Chapter 5

A figure was leaning against the table, and a faint scent of perfume wafted over. Josephine looked up at the person speaking.

It was Avery Green, the owner of the coffee shop.

Avery was around 5’8” tall. She had short hair and was wearing a black T-shirt and sweatpants. A lot of people would mistake her for a man if she didn’t speak.

Back when Josephine first came for the interview, she was so shocked when Avery pinched her cheek. She only realized that Avery was a woman after hearing her voice.

Josephine put down the tablecloth and smiled while signing, “I’m already used to it.”

Avery glanced at her fingers, then at her teary eyes. She frowned.

Although Josephine gave a short and simple answer, Avery knew that it must be carrying so much pain and sorrow.

She handed over the cup of drink in her grip and said, “Your favorite matcha latte. Take it. Everyone gets one.”

Josephine thanked her and took a sip of the latte.

Noticing that Josie had stained the corner of her mouth with white foam, Avery reached out to wipe it off for her. “What a silly girl,” she said, pinching her cheeks.

Her voice carried a hint of melancholy and concern; it was as if she was trying to imply something

Josephine had a chubby face with a fair complexion as well as big eyes and long lashes. Whenever she stared at someone, she looked like a sad little puppy.

That was why Avery liked pinching her cheeks. At first, Josephine was not used to it, but eventually, she was.

Getting used to something was a scary thing.

Avery was very kind. In order to understand what Josephine was saying, she had learned sign language by watching videos and could now understand most of what Josephine wanted to express.

But Josephine was afraid of making new friends again.

The person who became friends with her last now sprayed disinfectant on where she sat.

Nobody knew what Avery was thinking, but she suddenly took Josephine upstairs and said, “Come help me out with something.”

Josephine quickly put down her matcha latte and followed her up the stairs to a room at the corner of the second floor. Avery pushed open the door to find a roomful of colorful paintings.

Apart from owning the coffee shop, Avery was also a famous painter, at least according to her.

Her family didn’t support her interest in painting, so she opened a coffee shop as a disguise to secretly continue painting.

As soon as they entered the room, Avery sat Josephine down on a chair. “Don’t move. You’ll be my model today.”

Josephine obediently sat still on the bench.

Avery liked to practice drawing with her and had painted many portraits of Josephine.

Time passed minute by minute.

As it approached noon, heavy rain started pouring outside. Raindrops were tapping against the window, but the room was exceptionally quiet.

Only, the shop downstairs was getting busier, and both their phones were ringing non-stop, but Josephine didn’t dare to move.

Avery was getting a bit annoyed as well. She put down the brush in her hand and said, “Fine, we’ll continue another day. Let’s go downstairs and see what all these people are rushing about.”

Perhaps it was because of the rain that the shop became quite crowded as most people were seeking shelter from the rain.

They probably felt bad for occupying the seats in the shop so they ordered coffee, which was why it had become so busy.

“Boss, there are a few delivery orders here that are still uncompleted. Can you deliver them?” A female employee ran over and handed the delivery orders to Avery.

She took a look at the list and frowned. “That’s a lot. Forget it. Just bring them all over.”

As soon as she finished, she surveyed the shop and noticed that Josephine was busy working again.

After Avery found her, she pulled her away, saying, “Come deliver these orders with me.”

Josephine quickly took off her apron and followed her to the front counter where they picked up the coffee for delivery.

Half of the orders came from nearby, so it didn’t take them too much time. However, a few were farther away, so Avery had to ride a motorcycle to deliver them.

“Josephine, hold these and sit behind me. I’ll ride.” Avery helped her put on a helmet and pulled her to the side of the road.

Josephine wanted to head back to grab an umbrella, but Avery stopped her.

What was the point of holding an umbrella while riding a motorcycle?

Thus, Josephine could only hold the coffee in her arms and shiver as she sat on the back of Avery’s motorcycle.

The rain was pouring so heavily. Lightning and thunder sounded across the sky.

It was only noon, but it looked like it was about to turn dark.

When Avery stopped outside the building, Josephine’s expression changed.

It was the building that held Lewis’ company offices.