Chapter 3

 /-Octavia-/

The coffee shop was the only thing of value I possessed. The light in my miserable, dark world.

You'd think six years of stripping and doing his dirty work would have been enough to pay for my father's death, but he told me to my face that even if I worked for the next hundred years, I would only be able to pay half of it. 

An amount he had yet to mention to me. He gave me a little change here and there from the night's work, and I saved everything up to open this little, beautiful shop. 

When Axel found out about it, he laughed, of course, asking if I planned to clear my father's debt from the earnings of a coffee shop. 

The words hurt my feelings, but I was already used to him putting me down at every slight opportunity. 

I was already resigned to my fate of belonging to him forever. There was nothing I could do to change it, no matter how many men I slept with or how many bags of cocaine I transported. 

I opened the coffee shop with a bright smile on my face. This place was the only thing that brought true happiness to me. 

Customers began trooping in soon enough. Not to brag, but it was rumored that I make the best coffee. 

"Octavia!"

My body stilled instantly. He stopped by every morning, but I just wasn't expecting him to come so soon.

"Axel..." I muttered under my breath. He couldn't just let me have an hour or two before coming to ruin it.

"Hello, Octavia..."

My head shot up on hearing that voice. Those piercing blues held my emerald ones, and I felt like my oxygen supply was cut off. 

"It's good to see you again," Nile smiled, extending his hand for a handshake. My trembling fingers slowly made their way into his big palms. 

Images from last night flashed in my head. 

Drinks, bodies, heat, moans...

I didn't realize how long we were holding hands until Axel forced our hands apart. 

"That's enough," he frowned, giving Nile a subtle glare. I quickly averted my gaze. "He's in a hurry to get to work, so he wanted a place to grab some coffee."

"What kind of coffee?" I tried to keep my tone as polite and professional as possible. I had no business getting distracted by his charms or gorgeous smile. 

"I'd like a medium vanilla latte with oat milk," Nile responded.

"What about you, Axel?" I shifted my attention to Axel, unwilling to get distracted by Nile's good looks. It would piss Axel off, and even now, I could see traces of anger and jealousy in his eyes. 

In the last couple of years, he had managed to destroy every meaningful relationship I built. In his words, they were a huge distraction.

"Axel?" I called again when he didn't respond, and he blinked. 

"Right! Get me a double shot of espresso, no sugar," he finally answered. 

"Alright, gentlemen, get yourselves seated while I whip up your orders," I smiled. 

My eyes connected to Nile's again, and he winked at me. I backed them immediately to hide my blushing face and disappeared into the small kitchen. 

As I prepared their orders, I couldn't help but think about Nile. His words to me earlier this morning, just before I ran off again.

"I did what you wanted, but next time, we are going to do what I want. We will sit and talk over a drink or dinner. I hope you won't say no to me this time."

My cheeks heated up once again. I couldn't help but wonder why a decent man like Nile would suddenly take interest in a stripper. 

The door opened, startling me. I almost dropped the mugs of coffee on the floor. 

"Jesus, Axel! You startled me!" I exclaimed. "What are you even doing in here?"

He crossed his arms, leaning against the door with an unapologetic look on his face. 

"What's your deal with Nile?" He asked, and my jaw dropped. Is he kidding me right now?

"You came over here, scared the daylights out of me just to ask my business with a man I fucked throughout the night." I huffed.

"Don't get smart with me. I saw the way he was looking at you and the doe eyes you responded with. Are you messing with my friend?" He hissed, and my eyes darkened with irritation. 

"You were the one who brought me to him.If you have any questions or doubts about our dealings, you should ask him."

"What did you just say to me?!" Axel snapped, eyes darkening in anger. 

He walked to me, and I backed away slowly, my heart racing at the speed of a Tuatara.

"Axel, please... I'm holding coffee..." He slapped it off my hand in anger, and it crashed on the floor, sending a jolt of shock through my heart. 

A yelp fell off my lips as the coffee splashed on my hands. Tears stung my eyes as he grabbed my hair and pulled it. 

"You ungrateful bitch! I gave you the opportunity to make some ends meet to clear the debt your useless father left for you, and now you think you can talk to me anyhow you please, is that it?" He barked, and tears poured down my cheeks. 

"No… No, please... I'm sorry," I cried.

"Now I want you to get this straight; you are nothing but a sex toy! Don't even for a second thing that a man like Nile would want anything to do with a community whore like you, got it?" He growled, and the words struck my heart like a dart. 

His grip tightened.

"Answer me!" He barked, and I nodded. 

"Yes! Yes! Please..."

He shoved me away from him. "Good, now clean up this mess and bring the coffee."

He walked out, slamming the door behind him. My knees went weak as I dropped to the floor, sobbing.

My burning skin forced me to get off the floor and soak my hands in water. The pain faded for only a brief second, but the minute I took it out of the water, it was burning again. 

I wiped my tears quickly, reminding myself that he would do worse if I didn't get the coffee out on time. 

I went through the hassle of preparing another coffee, but packaged it in disposable cups this time and took it to them. 

As I served them, I did my best to avoid Nile's gaze. 

"Are you okay?"He asked, and I nodded curtly. 

"Yes. Why won't I be?" I responded in a monotone, "Enjoy your coffee, gentlemen."

"I'm in a hurry now. What's the bill?" Nile asked.

"Don't worry about that, man. It's on me," Axel answered before I could say anything.

"Really? Are you sure it won't be too much trouble? I can pay for..."

"You're way too nice for your own good, Nile. I said I'll handle it; trust me," Axel smiled.

"Alright then, I need to get to work." He stood up from his seat and grabbed the cup. "Have a lovely day, Octavia."

"You too," I forced a smile and looked away quickly before Axel would throw another tantrum.

He waited for Nile to leave before getting close to me. "I'll be sure to cross off ten dollars from your father's debt."

He kissed my cheek lightly and walked out of the shop.