Chapter 2 Brewing tension

Lila stood behind the café counter, her hands idly wiping down the smooth surface, though her mind was far from the task at hand. The café buzzed with the hum of conversations, the clinking of spoons against porcelain cups, and the soft hiss of the espresso machine. Yet, none of it registered for Lila. She found herself staring blankly at the customers. Some smiled warmly as they sipped their coffees, while others scrolled through their phones, barely acknowledging the world around them. Each one seemed to live in their own little bubble of problems, joys, and desires.

Lila wondered what went on in their heads-what did they think about? Did they have families waiting for them at home? Were their lives full of love and laughter, or were they like her, just drifting along, keeping their heads above water? Her mind wandered back to her own life. Working at the café had been her routine for years now, but lately, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was stuck. She glanced down at the counter, her reflection staring back at her in the polished surface. Was this it? Was this all she was meant to do? Pour coffees and wipe down tables until her bones ached? Before she could delve deeper into that uncomfortable thought, a sharp, cheerful voice snapped her back to reality. "Hey, dear!" Lila jerked, blinking as she pulled herself out of her reverie. Standing at the counter was an older woman, her brightly colored scarf draped over her shoulders like a statement piece, eyes expectant and slightly impatient. "Welcome, ma'am. What can I get for you today?" Lila asked, her voice polite but distant, still shaking off the fog of her thoughts. "I'll have a cappuccino, extra foam, but make it hot this time. The last café I was at served me lukewarm nonsense," the woman said, wrinkling her nose as if she could still smell the bad coffee. "Of course. Coming right up." Lila forced a smile and went about making the order. As she steamed the milk, she thought about how strange it was that coffee could stir such strong emotions in people. For some, it was just a drink to wake them up. For others, it was an experience, a ritual. And then there were those, like this customer, who seemed to treat it as if their very happiness depended on a perfect cup. Lila crafted the cappuccino with care, her hands steady and practiced. She had been doing this for years now-she knew she made the best coffee in the city. After all, dozens of customers had told her so, some even going out of their way to thank her for it. "Here you go, ma'am. One hot cappuccino," Lila said, placing the cup gently on the counter with a smile. The woman took a sip, her eyebrows immediately knitting together. She put the cup down with an exaggerated huff. "No, no, no. This is too bitter! Didn't I ask for a cappuccino? It tastes like you poured me straight black coffee!" she exclaimed, her voice dripping with irritation. Lila blinked in surprise. "I'm so sorry, ma'am. Let me make you another one." Though the woman's complaint seemed unwarranted, Lila wasn't one to argue with a customer-at least, not at first. She moved swiftly to remake the drink, pouring the espresso and steaming the milk to the exact texture needed. Surely, this one would be right. Once again, she set the cup in front of the woman. "I hope this one is better for you, ma'am." The woman eyed her suspiciously before lifting the cup to her lips for another sip. This time, her reaction was instant-and far more dramatic. "What is this?! Are you trying to ruin my day?" the woman barked, slamming the cup down so hard that some of the foam splashed over the edge. "I've had enough of your incompetence! Is it so hard to make a decent coffee? A child could do better than you!" The café grew quiet. Lila could feel the eyes of other customers turning toward the counter, curious and entertained by the unfolding drama. Her chest tightened, heat rising to her cheeks. Incompetence? Her? The insult cut deeper than she expected. Lila prided herself on her work, on her ability to craft the perfect cup. Who did this woman think she was? Lila's temper, usually kept in check, began to flare. "Ma'am, with all due respect, I make the best coffee in this city," Lila said through clenched teeth, her voice low but steady. "Maybe the problem isn't the coffee, but your attitude." The woman gasped, her face contorting into an expression of disbelief. "Excuse me? How dare you speak to me like that! You should be grateful I even stepped into this pitiful café!" Lila's patience snapped. "Grateful? For what? For being insulted over and over again? I've been polite, I've made your order twice, and yet nothing seems to please you. Maybe you should learn to show a little gratitude yourself!" The woman's face turned red with fury, and just as she opened her mouth to unleash another tirade, the manager stepped forward. His face was taut with barely restrained anger as he glanced between Lila and the fuming customer. "Lila, step into the back. Now," he ordered, his voice cold. "But she-" Lila started, but the manager cut her off with a sharp gesture. "Now." Reluctantly, Lila stepped away from the counter, her heart pounding in her chest as she disappeared into the back room. She could hear the manager's smooth, practiced apologies as he tried to pacify the irate woman. The door to the back room muffled the conversation, but Lila didn't need to hear the words to know how this would end. Moments later, the manager appeared, his face stern. "Lila, we need to talk." She crossed her arms defensively. "I didn't do anything wrong. That woman was impossible to please! I did everything right, but she kept insulting me." The manager sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "It doesn't matter whether you were right or not. Customers come first in this business, and you know that. You can't let your emotions get the better of you, Lila." "She insulted me, Jacques! She called me incompetent in front of everyone. I couldn't just stand there and take it!" Jacques shook his head, disappointment clouding his expression. "You should have walked away, or let me handle it sooner. You know the rules here. We can't afford to lose customers, especially regulars like her." "Regulars?" Lila scoffed, disbelief in her voice. "She comes here just to cause problems. I make the best coffee in Paris, and yet she made it seem like I couldn't brew a decent cup of water!" "I'm sorry, Lila, but this isn't the first time you've let your temper get in the way. I've had complaints before, and I've let them slide. But this... this is different." Lila's heart sank as she saw where this was going. "Jacques, please-" "I'm afraid I have no choice. I have to let you go," Jacques said, his voice softer now but firm. Lila's eyes widened. "You're firing me? Over one customer?" "It's not just one customer, Lila. It's a pattern. I need staff who can handle situations like this without escalating them." His tone was final, and though he seemed regretful, it was clear he had made up his mind. Before Lila could argue further, the café door swung open, and the woman from earlier strutted out, a smug smile plastered across her face. She gave Lila a satisfied look as she walked past. Lila clenched her fists, her throat tight with unshed tears. She had worked so hard, had poured so much of herself into this place, and now... it was all gone.