You walked into the café, breathing in the familiar coffee smell which brought your first smile of the day. Your smile grew when you spotted your friend behind the cash register. She smiled at you and continued with the customer. You slipped behind the counter and started making your regular coffee after pulling on an apron. Your friend, Jasmin, was still taking the order of the customer as you put shots of coffee into your cup.
By the time she was done, you were sipping on your coffee and looking at the task board Jasmin put up. Even if you didn't work in the café, you were more than happy to help Jasmin. Jasmin was your best friend since childhood. She helped you out and vice versa. You started to help even more when she had her daughter, Claire, a few months after her husband died in a car accident.
"Don't tell me not to help," you said as Jasmin approached you with that look. She always tried to persuade you to not help out and said that she could manage. She rolled her eyes playfully at you. You sipped the last of your coffee and threw the cup into the trash.
"I'll make the orders while you take the orders," Jasmin told you, putting a hand on your forearm. "I already cleaned the tables."
You nodded and mumbled, "Just like always." She nodded and started to make the customer's order. You walked over to the cash register, only now noticing that only a few regulars were in line. You smiled and called the next person.
"The usual, Owen?" You asked, raising your eyebrows. The black-haired man in front of you smiled.
"You know it, [Y/N]," he replied, his green eyes darting behind you. You giggled, knowing who Owen was looking for.
"She's on your left, Owen." He blushed and grinned at you. "Your total is $7.24, like always." He slipped his credit card out and paid for his order. You continued taking orders as Jasmin prepared them for a few minutes before the line was completely gone.
A few people were seated on the tables and you smiled at the elderly couple who had just sat at their regular table. You walked over with their regular order and placed it in front of them.
"Thank you, my dear," Laura croaked out. You smiled and muttered a small 'no problem'. You scrambled back to the counter. You sighed as you went to the front where Jasmin was. She looked up from the cake she was making and sent you a smile. You smiled back.
"What's on your mind?" She asked you. You shrugged and shook your head, leaning on the counter where the cash register was. "Oh, come on. Tell me what's wrong?" You sighed knowing she wasn't going to let it drop.
"I quit my job," you told her with a shrug. She scoffed and turned her attention to her cake.
"That's great news, [Y/N]. You hated the job," she said, nonchalantly. "Like it matters anyway. You're a billionaire."
"Like that was mine, to begin with," you muttered.
You had inherited 16.3 billion dollars from your great-uncle. He was a great, rich man and apparently left his whole property for you. It had surprised you and your family. The second your family heard they started getting excited because you always gave them more important than yourself. You were surprised, but not excited. Not one bit. You didn't want that responsibility on your shoulders. You shut down the idea of even using the money for no good reason. Your family had been upset to say the very least. They told you you were making a horrible decision. You ignored their sayings and didn't use the money.
The plan of not using the money at all, lasted about four years.
Everything went downhill when Jasmin showed up at your house---which you bought with your own money---six months pregnant with nowhere else to go. You adjusted to the two of you, adding the money that Noah, Jasmin's husband, and Jasmin had left. Then Claire arrived and that's where it went down. Your job wasn't paying enough for your rent and payments so you had to use that money. You never used it more than you had to. You used it in this café, but it was worth it.
Now that money was multiplying rapidly.
The company that your great-uncle has started was making more income and your bank account was piling with more money. If it were anyone else, you were sure that they would be happy about it. You were happy, but only to a boundary. You were happy that there would be backup money if you ever need it, but then you hated the amount of responsibility that came with it.
The bell chimes but you didn't notice it being deep in thought.
"[Y/N]!" You jumped slightly as Jasmin snapped in front of you.
"What?" You huffed. Jasmin gestured to the cash register as your eyes widened. You mumbled an apology to her to which she smiled. She walked away as you turned around.
"Hi. What can I get you?" You said as the man in a baseball cap came forward. He adjusted his cap before clearing his throat and speaking.
"Um, I'm not sure. It's my first time here. Do you recommend anything?" He asked, looking at you with his piercing blue eyes. You grinned---really grinned for real---and talked about the desserts that Jasmin makes.
"Jasmin makes the best chocolate and vanilla cake mix and the best coffee would be---"
"The one you make for yourself," Jasmin interrupted you, walking up behind you. Your ears burned and you felt your cheeks flush with colour. The man in front of you chuckled softly.
"So can I get some of the cake you mentioned and if it's possible the coffee that you have?" He scratched the back of his neck. Jasmin nudged you and you nodded with a smile.
"Of course. Your name?" You asked.
"Sebastian Stan, but you can just call me Sebastian," he answered. You furrowed your eyebrows. You had heard that name before. "Is there a problem?" You fixed your face into a smile and giggled.
"No, no. I just thought I heard your name before somewhere," you answered, waving your hand dismissively. He nodded with a small smile.
"You might've heard it before," he said, "I'm an actor." Your mouth forms an 'o'. Your eyes widen at a realization.
"Oh, you play Bucky in Marvel," you said, trying not to get others' attention. He nodded with a grin. "I couldn't even tell you did. Probably because you lost the beard and hair." He chuckled and nodded.
"Yeah, the hair was bothering me. I couldn't see half the time I was filming. It was all over the place," he told you. You giggled and punched in some numbers into the cash register. "And then the beard was getting itchy," he mumbled.
You laughed softly and said, "I think it's better than you think. People would be looking for the beard you had and long hair." You paused looking at his hat. "The hat is a nice touch too." His hand went up to his hat instinctively.
"I just rather have a nice and calm lunch," he replied, shrugging. You nodded.
"Away from paparazzi," you muttered. He nodded. "Well, your total is $8.34. Cash or credit card?" He held his credit card up and you nodded. You smiled up at him as he finished.
"I'm trusting you on this," he teased you. You giggled.
"You won't regret it." He smiled. "Your order will be done---"
"When [Y/N] makes her special coffee," Jasmin interrupted you. You rolled your eyes as Sebastian chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah," you sighed. Pressing a few more buttons on the screen in front of you, you finished the order. You smiled at him and said, "Your order will be done in about five minutes." He nodded and went to the side.
You turned on your heels and started making your coffee. You never made the coffee for anyone but yourself and Jasmin. Sebastian would be the first customer to try it. You sighed as you added shots of coffee.
"Tired?" Sebastian's voice rang from behind. You were lucky that only your hand shook lightly by the sudden voice. You shrugged looking over your shoulder.
"It's been a long day," you answered, "How about you? It must get busy when shooting."
"Super busy. No time for any visits to family or friends," he replied, shaking his head slightly, chuckling. "It sucks, but I love my job." You chuckled as pour liquid into the cup.
"When you love something, it makes it worth everything." You remember your Great-Uncle saying that to you. He looked at you with squinted eyes.
"Yeah, I guess it does," he responded, his face breaking out to a grin. You smiled and stirred the mixture.
"I'm speaking from experience, I hated my job. Quit the first thing this morning," you told him. He looked at you with wide eyes.
"You don't work here?" He asked, eyebrows furrowing. You shook your head.
"No. I help out. That girl who interrupted me, she owns the place and is my best friend," you said, pointing at Jasmin, "And she doesn't force me to help. Actually, it's quite the opposite. I force her to let me help out." The two of you share a laugh.
"You have a nice smile," Sebastian said, making you blush furiously. You face away from him as you speak.
"Thank you." Your voice is higher than usual.
"It's the truth, doll." Your blush only shades darker and you nodded, not trusting your words. You finally finish making the coffee as your blush dies down. You put the lid on as Jasmin skipped towards you. She held her phone to her ear.
"Claire's at home with her babysitter, but," she dragged out the 't', "she has to leave. Her mom's in the hospital. Can you go over to my apartment to take of Claire?" You take a look at her as to say 'you don't need to ask.'
"Of course I will," you sighed. She smiled and spoke to the babysitter.
You grabbed the cup and the cake putting them on the counter where Sebastian was waiting.
"Here's your order," you announced, giving him his coffee and cake.
He smiled and muttered, "Thanks." You smiled
"Have a good day."
"You too."
To be continued...