Chapter 4 SHE'S CRAZY

Chapter 4

Xander POV

"What the heck is the meaning of this, Miss?" I asked, my voice loud and incredulous, as the barista lady's shrill words filled the room, attracting the attention of the other customers.

"Are you asking what's the meaning of this, Mr. Xander?" She repeated, leaning in close to me, her voice low and menacing. "You owe me for last night's service," she whispered, her teeth gritting in extreme vexation and her eyes blazing with anger.

"You can't be so rude and unreasonable over a mere $150," I groaned, my suit dripping with coffee as I took a tentative step backward. "Hiding your true identity behind the counter of a coffee shop, pretending to be a barista, you're just a slut!" I spat out the insult, but her gaze remained unyielding, her eyes brutally fixed on me, unflinching.

With a mix of anger and desperation, I let out a frustrated sigh and stormed out of the cafe, my blazer flapping open. My mind was racing with the request of my daughter Ally; she had been pestering me to get her favorite coffee from this shop, and I knew she would be unbearable if I didn't deliver.

"She's just satanic!" I exclaimed, tapping the steering wheel impatiently. I rolled up my tinted windows, feeling a sense of unease wash over me. "Sophisticated lady with ruthless and unpredictable behavior," I muttered to myself, my mind racing with thoughts of Isla. "I hate women like her; she's just like Olivia," I added, my nostrils flaring in distaste. As I spoke, I felt a sudden urge to sneeze, and I covered my face with my hand, my body language betraying my discomfort.

As I sat in my car, trying to compose myself, my mind raced with thoughts of Isla and Olivia. Why did women like them always seem to get under my skin? I took a deep breath and started the engine, determined to put the encounter behind me.

But as I drove away from the coffee shop, I couldn't shake the feeling that my life was about to get a whole lot more complicated. Little did I know, Isla was just the tip of the iceberg.

My phone rang, breaking the silence in the car. I answered, hoping for a distraction from my thoughts.

"Hey, papa. It's Ally. Did you get my coffee?" I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I'm on my way, Ally. Just relax, okay?" But I didn't get the coffee again. Maybe ice cream and chocolate will be replaced with your coffee request.

"Dad, no! I need coffee!" Ally's voice was laced with sadness, and it began to rise to a desperate wail. "Ally, stop crying, okay? I'll get your coffee, I promise. I'll just have to go back to the cafe," I pleaded, trying to placate her. But before I could finish speaking, the Bluetooth connection went dead. Ally had angrily ended the call, leaving me feeling frustrated and anxious.

I let out a deep sigh and turned the car around, heading back to the cafe. I couldn't believe I was doing this, but Ally's tears and tantrums were not something I could ignore. As I pulled back into the parking lot, I could feel my anxiety spiking. Isla was still standing behind the counter, her eyes fixed on me as I walked back in.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here," she said, a sly smile spreading across her face. "The busybody man's return."

I gritted my teeth and approached the counter. "Just give me the coffee, Isla. I'm not in the mood for your games."

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I think you're very much in the mood for my games, Xander. Otherwise, you wouldn't be back here, would you?" I forced myself to remain calm, knowing that Ally was waiting for her coffee. "Just give me the coffee, Isla. Please."

"Here you go, Mr. Rude and Unreasonable!" Isla dropped two cups of coffee on the counter, along with a straw that landed with a clatter. I felt a surge of irritation at her unhygienic habit. "You're just so dirty, Isla," I vented, picking up the coffee and straw with a sense of distaste.

As I turned to leave, Isla called out, "Hey, Xander!" I turned back to face her, my eyes narrowing. "What now?" I asked gruffly.

Her smile was playful, but her eyes gleamed with a hint of warning. "Don't forget to pay your tab, because..." She snapped her fingers in the air, the sound echoing through the room. "Next time, this might not be the friendly way I address you, Xander."

The voice followed me as I walked away, the implied threat hanging in the air like a challenge. I could feel her eyes on me, watching me, and I knew that this wasn't the last I'd heard from Isla.

I walked out of the coffee shop, feeling a sense of unease. Isla's parting words lingered in my mind, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just messed with the devil herself. As I got into my car, I noticed a piece of paper on the passenger seat. It was a receipt from the coffee shop, with a handwritten note at the bottom: "Payment due: $150.00. Pay up, Xander."

I groaned in frustration, starting the engine and driving away from the coffee shop. Determined to put the encounter with Isla behind me, I pulled up to the stoplight, but my car suddenly sputtered and died. I let out a sigh, wondering what else could go wrong. That's when I saw a burly security officer, his face stern and unforgiving, striding towards my car with an air of authority.

"Great, just what I need," I muttered to myself, shaking my head. "A merciless security officer and he doesn't even know who owns this car." I chuckled wryly, adjusting my glasses and searching Google on my phone for a solution to my car troubles. "This day just keeps getting worse."

The security officer approached my window, his gaze fixed on me with unyielding intensity. I braced myself for a confrontation, wondering what he wanted.