The unfamiliar streets of Glasgow confused her as she walked along them. Thankfully, her meeting was right across from her hotel, but she wanted to find a cafe for breakfast before work began. The GPS on her phone leading her to the nearest shop had her attention as she walked further away from the hotel.
As she neared her destination, she looked ahead at a building with boarded windows and a faded sign that used to say 'Webb Cafe'. She spun in a circle to look at her surroundings, annoyed that her phone led her to a shut down establishment.
"Excuse me," she called to a man seemingly to be her age passing by, "is there a cafe nearby? My phone led me to this one, it doesn't seem to be open and I only have thirty minutes until my meeting." She looked at the watch on her wrist then back to him.
He smiled, chuckling at her. "They moved a bit down the road there." He pointed behind me. "I'm headed there myself if you'd like to come." She nodded at his suggestion, returning his smile and thanking him.
"First time in Glasgow?" He asked her. His accent makes him harder to understand, but she still catches everything he's saying.
"First time out of the United States," she stated. "Have you ever been?"
"I live in the states. I go home tonight." He put an arm in front of her, looking back and forth before crossing the street. She smiled, grateful for the kind man. "How long are you here for?"
She quickly looked down to her watch again to double check time, making sure she's not late. "I leave in two more days. I just landed last night. I'm having a hard time navigating but other than that it's been nice so far. I love your accent." She looked up at him slightly just as he looked down to her.
"You're the one with the accent here," he pointed out to her. She giggled at his response.
She noticed the new 'Webb Cafe' sign in front of a building much bigger than the previous one. She grabbed the handle of the door before he could and held it open for him. He shared a pretty, closed-mouthed smile with her and nodded as he walked through the door.
The two chatted as they waited for their orders to be made.
"So what kind of meeting you have?"
She grabbed her finished coffee from the counter and took a small sip. Mikayla took notice of the way his hair laid flat against his forehead just above his eyebrows. "I am the executive assistant to the CMO of a dress company called 'Lovely'. I am in Scotland because my CEO and the CMO want to collaborate with a suits company here called 'Collins'."
"I'm familiar with both. Thank you ma'am." He grinned, picking up his order and bringing it to a table, thanking the barista.
"Why did you call her mom?" Mikayla was confused, was this what they did here?
"Mum? I didn't." He thought for a moment sipping his drink. "Oh, no I said ma'am."
"Those two words are the same."
"No, no 'm-a-a-m'." He spelled it out for her. She laughed, realizing how dumb she must sound.
"Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry." She giggled at herself. "Ma'am."
He laughed as well, obviously not caring about the mess up. "You're so young. How are you an executive assistant?"
"I've made friends in high places." She shrugged, smirking. "My step-sister's mom founded the company many many years ago."
The man nodded. "Lucky you."
She shrugged again, checking the time on her watch. "Oh no," she quickly stood and gathered her belongings, "I'm late I have to go."
He stood as well and smoothed out his shirt.
"Thank you so much for your help. It was wonderful chatting with you. I hope to somehow see you again sometime. Here's my number. Let's keep in touch." She laughed nervously, stretching her hand out for his. He softly took her hand in his own. "I never caught your name. I'm Mikayla."
"Charley."
