Last chance

“Good morning, sir and ma’am." I greeted the couple, who were my bosses.

“Good morning, honey,” they wished me back with a warm smile on their lips. They are a very sweet couple. I won’t say they are old, but they are the same age as my parents. Their kids studied well and settled in other countries for their careers, and when they get the chance, they will land here. Their kids want them to close this cafe and shift with them there.

“Thank you.” I thanked them and went inside to start my work.

I started working in this cafe the day I started taking a part-time job. This place is special to me. After greeting all my co-workers, I started my work, and as the day was mid-s place is special to me. After greeting all my co-workers, I started my work, and as the day was mid-week, the cafe was too busy with college students, office-going people, and a few couples coming here to spend some quality time together. The whole cafe was filled with their laughter and chitchat. Seeing college students always makes my heart feel heavy, and I get disturbed.

“It's ok, Julie (nickname), you will do it sooner or later. There's nothing to worry about. Come on girl, cheer up!” I always say this to myself and move on with life.

“Hi Julia, how are you?”

“Hi Julia, it's been a while since I have seen you.”

     “Hi, beauty, How about you come on a date with me? My girlfriend is boring,” one boy teasingly said to me, making his girlfriend go mad.

“Hey Julia, I don’t mind you going on a date with him. "But later, don’t come to me and complain about him being completely stupid,” the girl replied.

“Oh, why would she come on a date with someone who is already taken? She is such a beauty, and she will have Mr. Perfect as her partner,” my boss joined in.

     

“Awwwwwww,” everyone squealed upon hearing her words. A few clapped with their hands, a few banged their hands on the table, and a few of them whistled too. Hearing all those comments, a blush crept onto my face, and I am sure my cheeks are tinted red by now.

“Oh, Julia is blushing; look at her. By the way, Julia, how do you want your man to be?” One girl from the customer group questioned

“Is this topic necessary? Right now I don’t need anyone,” I answered because I felt it was not a good habit to ignore them and go inside.

“Don’t try to escape from this conversation. We came here a lot of times, but we never got to know about your boyfriend. Do you have one or not?” Another girl, who is a regular customer here, posed a question.

“I don’t have one,” I replied.

“Oh, it's so sad,” she replied, and I just smiled. I went inside from there because I don’t even know what type of questions they are going to ask me again. I took a deep breath and started working again. My mind was struck with the question,

“How do you want your partner to be?”

“Yes, how do I want my partner to be?” I questioned myself. Even after thinking about it for a long time, I couldn’t get the proper answer, and I got lost in my thoughts. I came out of my reverie when I felt someone tapping on my shoulder.

   “What happened? What are you thinking of?” My colleague questioned me.

"Aah, it's nothing,” I answered.

“Ok, deliver this to table 5,” she said, handing me over a tray. I nodded my head and went from there to deliver it. Later, I got busy with the orders, and we got a few takeout orders as well. I didn’t realise it was already 12 until my alarm buzzed.

    

I packed my things and ran out of the cafe, bidding bye to my boss, as I have to reach my second job by 12.30, and it will almost take 20–25 minutes to reach there from here.

**********   

Xavier POV:

“Is this what I hired you all for?” I threw the file on the table. They stood there, lowering their heads.

“What are you all silent for? Do you think we will be able to get this project if we keep this quotation?” I screamed at them.

    "W…we..a…are…s… "Sorry, sir,” the manager stammered in his words.

“I don't want to hear the bloody apology. It won’t make your work correctly,” I declined his apology.

“We will rectify it, sir,” he answered.

“Look at your watch!” I ordered him. He looked at it and didn’t open his mouth again.

“I already warned everyone that this work must be perfect, but what have you all done?” I questioned him, but there was no reply from him, and I already knew it.

“Ok, as you have been working here for a long time and this is your first time, I am giving you a second chance. You have to do the whole thing perfectly by 6 p.m. Remember, there is no other chance for you again,” I said. He nodded his head and went out of the cabin.

“It’s not his way of working, and I feel he is hiding something. He is scared, but not about me; it's something else. Do enquire what it is about, and remember, I need all the information before we are back to the company,” I ordered my assistant, and he immediately called his informant.

“Sir, we will get the whole information in an hour,” he replied, and I didn’t say anything. He went out of the cabin and came back in 10 minutes with a cup of black coffee. He kept it in front of me and then said,

“There is a meeting with the client in the ABC hotel for lunch, sir.”

“When do we have to start, and is everything ready?” I questioned him.

"Yes, sir, I've got everything ready, and I've already mailed you everything. We have to start now,” he answered.

“Ok,” I said, and I stood up from my place, taking my coat into my hands. He packed my laptop and the files I needed and followed me.