7

I spent some time meeting some people from my college alumni who could help with my appeal for a fair outcome. Yes, I looked for more investors for my cafe, but it ended in uncertainty. It ended with me sitting in front of my computer and staring blankly at the park behind my cafe. Everything was completely abstract and chaotic. I didn't know the future or darkness I would face.

I should have closed the café before everything went wrong because I was stalling for time, and I couldn't keep raking in my savings because I had Ace to support. It was his future savings, and I really had to give him the best.

On the other hand, some people depended on me. Some people would lose their jobs if I closed the cafe, and there were my parents who would be disappointed in me. Now I'm really stuck.

My head throbbed roughly. I massaged it and stopped when there was a knock on my door. I closed my eyes briefly and calmed myself before speaking, "Come in," I said.

Elle, my sweetest employee, appeared as the door opened. She looked at me with her wide smile that was always there, and she held a large parcel as she entered. "There's a package for you,"

"Package?" I raised an eyebrow. "For me? From who?"

Elle shook her head. "It only says 'Papa' as the sender."

I frowned. I stood up as Elle placed the parcel on my sofa table.

"Want me to open it?"

"No need." I smiled. "You can go back to the kitchen."

Elle nodded. "Bye."

I stared back at the big parcel with a big question inside me. Papa? Who is Papa? My father? But I call him Dad.

Following my curiosity, I took a scissors and opened the large parcel, and my eyes widened when I saw that underneath was Lego; the cardboard said that it was an expensive and famous brand of Lego. My eyes blinked a few times before looking around for something that might have been tucked away, I opened the box slowly, and there was a piece of light brown paper with handwriting on it.

For Ace, who is as good-looking as his Papa and as tough as his Mama. 

From: Papa

Papa...Is this from Papa that Ace met?

I tilted my head and shook my head slowly. How could anyone be so loyal to a child he didn't recognize?

But Belle said he was distraught over his family, so I couldn't protest. I don't even know the guy, and this is really not good because I don't like it when strangers get too close to Ace. I should turn this over to the sender before Ace finds out because he'll be hysterical seeing his treasure gone.

But I can't seem to because Ace and Belle's voices can already be heard from outside my room. I stare at the box and parcel paper and how big it is. I can't hide it in time, and now he has opened the door with his cheerful singing.

"Momma!" he ran towards me. I looked at him with a distressed smile before scooping him. "Woah what's that?!" he exclaimed. He immediately rebelled in my arms and stepped quickly towards the Lego box I had opened. "LEGO!" he yelled enthusiastically.

I looked up at him. "It's from your Papa who you met at the mall yesterday," I said and sat on the sofa.

"Damn, I didn't expect it to be this soon," Belle said, sitting next to me. Together, we looked at Ace, who was enthusiastically opening the transparent package wrapped around his Lego.

"You gave him this address?"

She shrugged. "Sure, he asked for an address so I gave it to him." She said. "I don't think he meant it."

"Who the hell is this guy? He's so rich that he can afford these legos. This brand is really expensive, Belle."

"He is indeed rich." Belle muttered.

"You know him?"

"Yeah, I can tell by the clothes he's wearing."

"Tell me who he is. What's his name."

"Never mind, You still won't know him," Belle replied quickly and then approached Ace.

I snorted and then handed Ace the letter from 'Papa.' "Read this, Boy," I said softly, approaching him and stroking his hair.

He read the letter "For Ace, who is as good-looking as his Papa and as tough as his Mama. From: Papa."

Ace read it fluently, and I hugged him again tightly and showered his head with kisses. "You're so smart, baby. You can read fluently already!" I said proudly.

Even though he hadn't entered kindergarten yet, his ability with letters and reading was already so fluent. Plus, he could already count fluently up to multiplication and was so active in drawing. I was amazed and slightly flattered by Sebastian because Ace had inherited his intelligence, and that and his good looks were all I could recognize. I prayed that Sebastian's jerkiness would not be passed down to Ace.

Ace just laughed and went back to being busy with his expensive Legos. I smiled and rescinded my decision to return the box. For Ace's smile... I was willing.

"You're sure he's a good person, right? There's no ulterior motive behind this?" I asked Belle.

She rolled her eyes. "There isn't. Oh my god. This is purely because he loves Ace."

"You need to at least tell me his name."

"That's-"

A knock brought her words to a halt.

"Boss, we need you in the kitchen," Elle yelled outside my room.

"Okay!" I replied in a shouted tone. "Momma has to go to the kitchen for a minute," I said to Ace, kissing his temple. I looked at Belle. "Please watch him for a minute."

"Sure."

"Someone ordered special chicken soup, and mongolian chicken. Only you can make it." Elle said when I was already in the kitchen.

I nodded and started to take the prepared ingredients.

"Oh, yes, and they are VVIP customers. They're on the rooftop." Elle said, and then her face leaned in close and whispered. "They are so handsome and rich. I can smell my bright future from now on."

I laughed lowly and shook my head, still focused on the ingredients before me. "Then you can ask for their numbers when delivering their orders later."

"Of course, I won't miss the opportunity," She chuckled.

We started cooking specials for the VIP customers on the rooftop, who Elle said were rich and handsome. I became curious about who they were.

***

I was tidying up the cafe when night fell. But it was still eight o'clock at night, and usually, we'd still be busy, but there were only one or two customers, and I couldn't bear to close my cafe before midnight because I was already tired and fed up.

I was still cleaning the register when the doorbell rang. "We're closed," my voice dropped when I saw who entered.

A man in his mid-thirties in the formal blue shirt I saw once a month was now in front of me. My expression tightened.

I smiled forcedly and bitterly. "Good evening, Mr. Walles. What brings you here at this time of night?"

He didn't return my smile. He just came closer and stood before me. "Isabella, I'm sure you know why I'm here. It's about your overdue loan payment."

I faltered a little but quickly regained my resolve that had been lost for a moment. "Why not tomorrow? We can talk about it."

"You're avoiding me," he said. "Maybe you're already planning to run tomorrow."

I let out a deep breath. "Look, I understand the situation, but it's been tough. My cafe has been quiet lately, not as profitable as usual, but I'm doing everything I can to turn things around."

He looked at me skeptically. "We've heard it before, Isabella. But excuses won't pay off your debt. We need a concrete plan to pay it off, and we need it soon."

"I am aware of my obligations, Mr. Walles. But pressuring me like this won't solve anything. I need time to think things over."

"Time is something you don't have much of, Isabella. We have been patient, but patience wears thin, especially when there is so much at stake." He said, looking at me sternly and sharply.

This drained my energy, and the darkness was already over my head. Frustration overcame me completely. I sighed with resignation. "I'll do whatever it takes to make things right, Mr. Walles. Just... give me a little more time. I have a few ideas I'm working on that could increase our café's revenue."

"Ideas are great, Isabella, but what we need are results. We'll give you a short extension, but I hope to see progress soon. If not, we will have to consider more... aggressive measures."

I could only nod, my jaw clenched, as Mr. Walles turned to leave.

I brushed my hair and supported my body on the table's edge. I looked down and sighed. The back of my eyes heated up, I was going to cry, but I held it back.

This is really fucking shit.

"Hey, are you okay, boss?"

I squinted, looking at Jane, standing behind the dividing door between the kitchen and the counter. "You still here?" I smoothed my hair and smiled at her.

"Yeah, I'm still here," she said. "It's my turn to look after the cafe, you know."

"I forgot, I thought you'd gone home."

Jane folded her arms across her chest and leaned closer to me. "He's that bank employee, right?"

I nodded. "Did you hear everything?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to. I just..."

"No, it's okay. Its..." I sighed softly, I tried to speak, a little doubt tying my tongue. "It's the truth. We're..." I paused, looking away as I tried to talk about the truth to one of my best employees. "...losing customers lately, and it's massive, and I'm failing to cover all this shit, and..." I paced. "That dude came to collect a debt,"

"God, I can't believe this."

"You have to," I retorted, tilting my head as I chuckled softly. "You believe that all business will always run smoothly? That's naive."

She looked at me in surprise. "Wow."

I sighed, looking at her. I rubbed my face roughly. I shook my head, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude, I'm just done with everything. I'm upset, I'm angry, I'm stressed, I'll probably end up in a mental hospital soon."

Jane looked at me with concern and sadness. She approached me and gave me a brief hug. "It's gonna be okay, boss. We'll get through it." She said as we broke our hug.

"Yeah, keep praying." I smiled. "Everything is ready. You should just go home, I'm going home too. I've tipped over for security so you don't have to worry," I said soothingly.

Jane nodded. "Have a good night, boss."

"Have a good night too."

***

I waited for Jane to leave, and after turning off the lights in certain parts of the room, I went out of the cafe, closed the door, and locked the cafe.

With a soft breath, I turned my body around and squinted when I saw the figure of the man I didn't want to meet anywhere and anytime.

He was now in front of me.

He tilts his head and smiles.

"Sebastian," my heart skips a beat, blood streaming down my face. My chest felt like it had been hit by so many rocks that it gave a brutal pressure, a terrible scourge.

He still smiled casually and took a step forward.

I stepped back, looking at him warily.

Sebastian Sanchez, my ex-husband, is here now.

In front of me with his horrible grin.

"Wanna try something new? Cause I found you."