trilby also taking up most of her facial features almost as if it was eating her head whole, her dress was a mixture of yellow and blue flowers woven around each other, coming down mid-thigh and it clung to her curvy body like a second skin, her feet were covered by a pair of red heels causing her to waddle as though she were a toddler only recently having learnt to walk. And lastly the excessively large purple handbag she had draped over her shoulders.

After popping the final piece into my mouth I stood up going back around to the counter to start a new batch for the next round of customers, I sifted through the flavours stopping at the chocolate Pecan Pie muffins, I took out all the ingredients and began baking letting all my thoughts and worries go with each spin of the mixer

Pulling open the oven I slipped on my mitts and grabbed the tray out and poked the centre with a fork, content with the outcome I placed them on a cooling rack to dry as I bustled around looking for a napkin to wipe away the flour that had been blown onto my face from when i'd failed miserably to open the packet gracefully.

The bell on the bakery door jingled before heavy footsteps followed, assuming it was just Mrs Miller returning I carried on with my mission to grab a napkin, just as I was about to pull one off the shelf the call bell rang halting me in my tracks, I chose to ignore it wanting to enjoy five minutes of break I had left. They shouldn't have entered anyway with the sign upfront stating the store was momentarily closed. Could people not read or did they just choose to ignore signs all the time? either way the last of my break was not about to be interrupted.

But the first ring was followed by another, then another and... another until eventually it turned into a barrage of rings travelling straight through my ears. Exasperated and annoyed I barged through to the front of the store purposefully stamping like a herd of elephants, hoping to send a clear message to the immature idiot upfront.

"Can you not read, the sign says we are clo-" my voice died down to barely a whisper my usual courage wavering as I drank in the sight in front of me.

There he stood, six feet of complete handsomeness, His silky brown hair falling across his forehead in the most beautiful waves, his perfectly pert nose and luscious red lips were proportioned perfectly on his face, his chiselled jaw was tense, while clenching in irritation. My eyes travelled down to the dark tattoos covering the entirety of his neck, a dark crow enveloping his Adam's apple whole. The tattoos on his large calloused hands were just as cryptic, his pinky finger held a worn-out silver band with a delicate dreamy blue stone in the middle as he tapped on the counter clearly indicating his annoyance, more art covered both his knuckles and the back of his palms travelling upwards before being concealed by the evidently expensive gold watch that laid across one wrist while the other was covered by a slim silver chain. The bulge of his biceps strained the material of his black suit showcasing his muscular arms, while the suit emphasised his muscular body, the white shirt did nothing to conceal the chest underneath. My mouth watered at the sight in front of me as I made my way back up his face, my breath hitching in my throat as my eyes made contact with his deep grey orbs pulling me underground. I stared into his eyes which seemed to be brimming with annoyance.

His body screamed wealth and dominance, his presence dark and brooding taking up all the oxygen in the air. He was huge with broad shoulders. His uninviting and cold face was completely unnerving making my mind race with different interpretations of who this stranger could be. The once vibrant and safe store no longer held any of the warmth it previously had, the tenderness that Mrs Miller had given, had been completely swallowed with gloom that he'd brought along with him. My hairs stood on edge and I found it hard to breathe as I was enveloped by the danger and mystery his entire body emanated. He appeared to be in his mid 20's, with a clean-shaven face, smooth and soft to the touch. No marks or even freckles appeared on his face, he was completely mundane while being unbelievably unique.

"Who the fuck are you?" his rich deep voice rung out snapping me out of my daydream, his grey eyes glared back at me causing me to cower in fear. With his shoulders broad and jaw firm, he commanded the respect of those around him, his personality taking up all other presence in the now conveniently small room. Realising my mistake and regaining my confidence, I moved forward standing tall with my chin held high.

"The names Mother Teresa, how do you do?" I replied with an exceptionally sarcastic and jovial voice my mouth pulled up in a smirk before stretching into a full grin. I outstretched my hand towards him my smile never faltering and watched as he stared at my thin slender figures the way one would look at a box of puppies wearing frocks and bowler hats while playing the vuvuzela. Complete and utter confusion masked his face before the infamous scowl was back on his face. Just as our glaring competition began Mrs Miller walked into the store.

"I'm ba- Alejandro? What are you doing here" she said dropping the bags of groceries into grumpy's waiting arms

"I came to get some coffee, but your employee over here seems to have left her manners at home." he snarled, his eyes meeting mine once more, the glares were seriously beginning to get old. Mrs Miller chuckled turning her face allowing Alejandro to kiss her flustered cheeks.

"Emilia dear this is my grandson, and Alejandro Why do I find it hard to believe that Emilia's manners were not the only ones that may have been forgotten somewhere today" she countered, my mouth broke out into a victorious grin as his eyes grew wide in disbelief.

"Where's Cindy? oh is she not well? such a sweet girl." she said her hands on her hips as she looked up at Alejandro, his face cloaked with bewilderment.

"Who the fuck is Cindy?" he retorted, raising his eyebrows questioningly, Mrs Miller tutted disapprovingly at his use of language and began making him a cup of coffee, before explaining that it was the name of his secretary. His ego must have taken up so much room in his head, leaving him incapable of remembering the names of those without dollars falling out of their arses as they walked

"She was incompetent, so I fired her," he said as a matter of factly, his voice and face void of any emotion and just like that he left no room to talk back demanding that everyone just accept all that came from him. Well, there was never a better day for change.

"She got out lucky," I remarked mumbling under my breath, his eyes snapped to mine dripping with fury, I hadn't thought he'd be able to hear. the tension in the room reached a peak before my saviour, Mrs Miller returned next to me handing him his coffee, his eyes softened momentarily before the emotion was once again lost into the depths of those grey pools. Saying goodbye to Mrs Miller he strode out of the room displaying the utmost amount of power.

"Ahh.. such a sweet boy." Mrs Miller sighed in contentment, her eyes full of love, I squinted my eyes at his broad back entering the sleek black car parked outside the store, I tilted my head to the side and back but not once did I catch the sweetness Mrs Miller seemed to have seen. Not even a smidgen of the stuff.    

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please let me know what you think it's been a while since I've uploaded. I'm sorry I'll try being more consistent with it.