Soft bells rang from the wind chime on Café Loctart's front door.
A garden mural painted the walls. Small black and white tiles glazed the floor, creating a checkered pattern. Mahogany round tables littered the place in various heights. The sofa chairs livened the place with their colorful coatings.
At the back, the long white counter featured pastries in their food display. Their best seller occupied three rows. Tarts of different flavors filled them—mainly: fruits, chocolates and custards. Servers walked around to take orders and deliver them.
Eve halted in her steps. Her oversized white shirt and jeans seemed out of place. She swept her gaze around the place. Customers crowded the tables. Among them, she searched for a familiar black hair with blue undertones.
Avery spotted her first.
She waved her hand, helping the secretary locate her.
No words could describe her joy. Energy surged in her veins. They flowed into her nerves. Her face could split apart from how wide her smile was. The situation didn't seem as helpless anymore.
The dating site could actually succeed.
Weaving her way between tables, Eve reached her destination.
She bowed her head. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Hathaway."
Avery stood up to greet her. She took a step forward and embraced the young woman. Her arms squeezed tight. Tears pooled behind her closed violet eyes. Oh, how much this moment mattered to her. She hoped her gratefulness came through.
Eve froze in place. She hadn't expected this kind of welcome. Her hands hovered in the air, unsure of what to do. A flashback of Avery's pleading face flashed in her head. She cleared her throat and patted the older woman's back gently. Sympathy swelled in her chest.
An ominous feeling pricked her spine.
After a while, she broke the silence, "Um, Mrs. Hathaway. I haven't quite accepted the offer yet. I'm here to know more about its details. I'll make my decision after."
Avery released Eve from her hold. She gestured to an empty seat. "Oh, dear. I'm sorry, Eve. We're outside of your workplace. Please call me, Avery."
"I'm afraid not, Mrs. Hathaway." Eve smiled to soften the rejection. She sat down and folded her hands over the table.
"What would you like to drink?" Avery asked, sitting back on her chair. "It's my treat."
"That's not—"
She pushed the buzzer button before Eve could say more. A waiter walked up to their table. He smiled down gently. "What can I help you with, mademoiselles?"
"We'd like to order the assorted tart platter. I'd also like another cup of ginger tea. Have you decided yet, Eve?"
When the waiter turned to her, Eve hesitated. A lump formed in her throat. Both pairs of eyes on her waited with pleasant anticipation. If she refused, they'd either insist or become disappointed. She recalled the list of cafe drinks behind the counter.
Then, she returned the waiter's smile and said, "I'll have an... iced caramel macchiato."
"Coming right away." He nodded in reply, leaving the scene.
Another cloud of silence encircled the table. Faint conversations from nearby tables floated in their direction. They consisted of casual topics and small talks. None of them held the same seriousness as their upcoming business transaction.
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Romance"You're not about to carry me out in bridal style again, are you?" "Do you want me to?" He couldn't help but smirk. Her face from their date surfaced in his memories. He found it just as amusing as back then. Revenge never tasted sweeter. Would she...
