Chapter 2 YOU AGAIN !

Chapter 2

Isla POV

I gave the mattress a little tap, hoping to find my last night's guest still lounging around. But nope, that spacious king-size bed was as empty as my hopes. I shook off the sleepiness, realizing the room was a total ghost town. "Sir?" I called out, my eyelids heavy with fatigue. A smirk crept onto my face as I thought, "Mr. Xander sure knows how to keep things lively," before tossing the duvet aside and hopping out of bed.

"Mr. Xander?" I shouted, my voice slicing through the silence like a hot knife. "Are you hiding in the bathroom?" I knocked on the door, my fist ready to unleash some serious frustration. "Xander?" I repeated, irritation dripping from my tone.

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks-he hadn't settled up from last night. I leaned against the wardrobe, slamming my hand on the door in pure exasperation. "Seriously? He ghosted me!" I grumbled, feeling both annoyed and cheated.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to pull myself together. I couldn't believe he had pulled this stunt again. This was the third time he'd skipped out on me, and I was starting to feel like a charity case. I thought we had a deal, but clearly, I was mistaken.

I strolled over to the nightstand and grabbed my phone, dialing Sophia's number. Naturally, it went straight to voicemail. I left her a no-nonsense message, letting her know that her customer needed to cough up what he owed or I'd have to take matters into my own hands.

With a sigh, I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache brewing. This was not the way I wanted to kick off my day. I had bills to pay and a business to run, and I sure as heck couldn't be chasing down clients who thought they could skip out on their tab.

Just then, my phone buzzed to life. It was Sophy calling. "Hey, girl! What's going on?" she chimed, her upbeat tone a refreshing break from my mounting frustration.

"Not much," I responded, attempting to mask my irritation. "Just handling a tough client."

"Girl, it's already past 8," Sophia reminded me. "You don't want to be late and risk losing your job at the coffee shop." I glanced at the clock and let out a resigned sigh as I slowly rose from the couch, my legs stretching out on the floor. "Yeah, I appreciate the heads-up. I'll get ready and meet you at the reception."

I trudged to the bathroom to prepare for the day, still simmering over my issues with Mr. Xander. But I knew I had to set that aside for now and concentrate on my shift at the coffee shop. At least I had Sophy to talk to and a way to distract myself from my troubles.

As I prepped for work, my thoughts kept drifting back to Mr. Xander and the money he owed me. It was infuriating that he had stiffed me again, and I was beginning to feel like I'd never see that payment. I sighed, pushing those thoughts away and focusing on what needed to be done.

When I finally arrived at the coffee shop, Lisa was already there, sharing a latte with our coworker, Alex. I joined them, and we chatted about our weekends and what we had planned for the week ahead.

"As the morning rush picked up, I found my focus sharpening, but my phone rang twice, and I couldn't pick it up. Sophy's name flashed on the caller ID, but I chose to ignore it, prioritizing my customers instead. The persistent buzzing of my phone was a nagging distraction, but I pushed it aside and concentrated on my work."

I shuffled over to the counter, shoving the towel into my apron, my legs already screaming from the morning rush. I peered out at the lively cafe, where folks were still queuing up for their drinks. "Phew..." I let out a sigh before punching in Sophia's number. "Hey, Soph," I said, brushing off my coffee-splattered apron while I waited for her to pick up.

"Hey, girl! What's going on?" Sophia's bubbly voice chirped from the other end. "Not much, just trying to get through this wild morning," I said, rolling my eyes like a pro.

"Totally get it," Sophia said sympathetically. "So, any news on the Mr. Xander drama?"

I paused, debating how much to spill. But Sophia was my bestie, and I could trust her with anything. "Well, I got a strange text earlier," I said, lowering my voice like it was a secret. "Someone wants to meet me at the park at 1 p.m. and says they want to book me for a night before dawn."

Sophia's tone shifted to serious mode. "That sounds fishy. Do you think it's a setup?" I shrugged, even though she couldn't see me. "I'm not sure, but I'm going anyway. I need cash to get by, girl."

"I need coffee," a grumpy voice interrupted my thoughts. I quickly shot a glare at the customer, my eyes narrowing like a hawk. "Isla, are you there? Isla?" Sophia's voice kept coming through the phone, but my shock and distraction made it hard to focus.

"Isla, are you there?" Sophia asked again, this time sounding a bit worried. I shook my head, trying to shake off the fuzziness. "Yeah, Soph, I'm here," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

The customer stepped closer, his gaze locked on me with an unsettling intensity. "I need coffee," he repeated, his voice low and rough.

I hesitated, my heart pounding like a drum. Something about this guy felt off. "Uh, okay," I stuttered, trying to keep my composure. "What can I get for you?" But then it hit me. "Xander!" The name burst out of my mouth, and I quickly lifted my eyes to meet his.

"You again?!" he sneered, his tone laced with venom. But I was faster.

I charged ahead, the cup of coffee shaking in my grip, and splashed its searing liquid all over his pricey blazer. "Yep, it's me again!"