1 Ch. 1

Jordan woke up with the same emptiness for almost three years. She looked at the ceiling, wondering what time was it. Then her alarm went off, signaling it was six in the morning to tell her to start her daily monotone life.

She took a shower before she went to her coffee shop downstairs. She opened her coffee shop every day at seven in the morning and took care of it until her employees came at nine.

Her coffee shop was an average size but it was cozy, the furniture was all wooden craft. Her parents built it for her two years ago, but then she decided to renovate it a year prior. She made the second floor as her house and she lived in there for a year now.

"Good morning, Mrs. Copeland." She greeted her regular customer, a middle aged woman who always came at seven thirty every day for almost six months now.

"Ah, good morning Jordan." Mrs. Copeland smiled when she saw the dirty blonde woman behind the counter.

"What can I get you? An Americano?" Jordan asked.

Mrs. Copeland smiled once again. "Make it two Long Black, please. Thank you."

Jordan slightly smiled, this was the first time Mrs. Copeland changed her usual drink. "Is there any particular reason why you suddenly changed your coffee?"

"My niece came and she asked me to try a Long Black even though I know there's no difference between Americano and Long Black." Mrs. Copeland laughed.

"True." Jordan agreed. "There's only what to put first, water or the espresso."

Mrs. Copeland nodded, she looked at how Jordan carefully made the drink even though it was the easiest coffee she had ever known.

"You know, you're too beautiful to be a barista." Mrs. Copeland said when Jordan closed the cup of the coffee.

Jordan smiled. This middle aged woman knew how to make her day. "Thank you, Mrs. Copeland." Jordan said. "Here you go."

Mrs. Copeland gave her a few bucks on the counter. "Keep the change."

Jordan's smile went wide. "You really made my day, Mrs. Copeland. Thank you so much."

Mrs. Copeland waved her hand dismissively, smiling. "I like your coffee and it's worth it. Thanks to you, young lady. Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Jordan waved her hand. "Have a nice day."

"You too, Jordan." Mrs. Copeland said before she went out from Jordan's coffee shop.

Jordan did her daily barista job while waiting for her employees to come. Another customer came and she lost track of time because she was too busy making coffee behind the counter.

"Well, hello there!" Brandon greeted Jordan when she was making a Cappucino. "Good morning, boss."

"Morning, Brand." Jordan greeted back.

"Which table is it?" Brandon put his black leather apron.

"Seven." Jordan replied when she put the Cappucino on a tray. "Where is Emma and Cass?"

Brandon shrugged, he took the tray and served the Cappucino to the customer while Jordan kept wondering where were her two other employees.

At nine fifteen, Emma and Cassidy entered the coffee shop together, facing Jordan who already crossed her arms over her chest as she waited for them. It was the first time the two of them were late. But when Jordan saw their faces, a smile appeared on her face.

"What?" Emma asked, after apologizing as to why she was late.

Emma exchanged look with Cassidy who shook her head because she had no idea why her boss acted strangely towards them.

"You can text me if you're going to be late." Jordan smiled.

"O-okay, I'm sorry." Emma said. "I was in a rush this morning and I couldn't think properly so I didn't text you because I was running."

Jordan averted her gaze from Emma to Cassidy. Cassidy startled because she had no idea what to say.

"Uh, yeah. Same here." Cassidy said awkwardly.

"Okay." Jordan suppressed her laughter.

"Okay?" Emma and Cassidy repetead in unison, because Jordan seemed to let it go easily.

"Yeah, okay." Jordan assured. "You can start to work now, the customers started to come."

Emily left a relieve sighed, Cassidy smiled at her. Jordan uncrossed her arms, but before Emma and Cassidy started to walk to take their aprons, she said something and made both of them blushed in embarrassment.

"Cover your hickies with something, please."