One More Chance by Jaycelle Rodriguez

Chapter 92: The coffee bean shop

~~~The one who said that he'd rather roam. The one who said he'd rather be alone. If you could only see me

now. If I could hold you now, just for a moment if | could make you mine. Just for a while turn back the hands of

time. If could only hold you now. I've been too long in the wind, too long in the rain. Taking any comfort that |

can. Looking back and longing for the freedom from my chains, lying in your loving arms again~~~

-Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge-

Coffee Bean shop...

"Oh, holy crap!"

| frowned when | heard Jack scream behind me. | was currently at the counter and helping our employees collect

orders from the customers.

"Why? What's going on with you?" | asked glancing at her.

"Haist! | forgot to bring those delivery receipts | brought hlast night."

"Why did you bring them home?"

"Because | wanted to double-check the prices of the ingredients we got from the supplier, but gosh! Why the hell

did | forget to bring them?"

| chuckled as she complained and even stomped her foot on the floor.

"Where are you going?" | asked as she got up and started arranging the stuff on her table.

"Well, | think | have no choice but to get them." She took her phone and walked over toto kiss my cheek.

"Hey, why don't you just ask my driver to pick them up?"

"Oh, thanks, but it's okay. I'll just go and get them."

"How about asking Gary to bring them here? | know he's hbecause---"

"Gary?"

"Hmhm." | nodded.

"You mean your brother's driver?"

"Yup. Dale toldhe wasn't going to ask Gary's service today, so I'm sure he's hand watering his plants in

the garden." | mentioned 'his' and not 'the' because the guy really loves to plant, so my mother gave him a nice

spot in the garden to plant whatever he wants to plant.

"No way!" She scowled that madelaugh at her.

"And why not? | don't see any problem with that?"

"Haha... in case you have forgotten, he's the driver of your narcissist brother and he, of course, is loyal to him.

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How do | know if he wouldn't tell his boss that | asked him a favor?"

"And so, if he tells his boss? What's the matter---"

"Huh! | don't want to have another conversation with him!"

"Alright." | shrugged, but | couldn't help but laugh as | forgot to mention --- no --- | didn't mention that it's not just

the driver of my narcissist brother's is at home, but also him.

He toldearlier this morning that he wouldn't need Gary's service --- because he would like to spend twith

mom and Cali at hfor the whole day.

"Hmmp! | have to go, bye."

"Bye..." | bit my lip when | saw her leave and opened the glass door. She waved her hand before closing it behind

her. "Hmm... good luck, future sister-in-law," | muttered to myself before | continued what | was doing before she

interrupted me.

| was busy arranging sstuff on the counter when | felt someone standing in front of the counter. And since |

wasn't looking when he came, | immediately greeted him and asked for his order before I could even look at him.

"Good morning, Sir. Can | take your order---" but my words hung in mid-air when he took off his black cap and

sunglasses and | recognized him. It's Luke.

He's wearing a white shirt and jeans... casual attire... which | haven't seen in a while.

"Good morning." He flashedwith one of his signature smiles which, if | remembered correctly, is one of the

things | fell in love with him for.

| bit my tongue hard enough to wakeup from my old illusions and mentally shook my head.

"What are you doing here?" | asked him, slowly letting out the breath | was holding when | saw him.

"Because | haven't had breakfast and | want to eat something sweet."

I gulped when he smiled again, but | didn't avoid his gaze. Maybe the reason | didn't recognize him in an instant

is that he isn't using his favorite perfume.

"So what's your order, Sir?" | asked giving him a stretched smile.

"I would like to order a Chocolate cookie crumble cream frappuccino with two slices of Chocolate caramel fudge

cake and a Pistaccoffee frappuccino with a slice of Matcha blueberry cheesecake."

| couldn't help raising an eyebrow after reciting his orders as they were for two people. Is he that hungry?

"Nope, I'm not that hungry." He shook his head and | gasped silently as he answered my silent question. "Those

are for two people, forand for my girl."

My mouth hung in surprised upon hearing his last word. Suddenly | felt a pinch deep in my heart and | couldn't

exactly explain that feeling. But before anything could across my head, he stepped aside and pointed to the ‘girl’

he spoke of sitting in one of the tables near the entrance.

"I mean, that beautiful girl in a pink jacket and black boots." He said not looking atbut at the 'girl' who's

none other than my daughter... our daughter.

I don't know but when | recognized who the 'girl' was he referring to, a light chuckle escaped my lips which made

him stare atfor a few seconds. Cali waved her hand before givinga flying kiss which | reciprocated.

But a frown painted on my forehead as | got confused why she's here with him when Dale toldthey were

going to help mom cook for lunch.

"| asked them if | could take her withand they agreed."

I glanced at him when he answered the question in my head for the second time. How did he know what | was

thinking? Is he now a fortune teller or was | that transparent?

"You didn't go to work?" | casually asked him to alleviate

the odd feeling and awkwardness | started feeling inside again as | prepared his orders.

"Well, | will report to the office after this breakfast."

"Hmm..." | said in a not-so-interested mood as | nodded. "We will just bring your order to your table, Sir." |

smiled. The one who always give by a salesperson to her customer. "You can join us if you want."

"Nah, it's okay." | shook my head. "It's a father and daughter date and | don't want to disrupt your moment."

"No, it would be fine if you---"

"Besides, I'm on duty. Jack went hfor a while as she forgot simportant documents and our staff have

their own things to do."

"Sam..." | saw how the disappointment took its place in his eyes.

"Your daughter is waiting, Sir."

| heard him sigh before returning to their table.

The next day, | was surprised again when | saw him in front ofat the counter. But this the's wearing

formal attire, the one he used to wear at work. "You're here again," | said not in a form of a question.

He smiled, showing the dimple on his left cheek.

"Yup, | want to have breakfast before going to work."

"Tss! Why? Doesn't your girlfriend prepare you breakfast before you leave your love nest?" | asked myself

without noticing that | had asked the question aloud. | only realized it when he shook his head and gavea

half-hearted smile.

"No, | told you she doesn't know how to cook."

-'oops! What the hell! What the hell happened to my mouth?'-

And to cover myself from the slight embarrassment...

"Ohh... really? Well, I'm sorry, | have so many things in mind and | couldn't remember anything that you told

me." | replied with a smile.

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"Yeah, | noticed that."

"So can | now take your order, Sir?" | emphasized the last word.

"You don't have to be formal. You don't have to callSir."

"You are our customer and it's unethical not to approach you in the right way, Sir."

"But I'm not just your customer---" but he stopped in the middle of his sentence, so | couldn't help but frown.

"And who are you? If you're not just our customer, who exactly are you?"

"I... I am... your daughter's father!" He said with a determination which madechuckle.

"No one is taking you out in that spot, Sir, but it's not related to our ongoing conversation, besides, business is

business. You are a businessman, so I'm sure, you completely understand what I'm talking about, am I right?" He

stared atfor a few seconds before he nodded with a sigh.

"Yeah, you're right."

"So can | now take your order?" | turned my eyes back to the monitor.

"Just givetwo cups of brewed coffee, one with two cubes of sugar and the other one with three. And please

giveone Mango and a Blueberry Greek yogurt parfait."

"Is there anything else you want to add, Sir?"

"No, that would be all, thanks." He handedhis card.

And just like yesterday, | couldn't

help raising an eyebrow as he ordered for two people again. I'm sure the black coffee isn't for Calias she doesn't

drink a plain or regular coffee. But before | could open my mouth, he already toldwho's With him today.

"I'm with Patrick, my personal assistant. Do you remember him?"

"Yeah, | remember him." | nodded and started preparing his orders. "We will just bring your orders to your table,

Sir, thank you," | said as | gave him back the black card.

I sighed, as | watched him walk back towards their table. | wonder what's going on in his mind as he chose to eat

breakfast here rather than eat at the restaurants near his office building.

Even though I'm not yet used to

seeing him every day, especially with those unexplained feelings | have inside, well, at least he's not

botheringnor invading my

personal space. Yes, he caminet

visit the coffee shop, but he cas one of the customers and not as someone from my past.

| wonder who he would drag the next day to be with him. I just hope it's not my brother because the shop will

surely turn upside down.