Chapter 4 The new girl

Chapter 4: The New Girl

Ethan arrived at the café the next day feeling unusually optimistic. He had survived another meeting with the board, Mr. Tucker hadn't screamed at him (yet), and Larry was too baffled by his double life to keep pestering him about returning full-time to the office. Things were going smoothly... for now.

But that sense of calm didn't last long.

The moment Ethan stepped inside Beans and Dreams, he noticed something different. Martha wasn't at the counter. Instead, a girl he didn't recognize was standing there, pulling espresso shots with an impressive amount of speed and precision. She had shoulder-length brown hair tied up in a messy bun and was wearing the same standard uniform, though she somehow made it look a lot more put together than he ever could.

"Who's that?" Ethan muttered under his breath as he made his way to the back room. Martha was there, looking through a stack of inventory papers.

"Oh, good, you're here," she said, glancing up at him. "I was about to introduce you to the new hire. You're going to be working with her for the next couple of shifts."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "New hire? Since when are we hiring?"

Martha shrugged. "Since I realized we need someone who knows how to make coffee without it turning into a science experiment."

Ethan couldn't argue with that. "So... who is she?"

Martha smirked. "Her name's Sophie. She's sharp, she's fast, and she's exactly what we need around here."

"Great," Ethan said dryly. "Just what I needed-someone to show me up."

"Oh, don't worry," Martha said with a wink. "She's here for bigger reasons than outshining you."

Ethan frowned but didn't press further. He walked out to the counter where Sophie was wrapping up a customer's order. She turned just as he approached, giving him a quick once-over before offering a polite smile.

"You must be the other barista," she said. Her voice was calm, confident, like she had everything figured out.

"And you must be the new girl," Ethan replied, trying not to sound too threatened.

"Sophie," she corrected, holding out her hand.

"Ethan," he replied, shaking it. Her grip was firm, and there was something about her presence that made him feel like he was about to lose his job.

Sophie glanced around the café, her eyes scanning the place like she was already in charge. "So... what's the deal here? Martha told me you've been working here for a couple of months."

Ethan scratched the back of his head. "Uh, yeah. Trying my best not to set the place on fire."

Sophie smirked. "Good to know the bar's set low. Makes my job easier."

Ethan narrowed his eyes, but before he could respond, a group of customers walked in. Sophie immediately sprang into action, taking orders and making drinks with the kind of efficiency that made Ethan feel like an amateur. Within minutes, she had the line cleared, and everyone left with their perfectly crafted coffees.

"That was... impressive," Ethan admitted, leaning against the counter.

"Thanks," Sophie said, not looking up from cleaning the espresso machine. "I've had some experience."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Really? At another café?"

Sophie hesitated for a second before replying. "Yeah, something like that."

Ethan didn't push her on it. She seemed like the type who didn't like talking about herself, and he didn't want to come off as nosy. But there was something about her-something off. She moved with too much precision, like this wasn't just a simple part-time gig for her. There had to be more to the story.

Later that afternoon, during a rare lull in the café, Ethan found himself standing next to Sophie at the counter. They both stared out at the street through the big glass window, watching people rush by, going about their busy lives.

"So, why the café?" Ethan asked, keeping his tone casual. "Not that I'm one to talk, but this place doesn't exactly scream 'dream job.'"

Sophie shrugged, still not looking at him. "I needed something fast. And it turns out, I'm good at making coffee."

"Must be nice," Ethan muttered, thinking about his own disastrous first day.

Sophie finally turned to face him. "Look, I'm not here for fun. I've got bills to pay, and..." She trailed off, her expression tightening. "And my grandmother's sick. I need to help out."

Ethan blinked, caught off guard by her sudden openness. "Oh. I'm sorry to hear that."

Sophie shrugged again, though this time it seemed more forced. "It is what it is. Life doesn't always give you the luxury of options."

Ethan could relate to that more than he wanted to admit. They stood in silence for a moment, the tension between them softening.

"So, what's your story?" Sophie asked, breaking the quiet.

Ethan chuckled nervously. "Me? Oh, you know... just a guy trying to figure things out."

Sophie shot him a sideways glance. "That's vague."

"I'm a vague guy," he said with a grin, hoping to dodge further questions.

Sophie didn't seem convinced, but she didn't press him either. Instead, she grabbed a tray of freshly baked muffins and started arranging them on display.

"Ever thought about doing something else?" Ethan asked after a moment.

Sophie paused, a distant look crossing her face. "Yeah, all the time. But life doesn't always go according to plan. Sometimes, you just have to roll with it."

Ethan nodded slowly. He wasn't sure why, but he felt a strange connection with her. They were both here for reasons they hadn't planned on, both living lives that felt far removed from where they were supposed to be. And yet, here they were, making coffee and serving muffins like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and in walked Mr. Tucker, looking as grumpy as ever. Ethan braced himself for the usual barrage of complaints, but to his surprise, Sophie stepped forward with a confident smile.

"Morning, sir," she said smoothly. "What can I get for you today?"

Mr. Tucker squinted at her. "You're new."

"Just started," Sophie replied, her tone perfectly pleasant. "I'm sure I'll get your order right."

Mr. Tucker gave her a long, suspicious look before grumbling, "Double shot espresso. And make it quick."

Sophie didn't miss a beat. She whipped up the espresso with the same precision she'd shown all day, sliding the cup in front of Mr. Tucker in record time.

He took a sip, then blinked in surprise. "Huh. Not bad."

Ethan gaped at the scene. Had Mr. Tucker... just complimented someone?

"Thanks," Sophie said casually, turning back to the counter.

Mr. Tucker left without another word, and Ethan stared after him, still in shock. "How did you do that?" he asked.

Sophie shrugged, wiping down the counter. "Some people just need a little extra care. Even the grumpy ones."

Ethan shook his head in disbelief. "You might actually be a miracle worker."

Sophie smirked. "Don't get used to it."

As the day wore on, Ethan found himself watching Sophie more closely. She was quick, efficient, and didn't seem to miss a beat. But beneath the surface, there was something else-something that told him her life was a lot more complicated than she let on.

And for some reason, he wanted to know more.