FATIMA AND WILLIAM got ready to go to her brother’s school because of the conference and the card of Philippe. It’s been a while since she went to his school so she’s a bit nervous. The last time she went there, the other moms judged her for how she dressed and how young she is. They all thought she’s the mother of Philippe which she didn’t mind because she acts like his mother figure.

“Call me dad,” William teased Philippe and he scoffed in disgust. “No way!” He chuckled loudly to his response and so did Fatima. William didn’t have to come with her but he insisted on coming and so he did.

Once they arrived at the school, they got out of William’s car and walked to the building. As they were walking, they met Christopher and Grian walking inside as well. “Sir Grian!” Phil greeted and waved his hand. The pair turned around and saw Fatima and approached her.

“Hey, Fatima,” they said in unison. She smiled and waved a little.

“Here for Nikki?” Chris nodded. She’s never seen him here though, every time she goes here before.

“Why are you also here?” She questioned Grian and he didn’t know what to answer. (I don’t want her to know I work for Chris as his secretary,) he thought to himself.

“My little cousin also studies here,” he said and she nodded. Grian looked at William and extended his hand. “Hello, I don’t think we’ve met before?” he asked and Will eyed him before shaking his hand.

“At the bar, we have. I’m her friend,” William said in a manly way. Grian nodded and smiled. Christopher scoffed with his arms crossed.

“We’ll get going now,” Fatima declared before dragging Philippe. He bowed before they passed the two men. “I like him.” She looked at William who spoke.

“Like as in a friend or you like him in a- uh-“ She struggled to find her words.

“He’s also an old friend of yours, right?” She nodded while smiling a little.

“I feel that he’s better than your ex, the Christopher dude? I like him better for you.” Philippe stopped walking and stared at Fatima and Phil. “He was your ex? And you were friends with Grian?” he whispered in a shocked tone and Fatima scratched her head.

“What the hell!” he exclaimed due to shock. “Is that why you wanted me to call you Glen?” She nodded and his jaw fell. He felt that everything she said was a lie!

When it was their turn, they entered the teacher’s office and she explained how his grades were great and all. He was doing relatively well despite working on a part-time job as well. “That’s great,” Fatima said and held Philippe’s shoulder while William patted his back.

“Work harder, alright? You got this,” she whispered to her brother and he nodded.

“If you don’t mind me asking, you’re his sister, correct?” The teacher asked and she nodded.

“A woman came in here earlier, claiming to be his mother. I haven’t seen her before so I didn’t say anything...” the teacher explained and Fatima’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Her brother and friend looked at her, knowing exactly who it was. “I’m the only guardian he has so if anyone says they’re also his guardian, please tell me right away,” she requested and the teacher gladly agreed.

After the meeting with the teacher, Fatima felt like collapsing so they stopped and let her sit down on a chair. “Are you okay?” William asked and kneeled down to face her while Phil sat next to her.

“Why would she even come here?” She looked at William with many questions in her eyes. Her thoughts immediately went to the times she was abused and starved by her mother and even did it to Phil as well.

Grian and Christopher were walking when they heard her talk and they stopped. “I have a bad feeling about this. What if she does something bad to us again?” She breathed heavily and held her heart.

“She was such a monster,” she whispered and lowered her head. William held her back and hugged her together with Philippe.

A WEEK AFTER working there, it’ll be the first day she’ll receive her paycheck. She will be paid weekly since that’s what she talked about with Grian. She badly needs the money and can’t wait months for the money.

“Looks like someone is in a good mood today,” Philippe said and looked at his sister who’s smiling ear to ear. She looked at him and sweetly smiled at him. “I’m getting my paycheck later!” She danced while preparing the coffee shop for the day. It’s early in the morning and the employees today are only the two siblings, Nikki can’t go today and the following days because of busy school days.

Once they’re finished, they opened the coffee shop. The smell of coffee spread throughout the coffee shop and also spread out as Fatima opened the door to flip the open/close sign before going back inside. The sky is clear and sunny while the wind is cool. Some minutes later, Christopher walked inside. She looked at him and raised an eyebrow before looking at the cups she’s arranging on the table.

“Usual order,” he told Philippe and he nodded. Since he’s a close friend of Grian, he made sure he knows exactly what he orders daily especially with the coffee membership he has.

(I can’t believe this man is her brother. Fatima was just so close to me yet I only found her a week ago,) Chris thought to himself.

Months before, Philippe begged Nikki to hire him despite his young age. He didn’t know who the real owner was but Chris was there watching him beg her. After a while, he tells his sister, Nikki, to hire the poor kid. Little did he know, it was Fatima’s younger brother.

“The world is small, isn’t it?” he murmured and she looked up at him and furrowed her eyebrows. “Huh?” she asked.

“Nothing.” He cleared his throat before looking at Philippe who’s preparing his coffee. After he got his coffee, he went back to his seat to continue what he was doing on his laptop.

More customers came in and they got busy real quick. Fatima was fixing a sign outside and Christopher looked over at her and smiled. He thought about helping her with putting up the sign or not. He stood up from his seat and walked outside the shop.

“Need any help?” She looked at him and she shook her head. He sighed and leaned against the window. “Did you grow up here?” he questioned.

“Uhm.. no? We’ve been moving a lot,” she explained and nodded to herself.

(At least that wasn’t a lie..) Chris thought to himself.

“What school did you study from?” he further asked and she eyed him before she continued to put up the sign.

“I dropped out,” she honestly answered.

“Why?” She signed and looked at him in a tired way. “Can you stop asking so many questions?” she annoyingly asked and he raised his hands in defeat and stayed there quietly.

“Is he bothering you?” They both turned to their left and saw William standing there with his hands crossed.

“Uh.. no, no. He’s just asking questions,” she said and cleared her throat.

“What are you doing here?” Chris irritatedly asked him but he just smiled and pointed at the coffee shop. Chris looked at him irritatedly and rolled his eyes. “What else? I’m here for breakfast,” he said before raising his eyebrows up then down teasingly.

“Good morning, honey,” he greeted Fatima before winking at Chris and going inside the shop. He scoffed before following William inside. “Good morning, Philippe!” he happily exclaimed and Phil saluted him while smiling before handing the menu.

Fatima also went inside after putting up the sign. William approached the table where Chris is sitting and asked, “Can I sit here?” he asked while smiling.

“There’s a lot of seats elsewhere.” William chuckled before sitting at the table near Christopher.

“Aren’t you a very busy person? Mr. CEO,” Will asked as he read the menu. Chris turned around and raised an eyebrow. “I am but I can work here as well. How about you? Aren’t you a very busy person, Mister?” Chris clapped back and Will smirked.

“Of course, I am. As I said, breakfast.” He raised the menu he’s holding for Chris to see before looking through it again.

“What’s your order, Will?” Fatima asked while holding a pen and paper. William smiled and pointed at one of the food items. “Are you free tonight?” he instead said and she raised an eyebrow. Christopher slightly moved his chair to listen to their conversation.

“No, Timothy is sick.” Chris suppressed his smirk. He didn’t want her to say she was free but hearing that her brother is sick made him worried.

The telephone rang and Philippe answered it. Moments later, he called his sister. “It’s for you, uh Glen.” She raised her eyebrows and walked to the telephone before handing William’s order to him.

“Hey,” Grian greeted with a smile.

“Hey,” she repeated.

“Do you want the payment in cash or transferred to your bank account?” he asked and she didn’t hesitate to answer she wants it in cash.

“Can I have your number so I don’t have to keep calling the telephone?” She was taken back by his questions. “I don’t have a phone though.. sorry,” she answered and he nodded.

“Okay, it’s fine. Have you eaten?” She laughed and raised an eyebrow.

“Is this how you usually treat your employees, hmm?” she teased and he chuckled and shook his head before biting his lips. “No, just you.” Her cheeks turned red and she laughed.

“I’ve eaten, how about you, fine sir?” she asked teasingly. (Gosh, why am I even flirting back?) she shook her head to get back to her senses.

“Stop flirting on the job.” She turned and saw Christopher next to her and he took the telephone away.

“Fuck off, Grian,” he said before ending the call. Fatima widened her eyes and took the telephone away from him. “What the hell? Customers aren’t allowed behind the counter. Go back to your seat, Christopher.” She irritatedly pointed at the table he was on earlier and he raised his eyebrows in shock.

(That.. was sexy.) He smirked before shaking his head a little.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said and forced a smile before going back to his seat. She shook her head and rolled her eyes. (Why does he even stay at this coffee shop all day long?)

AT THE END of the day, Christopher handed her the cash. “Huh?” she asked and looked at the money. “Grian can’t come today, that’s your salary for the week.” She nodded and accepted the money and thanked him.

“We’ll close the coffee shop, you should go home,” she said and looked at the door.

“Let me drive you and your brother home.” She pursed her lips before shaking her head. “It’s alright, we can go home on our own.”

“Come on, it’s dark out.”

“Why are you being nice to me?” she directly asked and he stared at her before answering, “I don’t know.” Are his feelings still there for her? Does he want closure? Or what? Even he himself has no idea why he wants to be close to her.

“I already told you, I’m not the girl you’re looking for.” (Are you really not, though?) Chris wondered to himself.

(I’ve changed already,) Fatima thought to herself. Christopher stepped forward, making their body move closer to each other. She stared up at his face as he stared down at her. He lowered his head down to her level. Now, their faces are a few inches away. “Stop lying to me, sweetheart,” he whispered and she gulped. Philippe cleared his throat, making her push Chris away.