My heart flopped onto the floor.

The likelihood of this being a joke, a coincidence or even a bad dream was incredibly small so I felt my brain freezing up for a while.

Could it be her? How come? How did she find out where I work?

"Ha!" I uttered with a strained voice, trying not freak out, "is she still there?"

"Yeah! Your shirt looks adorable on you though. This one looks like a bimbo! " she sneered and skipped back to her place, her long hair dancing against her back.

Here's another confirmation of my suspicions!

I swallowed.

This is not happening!

Yes. This was really happening! But I had to make sure that it was who I thought it was! Even though I felt my stomach twisting into tight knots and my ears whistling like a kettle on the stove.

Feeling weak in the knees, I got up shakily from the hard barstool, creeping towards the front counter to sneak a furtive glance at the polo - clad visitor, which might never help to calm my nerves.

Asha turned to watch me with wide eyes, her eyebrows floating up as I ducked my head just below the marble surface of the counter.

"Just curious," I whispered with a fake calm expression, looking up from under her elbow.

Asha shrugged.

"She's sitting to the left, right next to the entrance," Asha whispered back, moving closer to shield me with her petite frame without even asking why I was acting so weird. Probably that didn't seem too weird in her book.

I poked my head to have a quick look where she told me.

My head bobbed up for a few seconds to check out the blonde head that sat casually, a dozen steps away from us, chatting on the phone. She was wearing said shirt over super skinny jeans, her black heels jutted out as she crossed her legs. The shirt hugged her bust tightly showing its perfect curves.

It never looked this way on me!

Even though I expected it was her, I almost slipped and fell on my butt when the blonde turned her stone gray eyes in my direction- so confidently as if she sensed that I was staring.

A Cheshire-Cat grin spread across Vivian's lips. We made eye contact for a second then she turned her face away, pretending she didn't notice.

"What are you doing on the floor?" Asha, whisper-shouted, bending slightly to give me a hand.

"Um!... I... slipped!" I stuttered. My heart was having a panic attack on my behalf.

I gripped her hand and the edge of the counter and glided forward into my little confined corner, internally quaking.

Breathe!...Just breathe!

Deliberately, I inhaled, hoping the oxygen would calm my trembling hands so I could do my work properly.

"She wants a skinny latte," Asha said giggling, "Nothing gets any skinnier than those pair of jeans."

Yes it does , Ash! You have no idea!

Asha had no clue how I was feeling right now but I was glad she didn't notice anything unusual in Vivian's fleeting grin nor did she guess we knew each other. After all, it was normal for people talking on the phone to show reactions that were meant for the person on the other end. Customers and their familiar habits!

Honestly, I couldn't handle it if Asha ended up hating me for hiding so much about myself. I'd tried not to lie to her but I'd given her a vague briefing about my life situation along with the same lie I told Akram about my parents. I couldn't tell her how messed up my life was. I just couldn't!

And now, the possibility of being publicly exposed by Vivian at any moment- in the middle of my workplace and in front of my only close friends in the world- was melting my strength to stand up straight and carry on with the job in hand.

I tried to focus my efforts on the process of making the latte without pushing the panic button. My head was throbbing and my arms and legs felt like jello while I carefully grabbed the cup, filling it with the freshly brewed espresso and pouring the hot skim milk on top.

She knew! She definitely knew that I work here! She's here to torment me! Or am I being too paranoid? What's the point of all this? Why couldn't she just leave me alone? She was like my personal earthly punishment!

"Oh boy! Seriously, Melo, What is it with these girls and the poor guy!" Asha sang behind me, abruptly pulling me out of my day-mares.

It took me a second of dopiness to comprehend her words before I sucked in a sharp breath and lurched towards the makeshift peeping hole to make sure if she meant what I thought she meant.

GAAAASP!!!

CRRRAAASH!!!!!

The steaming-hot proclain cup shattered into a thousand pieces under my feet, sending a splash of heat across my legs.

I didn't care!

The tiled floor was drenched in a $3.20 worth of nonfat latte plus the price of the broken cup that would surely be subtracted from my wages.

I didn't care!

Asha bounced and squeaked, grasping me tightly in a knee-jerk reaction when the cup exploded on the floor, her long nails hurt my skin as she squeezed my arms.

I didn't care!

The whole embarrassment might have attracted the attention of the customers or even Mrs. Charan in her office.

I didn't care!

All I cared about right this minute was that Vivian- My archfiend Vivian! - was sitting opposite Akram at his table, talking to him animatedly while he seemed to listen and reply but I couldn't hear anything. The noises of the busy afternoon drowned them out.

I stiffened like a stone sculpture.

Viv was tilting her head, and twirling her blonde tresses. Akram was smiling and nodding!

What on earth....!

Vivian reached into her bag and produced a small piece of paper and a pen. She scribbled something onto the paper and placed it in front of Akram.

Akram mumbled something. He shook his head, reached into his pocket and brought out... his wallet? He opened it and pulled a few bills and handed them to her.

Oh God! It can't be! He's paying her money? Is this how she makes her business deals? Payment in advance? And he didn't even refuse?

"Melody!... Melody! Snap out of it! Are you Ok?"

Apparently, Asha had been shaking me up for some time while I was lost into oblivion. Because right after the payment, Vivian seemed to talk Akram into something. She leaned forward holding her hands together as if she was begging for something.

Akram scratched his forehead and looked down for a moment, then he said something and nodded. He left another bill on the table and got up.

Vivian did the same, and touched his arm lightly, cocking her pretty little head.

His lips twisted up a bit and he motioned politely for Viv to walk ahead then he followed with his eyes on the floor until he disappeared from my sight.

God this can't be happening! Did she persuade him just like that? Was he lying to me about his so called principles?

"Melody! Talk to me! Are you in shock?" Asha trilled.

"Oh!... Uh!... I'm sorry! " I turned to Asha, feeling overwhelmed by what I'd just witnessed. How could I be so stupid?

"I know! I'm sorry too, sweetie! Are you alright?" Asha had a sympathetic look as she took in my tensity and my shocked expression.

I shrugged, my mouth gaping. I couldn't say a word.

"It's his loss, you know, " Asha said, squeezing my shoulder.

" Doesn't matter. " my voice broke.

"I can't believe she just picked him up! I hope this bimbo turns out to be a serial killer!" Asha gritted her teeth, her expression agitated.

I winced.

"It's okay, Ash, I'm fine." I swallowed the lump that tightened my throat.

"Hey, coffee girl! I want my skinny latte to go." A sickly sweet voice Interrupted us, " I have a gig to catch, hon. "

Simultaneously, Both our heads snapped towards the counter.

Asha, patted on my shoulder, left me shrinking in the corner and stamped towards Vivian. "Sure, ma'am. In a minute!"

After a moment, she returned with a determined frown on her babyish face and whispered to me, "let me handle this!"

Dazed, I stared while she took over the coffee machine. In a few seconds, she made the most perfect latte, poured it in a paper cup and stood facing me with a rare serious expression.

"This is for you, my friend," Asha told me with a grave tone that sounded odd coming from her.

Then she lifted the unsealed cup to her mouth, spat in it and closed the lid.

***************

Eww! I know! But Vivian deserves worse don't you think?

●What do you think this conversation between Akram and Vivian was about?

●Do you think Viv came to this particular café by accident?

●why do you think Mrs. Charan wanted to talk to Mel?

● do you think Melody's assumptions are true and Akram is not what he said he was?

Please share you views and let me know what you think. Your feedback means everything to me ♥♥

MOST_BAY