Alpha Billionaire Series

NATHAN

Pulling up to Love Buns café was entirely too familiar, yet it felt so foreign. So different from what I had become accustomed to. The building was old, but I didn’t remember it being as run down as it looked. The neighborhood had never been the best, but I didn’t remember it as derelict as it now was. There was a reason my father and Gavin had been able to get the property one lot over as cheaply as they had.

One block over re-gentrification had made a difference in the overall appearance of the area, it was simply taking its time seeping over the rest of the area. Location-wise, this was a prime spot for developing a multi-unit retail and living space. The café did not have a charming awning over the front window, creating an outdoor seating area. It did not have decorative pots full of flowers, not even a window box. One thing the café did have— that was becoming a scarce commodity in the city — was parking.

I5lid my vintage Jaguar E-type coupe into the space by the front door and watched the steady stream of customers going in and out. Admittedly, I didn't remember what business had been like for the café, but I did not remember this level of activity I exited the car and pushed my way into the café. Memories flooded back like a tsunami, overwhelming my senses. That particular combination of baked goods and coffee. No other place had that exact balance of smells. I had been in and out of plenty of cafés while living in Europe, but none of them smelled like Love Buns. Maybe there was something about the ancient wallpaper that held onto smoke and grease from decades long past that added to the unique smell that was this place.

Ilooked up, expecting to see Gabriella behind the counter, smiling, her golden hair hanging over her shoulder.

It took a long moment to realize I was looking at her. It was almost as if everything had stayed the same here when I had left “Are you waiting?” someone behind me asked.

“0h, no, sorry." I stepped out of the way. “Trying to decide before I get to the counter.”

I waved them on, and this time when I stared at the counter, I pretended to be studying the menu instead of staring at Gabriella.

She looked good, really good. The café was worn down and tired, but Gabriella was not. She was a shining spot in a sea of old décor and dull colors. Her hair, still long, hung in a thick braid over her shoulder. Her smile was genuine, and her eyes sparkled with warmth. There may have been a few more laugh lines around her eyes. And her cheeks may have been a touch rounder, but she still took my breath just as she had the very first time, I had ever seen her.

Her smiling and easy laughter back then had drawn me to her. She had been an angel amongst all those hard-edged bikers. She was softness and light amongst the gritty darkness that lifestyle had cultivated.

She was still a beacon of joy. It was pulling at me even now after all these years of not having seen her. I stepped into the line, waiting for my turn at the counter.

My heart pounded in my chest. I don't know why I was feeling nervous. This was Gabriella, there was nothing to be nervous about. The person in front of me waved and turned away, leaving the space clear for me

“Hi Gabriella,” I said.

Her eyes snapped up. When I would have anticipated a warm smile from her, I was greeted with a calm professional smile. Her cheeks didn't round out as she smiled harder, her eyes didn’t sparkle more or go wide with joy. She gave me the same friendly look she gave everyone I had witnessed her speaking with before me.

“Nathan, wow, hi."

“50, you remember me?” I teased.

“Yes, I remember you. Have you decided what you want?”

I wanted to talk to her. I wanted her to be happy to see me. I wanted something other than what I was getting.

“I haven't seen you in how long, and you want to know if I've decided what I want?"

“That's usually how it works here. You're right it has been a long time.” She gestured to the people behind me. “You have caught us during a busy time.”

“Oh, right. Go ahead.” I stepped back and waved the person behind me to the counter.

“Yeah, this is a different crowd from what I remember. You still have the racers come through? Those were some good times! Gabriella paid attention to her customer, and then smiled and nodded at me, so I knew she was listening. She boxed up a treat from the case and handed it over to the man she was working with. The customer moved to the man to finish their transaction.

“What are the odds that you still work here?”

“Why wouldn't I2” she asked.

I shrugged. I figured I had moved on, why wouldn't have she?

“Take a break, let's catch up,” I said. I tilted my head toward the man behind the counter with her. “He can handle it” I pointed over my shoulder to the sitting area.

She nodded at me to go. I took that as confirmation to sit down and she would join me in a minute.

I stepped into the seating area and watched as the next person in line stepped up to the counter. There was a rhythm to the movements between the customer and Gabriella and the man she worked with. Everyone moved with the repeated precisio; of knowing their part. The movement was more fluid than the moving parts of a machine. It was more like a choreography of step up, look at the display counter, point. Then Gabriella would duck and turn and have whatever they had ordered placed into a box and hand the order to the man at the counter. He would turn and then there was a back and forth as the transaction was finalized. The dance repeated over and over. There seemed to be a never-ending arrival of new dance partners.

At some point, Gabriella left the counter. I anticipated her joining me at my table at any moment. The dance continued with halting jerky motions without her. She was needed for everything to move smoothly. When she reappeared from the kitchen it was with a tray of what looked like cupcakes.

There seemed to be no end to the stream of patrons. I wouldn't have thought a business at a location like this would have commanded such a robust following.

I caught Gabriella’s eye and motioned that I wanted her to come over. She shook her head and made some expression. I interpreted her body language to mean she was as annoyed with the constant work she had to do as I was.This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

Eventually, the steady flow turned into a trickle, and then the café was blissfully quiet. Gabby approached my table carrying a plated cupcake.

“This place has picked up business, hasn't itz Is it always like’ I had been prepared to say “that’ but even more people cam through the door and lined up at the counter— “this?”

“You came during our afternoon rush. Here.” She handed me the cupcake and a cup of coffee. “On the house. I'm sorry I have to get back!’

“Stay, talk to me," I demanded.

“You came at a bad time. I don't have time."

“They always worked you too hard, I see that hasn't changed.’

“What's that supposed to mean?” she asked with a break in her voice.

“The owners, they expect too much from you. I hope they are at least paying you better for your loyalty."

She stopped and stared at me; her jaw slightly open. Her hand curled up toward her chest, and she poked herself with her pointer finger.

“I'm the owner. This is mine.”

“You bought this dive?” I had underestimated her skill set.

“Nathan, I've always owned the café.” She shook her head.

Slowly, she turned to go. I put the cupcake and coffee on the table and grabbed her arm, turning her toward me. I had been wrong, she had changed. Up close she looked disappointed and tired. Still beautiful but that smoothness of youth was tarnished from time.

“Talk to me. I haven't seen you in what? Five years, and you can't make time for me?”

“Six years. It's been almost six years. You showed up in the middle of my midweek rush. You can't expect me to drop everything to catch up on old times. I have a café to run, and I don't have time for this right now.”

She grabbed a napkin from the decorative holder and pulled a pen from her pocket. She scribbled a phone number down and handed it to me.

“Call the café and make an appointment. Id love to catch up." I didn't trust the sarcasm in her voice. “But right now, I have other priorities. I know you understand priorities.”

I knew what she was referring to. When I left her, I may have said something about getting my priorities in order. I nodded and let her go. She returned to her dance of taking and filling orders. I sat and watched. How could I not?

After that display, she showed me she was a woman with focus and inner strength. Of course, I more than halfway expected her to melt into me at my return and welcome me back with her soft lips and lush body. But this new Gabriella was powerful and a thousand times more intriguing.

Ibit into the cupcake she hand-delivered to me, to get rid of me. I knew a brush-off bribe when it was handed to me. I had pause and appreciate the way the treat practically melted on my tongue. Gabriella had always been a good baker, but this was intensely delicious. No wonder she had a line out the door.