Unexpected Connections

Mary Jane took a deep breath as she walked over to Ethan and Clifford’s table. The cosy café, with its warm lighting and comforting smells, suddenly felt too big and too small all at once. Her heart raced, and she wiped her sweaty palms on her apron. Ethan Cogsworth wasn’t just any customer; he was a billionaire, known for his powerful place in the business world. And she was just a barista, trying to get by.

As she reached their table, Ethan looked up from the menu. His deep-set dark eyes met hers, and she felt a sudden flutter in her chest—the kind she thought only happened in movies. He had a presence that was both intense and oddly accommodating. Mary Jane swallowed, hoping her voice would sound steady as she took their order.

“Hi there! Welcome to La Petite Bean. I’m Mary Jane. What can I get started for you today?” Her voice sounded steadier than she felt, though she could hear a slight tremor.

Clifford smiled, his boyish grin infectious. “Hi, Mary Jane. I’ll take a cappuccino and a slice of that blueberry muffin—it looks amazing! He’ll have an Americano and a croissant.” He winked at her. “Thanks, MJ! Mind if I call you that?”

“Sure!” Mary Jane replied, a bit flustered by Clifford’s easygoing charm. She glanced at Ethan, who seemed content to let Clifford do the talking.

“I’ll get that right out for you,” she said, jotting down the orders and managing a quick smile. As she turned back to the counter, she mentally scolded herself for feeling so nervous. She had served plenty of customers, but none had ever left her feeling this unsteady.

At the counter, Mary Jane tried to pull herself together. Why did Gale have to pick her to serve this table? She could just imagine her co-workers’ giggles if she messed up.

“Everything okay?” asked Dave, the barista beside her. Dave was a pro, always calm and collected.

“Just took an order from Ethan Cogsworth,” she replied, trying to sound casual.

“No way! That’s awesome! You should be excited, not nervous!” He grinned, giving her a playful nudge. “Just remember, he’s a regular person, not some untouchable god.”

“Easier said than done,” she muttered. She focused on preparing the drinks, hoping to get a handle on her nerves. A few minutes later, she arranged the Cappuccino, Americano, muffin, and croissant on a tray. With her heart pounding, she took a deep breath and walked back to their table, trying her best to look confident.

“Here you go!” she announced, setting their drinks and pastries down.

“One cappuccino and a blueberry muffin for you, Mr…” She trailed off, unsure of Clifford’s last name.

“Mann,” he said, laughing. “Clifford Mann, but just call me Cliff.” He winked, and she let out a small laugh.

“And an Americano with a croissant for you, sir,” she said to Ethan, giving him a polite smile as he nodded his thanks. With the order delivered, she felt her nerves start to ease.

“Thanks, MJ,” Clifford said warmly. “This looks great.” He took a sip of his cappuccino and closed his eyes, savouring it. “This is amazing! I’m telling you, this place is a hidden gem.”

Mary Jane smiled, glad for his enthusiasm. “I’m glad you like it! The muffins are baked fresh every morning. We have a great baker in town.”

Ethan set down his cup, leaning forward slightly as he caught part of the conversation. “So, how long have you been working here?”

“Just a few months,” she replied, feeling her cheeks warm under his gaze. “I moved to this part of the city for a fresh start, and this job just kind of found me.”

“A fresh start?” Ethan’s expression softened, as if he understood more than she was saying. “That takes courage. I respect that.”

“Thank you,” she replied, surprised at how much his compliment warmed her.

Cliff grinned, clearly enjoying the exchange. He had finally gotten Ethan to talk to someone outside the office.

“Oh, I’m nothing special,” she said, laughing lightly, trying to brush it off. “Just a barista.”

“Just a barista?” Ethan echoed, looking a little puzzled as he tuned back into the conversation. “Every great business starts with someone pouring coffee. It’s an art in itself.”

Mary Jane met his gaze, caught off guard by his words. “I suppose. But I’m more interested in art than business. I actually love to paint in my free time.”

“Really?” Cliff asked, leaning back in his chair. “What do you like to paint?”

“Mostly landscapes and abstracts. There’s something calming about mixing colours,” she admitted, feeling a bit bolder.

“That sounds beautiful. You should showcase your work. I bet it would connect with a lot of people,” Cliff encouraged.

Mary Jane felt herself blush. “Thanks, but I’m too shy to put myself out there. Right now, this café is enough of a canvas for me.”

Cliff nodded, and Ethan looked at her thoughtfully. “You know,” he said, “I get that. It’s easy to hide behind work. But art… it connects people in a way business can’t.”

Both men stood up after paying their bill. Cliff turned to her with a smile. “This has been a fun afternoon, MJ. Hope we can do this again sometime.” He gave her a quick, friendly side hug.

“You were a wonderful host, Miss Mary Jane,” Ethan said, holding out his hand for a brief handshake. His smile made her blush. “Pleased to meet you.”

“The pleasure’s all mine,” she replied.

As they left, Mary thought to herself, Maybe rich folks aren’t so bad after all.