Chapter 3

By the next morning Jenny was feeling a little silly. She shouldn’t have acted so defensive towards Cole. She spent her shower debating how she would approach him. Her breakfast was spent building up courage and her bus ride was consumed with different scenarios and outcomes.

As she entered the publishing house the atmosphere was tense and sombre. Everyone she passed looked at her with a serious expression. Some of the reception staff were sniffing into tissues. She unlocked the front door of the café and stepped inside. Marc was racing around putting things out and trying to get Jasmine to tidying the front counter.

Today was Thursday. Thursdays and Fridays were always the busiest days at The Maze, hence Jasmine’s presence. She was slow and cumbersome. Her stocky build and dead straight black hair made her even more unusual and totally out of place. However, she was great at front of house and as much as Marc protested, she could make a mean coffee. Marc hated Thursday’s and Fridays simply because Jasmine had a little crush on him, despite the numerous attempts he’d made to inform her he was gay.

Jenny flipped the front lights on and pulled out the A-frame. Then she busied herself arranging the small tables and chairs that sat outside the café in the foyer. Once she was finished, she took another look around the foyer. Her eyebrows knitted together. There was definitely something going on.

              “Who died?” Jenny asked as she came around the counter to put her bag away and her apron on.

Marc looked up from what he was doing, and Jasmine looked between Marc and Jenny before skulking off.

              “You don’t know?” Marc asked.

              “Know what?” Jenny was confused. What was going on?

              “It’s Mr Sanders. He’s had a heart attack.”

Jenny’s hands flew to her mouth. How could she had been so careless. Poor Mr Sanders, she knew he hadn’t looked well yesterday.

              “Oh my, is he dead?” Jenny asked shaking her head. She was in shock. She knew the man was old but she never imagined him to be so fragile.

              “Nobody knows yet. Cole is taking charge effective immediately so that’s not a good sign.” Marc returned to fiddling with whatever he was doing.

Jenny knew that in moments of stress Marc made himself busy. Jenny began switching on the coffee machine and running through a few shots, making sure the chemical taste from the previous nights clean was well gone. Marc came up behind her and gave her a hug. She hadn’t realised she needed one until then and pressed herself into his chest.

              “Jenny, there’s more bad news.” He said keeping hold of her. “Rumour has it that Cole wants to shuffle the staff around, meaning some might lose their jobs.” Jenny leaned back so she could see Marc’s face.

              “That doesn’t apply to us.” She said shaking her head.

              “Actually it does. He intends on clearing out anyone he deems useless. According to Amanda he thinks the café is a waste of space, and the staff in it.” Marc stood back grabbing a dishtowel and shoving the tip into his belt.

Jenny stood there. She was unsure what to make of it all. “But these are just rumours Marc.” They couldn’t let themselves get worried over someone watercooler gossip. However, the small voice in her head was telling her if the rumours were true, she’d be the first to go after her little performance last night. Damn it!

By mid-morning the gossip was out of control.  Jenny only focused on the gossip that was constant and repetitive. She wasn’t going to believe nonsense such as Mr Sanders was actually kidnapped, and the publishing house was being held to ransom. What she did ascertain was that Mr Sanders did have a heart attack and that he was still alive. That was the good news. The bad news was that Mr Sanders had put Cole in change and had stepped down as CEO indefinitely. She hadn’t heard any gossip about the staff shake up or about the closure of the café which made her feel a little easier. But there had been no sign of Cole to confirm or deny any of this which still made her a little anxious.

At 11am photographers that had gathered outside the building began flashing their cameras. Familiar dark brown tousled hair emerged from a black car. He pushed past the paparazzi, flanked by Samantha who obviously had been crying. He made a b-line for the reception desk and was presented with a number of memos. He sighed before turning and stalking towards the café, a look of determination in his eyes.

              “You’re staring.” Whispered Marc into Jenny’s ear. She blushed and turned away, trying to busy herself with clearing some tables.

Cole marched in and stood at the counter. His expression dark. Jasmine sidled up to the register, smiling a timid smile.

              “Good Morning Sir. How may I help you?” She smiled again; her finger posed on the register’s screen.

              “I want to talk to the manager.” Cole spat at her.

Both Marc and Jasmine immediately turned to Jenny. She looked as if she was a deer caught in headlights.

              “You’re the manager?” Cole scoffed. “What was my father thinking? Were you banging him?”

Jenny’s mouth flew open in shock. She knew this must be his coping mechanism, but she never thought he would say something like that. Marc and Jasmine looked on dumbfounded.

              “Yes, I’m manager. It was the previous manager who put me in charge not Mr Sanders.” She stood tall, showing she was not some easy push over.

              “Right well can we please talk.”

Jenny guestured to Mr Sanders’ favourite booth. They walked over not saying a word.

              “I’m sorry about your father Cole.” Jenny said as she slid into the seat opposite him.

              “It’s Mr Sanders to you.” He replied his eyes narrowing.

              “My apologies Mr Sanders. Now what can we do for you?” Jenny shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

              “I’ve been looking over last months figures. This café is running at a loss since you became manager.” He took out a couple of graphs depicting the slow decline of the business. It wasn’t news to Jenny. In her memos to the person supposedly in charge of finances she’d often asked for assistance in trying to modernise the café, but her suggestions had fallen on deaf ears.

              “I had tried on a number of occasions to ask for permission to modernise the café…” She began but was cut off.

              “If you spent more time making money rather than flirting with the patrons the business would have been fine. That doesn’t matter now. I’ve made the tough decision to close the café. You and your staff will have a month to find another job. You will each receive a glowing letter of recommendation. Please pass on my condolences to your staff. This wasn’t an easy decision.” He stood up and extended his hand. “Good luck on your future endeavours.” Jenny reluctantly grabbed his hand and shook it.

              “Thank you, Mr Sanders.” Was all she could muster as he stormed out of the café heading straight for the lifts.

Marc and Jasmine rushed over. They of course had heard every word but expected Jenny to tell them differently. She shook her head. Their blank expressions hurt her deeply. Tears began falling down her cheeks. Was it really her fault?

As if he was reading her mind Marc sat down next to Jenny, his arm draped over her shoulder. “Oh Hun, please don’t think it’s your fault. We worked hard to keep this café thriving. Cole’s just upset.”

              “Maybe we should look at it as a month to prove him wrong” Jasmine said.

Jenny looked up to see Jasmine had slipped into the seat opposite and held one of her hands. She smiled at them both. Nothing they could say or do would make her feel any better. She did like Jasmine’s optimism. Her glass half full approach would give her some incentive to push through her depression.

              “You’re right Jasmine. Let’s show him how fabulous we can be. From Monday I want you in every day. Seeing we’ve only got a month lets spend our budget making this place the best fucking café ever!” Jenny hugged Marc tightly and the three of them got back to work.

The rest of the afternoon went without a hitch. Jenny didn’t see Cole again and she was grateful for that. The less she saw of him the better as far as she was concerned. Whatever deep seeded fantasy she had about him was now long gone. She set her sights on making the café perfect and on her date Saturday night.

By the end of close Jenny had a good plan in mind for the business. She asked Jasmine and Marc to stay behind to discuss it. They had agreed when Cole came storming through the front doors. He marched over to the three of them glaring.

              “What are you all sitting around for?” He yelled.

              “Mr Sanders we are conducting a staff meeting to make plans for the closure of the café.” It wasn’t exactly true, but he didn’t need to know that.

              “Do it in the morning. I need to speak with your manager.” He sneered at Marc and Jasmine.

Without hesitation the two of them got up and grabbed their belongings. Marc tried hanging back, giving me furtive looks but Cole was willing to wait until they both left.

              “What do you want Mr Sanders?” Jenny asked. She was in no mood for his attitude.

              “This.” He said slamming a pile of papers on the table. “Tell me now were you screwing my father?”

              “No!” Jenny yelled. She was disgusted by his insinuation.

              “Then tell me why my Father would want to read your crappy manuscript?” He stabbed a finger at the pile of papers.

Jenny’s eyes filled with tears. “I told him about it, and he said he would take a look.” She responded sheepishly.

              “Why though? He hasn’t read a manuscript in over twenty years!” He yelled.

              “I don’t know! Just give it to me. I’ll take it elsewhere!” Jenny yelled back.

She went to grab her book, but he snatched it before she could lay her hands on it.

              “I don’t think so. I’ll keep it.” He sneered before getting up and walking away. Her manuscript tucked under his arm.

Jenny was left stunned and scared. She had no idea what he planned to do with her book and she didn’t know what she should do next.