Chapter 4

• Subject: Application.
• From: Club Exotic.
• To: April Bennet.
• Congratulations, April.
• You have been successful in securing an interview with Club Exotic.
• We look forward to meeting you at 290 High Street, London East, at 11:00 a.m. on the 22nd of next month.
• We pay above National minimum wages, have an excellent career development pathway plan, and we are recruiting ten team members to join our beloved crew.
• Please RSVP within seven days of receiving your invitation.
• Club Exotic.I sit up instantly.
• I applied for this job months ago. A girl who used to work at the café worked at Club Exotic one night a week at the bar, and it covered her entire rent.
• I jump off the couch in excitement.
• I mean, I know it’s not ideal. It’s a gentlemen’s club, but it is only behind the bar.
• How hard can it be to pour drinks?
• Plus, I’ve had to listen to Penelope having sex every night for free, anyway. I’m pretty sure my pure eyes and ears can handle anything these days.
• If I don’t find something beforehand, this could work out okay. I speed read the email again. Gosh, that’s five weeks away, though.
• Damn it, five weeks is a long time.
• My phone begins to vibrate.
• “Hello.”
• “Hello, April?”
• “Yes.” I don’t recognize the voice.
• “This is Anika from Club Exotic.”
• “Oh,” I frown. “I actually just opened an email from you.”
• “Yes, that’s why I’m calling. We’ve just had somebody leave without notice and you were the first person on our interview list who has answered.”
• “Okay…”
• “Do you want to come in tomorrow for an interview? I know it’s last minute, but otherwise your interview isn’t until next month.”
• I quickly run through my schedule for tomorrow. I guess I can skip my lecture. “Yeah, sure. That would be great. What time?”
• “Can you be here at eleven?”
• I don’t finish my shift at the café till 10.30 a.m. Although, I could get ready before my shift. “Okay, that sounds great, thank you.” I smile, excited. “I’ll see you then.”
• “Can I help you, sir?”
• “I’ll have a toasted cheese on rye and a flat white, please.”
• “Sure.” I smile as I tap his order into the computer. It’s another day at the cafe, another few pounds. “That will be nine pounds ninety-five, thanks.”
• He hands over his money, and I hear the distant bell over the door as someone new enters the building.
• This is the longest shift I’ve ever done at the café. I’m nervous about my interview this morning. After thinking on it all night, I’ve decided that I really want that job.
• If I could just work two shifts a week, then I could move out of the dorm and into my own studio apartment.
• Imagine that!
• Don’t get excited. You haven’t gotten it yet, I remind myself.
• “Can I help you?” I ask as I glance up and stare straight into the eyes of Mr. Garcia.
• He came back.
• “Hello,” he says in his deep voice.
• The air between us doing that thing again… electricity and butterflies all rolled into one.
• “You back for more of my great coffee?” I smirk.
• He gives me a slow, sexy smile. “I am.”
• April
• “Well…” I drop my shoulders and stand tall, as I try to act cool. “How can I help you?”
• Amusement flashes across his face. “I’ll have a double macchiato, please.”
• “Of course.” I type it into the computer then glance up at him. “Will that be all?”
• His eyes hold mine. “For now.”
• I roll my lips as I try to hide my smile. Why does everything that comes out of his mouth sound sexy?
• For now isn’t theoretically a hot sentence.
• Lance looks over my shoulder to see the screen. “It’s okay, Lance, Mr. Garcia likes it when I make his coffee,” I say as I try to stay straight faced.
• Sebastian’s forehead wrinkles, and I know he’s inwardly cringing inside. Ha-ha, this is classic. Oh well. That will teach him for throwing away my coffee yesterday.
• “Okay, okay,” Lance says, taking over from me at the register.
• I turn to the coffee machine, and I really want to burst out laughing. I’m so shit at this, it isn’t funny. Right. What do I do again? This coffee machine is so confusing.
• I glance over my shoulder to see Mr. Garcia waiting patiently as he watches me. His hands are tucked into the pants pockets of his grey suit. He’s wearing a cream shirt today, and it really makes his dark hair pop.
• He gives me a soft smile, and I smile back.
• He really is dreamy.
• I make his coffee and turn back to him. “Here you go.”
• “Thank you.” He takes it and dips his head. “Have a nice day.”
• I will, now that I’ve seen you.
• “You, too,” I beam.
• He turns and walks out of the store. I pick up a cleaning cloth and practically run to the front of the café to spy on him through the window. He walks out into the street and crosses the road. I watch on as he takes a sip, winces, and screws his face up.
• He hates it.
• I giggle.
• He takes another sip, and then with a shake of his head, he throws it in the bin.
• I burst out laughing and return to the cashiers’ desk.
• “What’s so funny?” Lance asks.
• “That guy.”
• “Who, the Italian dude?”
• “Yeah, the gorgeous one. I don’t think he’s Italian, though.”
• “He’s a bit old for you, isn’t he? What about him?”
• “He is not too old for me, and he hates my coffee.”
• “And?”
• “He hates my coffee and yet, he came back.”
• Lance frowns. “I don’t get it."