You're The Trouble I'm In

An excruciating scream broke through the silence at Island Coffee Shop, the largest coffee shop in AN City.

"What's wrong with you? You've taken my order hundreds of times, and you still don't know what I want? I want it hot! Here, hold it for me. Does this seem hot to you? It's fucking warm!"

Without another word, Melissa Shen tipped the coffee cup over. Hot coffee spilled out and splashed on Gail Cheng's hand. She flinched. Searing pain shot through her system as her smooth skin turned red instantly. At this point, she could be that she'd see blisters coming up her skin by the end of the day.

"Forget it, Melissa. She's our classmate. We shouldn't embarrass her," Jared Huang persuaded in hushed whispers. He couldn't help but feel embarrassed when he saw the gazes directed at them.

Several people looked at the two of them with disdain.

"What about it? This isn't school. Since I paid, shouldn't I expect good service? It's her fault that she didn't do it well, and now you're blaming me?" Melissa Shen glared at Gail Cheng, fingers curling into fists. That bitch had always been arrogant!

"You've changed your coffee five times already. Can we just go shopping and forget about it?" Jared Huang tried to coax her one more time.

"You mean to say I did all of this for nothing? Why do you always take her side in this?" Frustrated at her boyfriend, she raised her voice higher and higher till all eyes were on them. Some of the onlookers even moved closer to see what the hassle was about.

"Excuse me. I'm sorry. It's our fault. I'll ask her to apologize to you immediately, plus your coffee will be free to emphasize our apology, is that okay?" The moment he knew what was going on, the manager quickly approached them.

"Fine." Melissa Shen smirked once she heard his response. She quickly folded her arms and cocked up an eyebrow at the woman in front of her.

"Gail, apologize to our customer," the manager ordered, completely ignoring her scald and drenched apron.

"Gail? If you don't apologize to me today, then you're going to end up on the streets." Melissa Shen's delicate make-up was distasteful against her scowl. She squinted at Gail, and the mockery of her voice made the man beside her frown.

"Manager..." Gail tried to say, gritting her teeth.

However, the manager pretended not to have heard her. He understood that the customer was being unreasonable. Besides, his employee had changed the coffee five times already, under his supervision. However, customers were always right in this scenario, so he needed to ask Gail to apologize.

"Don't be like this." Gail glared.

"If you want to go back to work, then just do it." Melissa Shen tilted her head proudly. She wasn't the type of person looking for a compromise.

The onlookers seemed to have finally realized what was going on there. Melissa was making things too difficult. After shaking their heads, they returned to enjoy their afternoon tea.

At a corner near the window, two men in suits were watching the scene not far away.

"Is that Miss Melissa? Why'd you think she got angry?" The man in a dark blue suit stared at the uncontrollable arrogant woman.

"Don't you think the waitress's beautiful though?" The man sitting opposite to him held onto his small and exquisite coffee cup as he stared at Gail without even batting an eyelid. There was just something about her that attracted his attention.

"Interested?" The man in a blue suit raised an eyebrow in surprise.

As an old friend, he'd never seen him interested in a woman all his life.

The man didn't deny or admit it as he took a sip of his coffee.

"Manager, you know that she's purposely doing this! I won't apologize!" Gail shook her head.

"Humph!" Melissa snorted.

"If you don't apologize, just leave," the manager snapped. He had been planning to give Gail an increase for her wage today as consolation, but he didn't expect that she'd turn against him in public.

"Fine. Pay my salary then," she stated.

"You..." The manager turned bright red, not expecting that she'd scream about salaries in front of so many people.

"Oops." Suddenly, a large cup of coffee was thrown at Melissa's face.

Gail had picked up Jared's coffee cup and threw it at her, and her eyes were firm and resolute.

Melissa shrieked, hands waving around as she tried to dab her face but it was to no avail. "What the hell did you do?" she screeched, sounding like a drowning cat.

"Happy, bitch? It's unfortunate that your boyfriend's coffee isn't hot enough, but it doesn't matter." Gail faked a smile and walked back to the counter.

She took off her apron and folded it properly on the table beside her.

"Gail, stop!" Melissa curled her fingers into fists.

"Shut up," Jared whispered, pulling her sleeves but she wrenched him off.

"Fuck off!" It had only made Melissa even angrier. She didn't care for the disgusted gazes directed at them from the other guests. She just wanted Gail to pay.

However, since her face was already wet from the mascara and blush, they had to leave. Gail glanced at the manager not that far away. Without saying another word, she walked out of the counter and towards the door.

"Wait a minute, Gail." A masculine voice sounded behind her, which drew her attention.

The manager's jaw dropped when he saw the two suited men by the window. He didn't notice that his boss came by today. He might not have a chance to get her back now! The manager's lips quivered.

"Are you calling me?" she asked with uncertainty as the two men approached her.

"It's me." The man in a dark blue suit walked to Gail with a smile, and a man followed closely and looked at her expressionlessly.

"What can I do for you?" She smiled faintly.

"You did a great job, plus you protected your dignity. As the owner of this shop, I would really want you to stay. Plus, I'd rather you replace our manager over there." The man in a blue suit motioned to the manager with an easy smile.

"What?" Gail furrowed her eyebrows.

"I'm the boss here. My name's Jackson Wei. Sorry to scare you." Jackson Wei reached out his hand.

"Hello." Gail furrowed her eyebrows as she reached out to shake hands with him. "But I resigned. You've seen it."

"It doesn't matter. This is my business card. You can call me when you figure it out. You can work here." Jackson Wei gave his business card to Gail.

"I'm his friend. You can come and work in my company, too." The man who was silent the entire time, also handed to her his business card.

Gail stared blankly at the business cards she was given. Her mind went blank, and she didn't know how to react.

She glanced from one handsome man to another, furrowing her eyebrows at the opportunity that was handed over to her in a silver platter. The silent man looked familiar. Although, she didn't know how she knew him. However, she saw how Jackson Wei turned to his friend with a meaningful smile.

"You're a university student, aren't you? Shouldn't you be interested in work?" Snapping out of her reverie, she quickly pocketed the two business cards that were handed to her.

This was a job opportunity! She'd be out of her mind if she wouldn't accept.

Jackson Wei's friend was much too nice. She didn't turn to look at the business card. Although Gail was the type of person who'd rather know who she was working for, they both seemed like honorable people.

However, Jackson Wei wasn't finished. He raised an eyebrow.

"Miss, didn't you look at the business card he's given you?"

Should she? Gail smiled sheepishly, as her eyes traveled up the header of the business card.

Holy Shit. The RF Group. Everyone had dreamed of applying for the RF Group! It was the top-class company that Iris Zhang had always mentioned.

Gail clasped her hand, eyes widening happily.

"There's no name on it, but once you call the written number, tell him my name – James Jiang. You'll be ringed in for the interview." Without another word, the expressionless man turned and left.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." Gail bowed her head.

"You're just trying to rob me of a potential employee here!" Jackson teased as he grabbed James Jiang by the shoulder and escorted him right out of the coffee shop.

Staring at their retreating figure, Gail rubbed her scalded skin and rushed back to her dormitory.

In the enclosed room, she could see Iris Zhang at the corner of their dorm. Sitting in front of the computer, tears were rushing down her face as she laughed at what was being shown at the screen.

"Gail? You're back? Why are you so early?" Iris quickly took off her headphones as she gazed up at Gail through her large glasses.

"I got fired. No, no! I think I may have fired my boss." Gail threw herself to her bed, burying her face in her hands.

"What? You fired him?" Iris narrowed her eyes at her, placing her laptop to the side.

"Melissa and Jared went by the coffee shop today, and you know how that bitch is." Gail made a face. She always hated Melissa. Whenever they came, things always spelled out trouble, that was for sure.

"Is it that old bitch again? What the hell did she do? You got fired because of her?" Iris shot her a series of questions as she moved towards her friend's bed side.

"I'm fine." Gail waved her hand dismissively, cracking a smile. "I mean, I got burnt, but I also threw coffee back at her. Now that I think of it, I should've made that coffee burning hot." Gail snorted. However, Iris was nowhere near amused.

"You got burnt and you didn't even think of applying medicine first?" She frowned, rummaging her drawers before pulling out an ointment. She handed it over to Gail. "Now tell me." In a few seconds, Iris rushed back to her side,

and her ears perked up attentively. On the other side of the city, Jackson and James Jiang were locked in a very vivid conversation. "You're curious about her. I knew it!

Do you really like her?" Jackson looked like a stoic man who always knew what to say, but in front of his friends, he was a huge gossip.

James Jiang flashed him a smile.

"Your silence means I'm right, and I'll be posting it on every group chat," Jackson warned. This was breaking new! James rarely liked anybody, and here he was, smitten over a girl they'd just seen.

"You're thinking too much. I just think she has potential. Plus, she has all the qualities I'm looking for." James started the car and shrugged. "Shall we go or not?"

His face showed no hints of playfulness, a strong indication that he wasn't planning to gossip with his friend.

"Don't you want her to be your manager? Does that mean you like her?" James asked, raising an eyebrow.

"The girl's interesting to deal with, plus she's pretty talented. Talent's rare these days," Jackson answered, rubbing the stubble in his chin.

James rolled his eyes. If there was something he knew about his friend, it was that he knew he was lying right to his face.

"Wow! You had two handsome men come to your rescue! I think I should start working in that coffee shop!" Iris swooned, placing a hand over her forehead exasperatedly.

"Stop it." Gail rolled her eyes. "It could be a prank, you know. You shouldn't take these things too seriously."

"Have you seen these? These are legitimate!" Iris squinted her eyes as she twirled the business card up in the air. It was the one from the RF Group.

"Let's see if it's true. Besides, if you go to the RF Group right now, you might see my Mr. Charming." Iris winked.

"James Jiang, my husband, the best man in the world!" Iris swooned.

Gail snorted. Iris always thought that every one of the male leads she watched was her husband. "You can try," Gail suggested. "I'm sure the secretary will be very accommodating."

Iris gave a wicked smile. "Let's give it a try then." She grabbed the phone and dialed.

However, in a couple of rings, someone actually answered.

"Hello?" His voice was firm and soft, enough to revert any woman into a puddle.

The moment Iris heard it, she immediately shut the phone down and threw it away. "Holy shit," she breathed out. "His voice was hot!"

"I thought it was a fake call! I mean, it could be an old secretary. He could be ugly," Gail teased. Iris was the type of person who'd rather live in a fantasy than reality.

She could watch Korean dramas without eating or drinking. She'd always ramble how great her 'husbands' looked like in those exquisite clothes, and how their bright smiles would catch her heart. Gail had gotten used to it over time.

All of a sudden, the phone rang in Iris's hands.

She jumped back. "Gail!" she said, panicked. "I think it's him again! I–I I actually made the call." Iris trembled in anxiety. She wasn't planning on answering the phone call since the name card wasn't given to her. Plus, she wasn't planning on stealing Gail's spot.

She handed the phone back to Gail, whose eyes were wide in fear. How was she going to explain it?

At that moment, they didn't know if they should pick up the phone or not.

"Iris, you called this number and now you're handing it to me?" Gail was uncomfortable as it already was! She wasn't planning on picking up the phone any more than Iris was! She continually glanced at the phone, her hand already quivering.

"Just pick it up, Gail! Don't you want the job? Imagine your salary after this! It'll all be worth it," Iris insisted. If that handsome man was truly interested in giving her a job, Gail wouldn't even have to worry about finding one after graduation. Seeing this as a third person, Iris saw how integral this was. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

No matter if he was sincere or not, a job opportunity was still an opportunity she should take.

"Hello?" Gail finally answered the phone. Her voice was quivering from the anxiety.

"Is this Gail? Why did you hang up?" Although he said it softly, Gail knew for a fact that he was already questioning her integrity. She chewed her bottom lip.

Well, she needed to be honest if she wanted this job, right?

"My friend said she wanted to see if the number was true and..." she stuttered. "I really am sorry!" She couldn't help but continue to think if this was all a dream.

It was not every day that she'd be asked to work for such a big company. Maybe it had just been a matter of formalities.

"Do you still think I gave you the fake number?" James thought back to the business card he had given her. It only had his phone number not his name or any other information. He thought he had given his secretary's card, only to have given his own.

James could blame nothing but his own negligence.

He didn't blame her for being distrustful. If he were given the same thing, he'd think the thing was fake at first sight.

"My friend was just curious. I really am sorry," she apologized. 'It's difficult to be around this guy,' she couldn't help but think.

"Are you free tomorrow?" He didn't insist on questioning her about the first phone call, which was a huge relief for Gail.

However, from the way he phrased his question, it seemed as if he was asking her on a date rather than a business meeting!

She shook the thought away. The man was much too handsome and successful to take an interest in her anyway. "Yes!"

she answered it way too quickly.

This was a job offer, and she wasn't going to turn that down.

There was silence for a few moments before he finally spoke up, "Come to the company for an interview at 9 tomorrow morning. Remember to bring your resume."

Even James realized the sketchiness of his first question the moment he asked it after.

If he'd been misinterpreted, then his reputation could go down the dumps.

"Yes, okay. Thank you very much. Do you mind if I know your name?" James raised his eyebrows in surprise. He wasn't expecting that she'd ask for his name.

"It's James." He seemed to be in a good mood when he hung up his phone.

Iris was leaning closer and closer to Gail's speaker, trying to listen to what was being said at the other end of the line. Her eyes lit up in thousand different emotions.

"Well?" she demanded once Gail hung up.

Gail pretended to frown. "Guess," she said glumly.

"Oh, stop with the bullshit! I heard almost all of it!" Iris saw right through Gail's trick.

"Okay, fine! I was wrong. You were right." She huffed out.

However, even then, Gail couldn't contain her own excitement any longer as she jumped up and down. Iris soon followed as they held their hands, squealing in delight. Just then, their other roommate, Sherry Wu, walked in.

Sherry Wu was a straight A student. She was smart, and she didn't look too bad either.

"You guys look happy," she commented. "Anything you'd like to share?" Sherry Wu placed her bag on the table, moving towards them.

Although she was a very studious person, she could be a huge gossip when she wanted to be. Sherry Wu was the type of person who always put her studies first, so if she wasn't at any of her classes, then she would be studying back in their dorms.

Gail quickly hid behind Sherry, ducking from Iris, pouting. Iris rolled her eyes. "I won't tell you."

"Gail, you'll tell me then, right?" Sherry winked. Her slightly crooked lips and near white teeth reminded all of them of a cute rabbit, and sometimes, she'd behave that way too.

"Nothing serious. Iris was just making a huge fuss about it." The job hadn't been decided yet, so it'd be too soon if they celebrated it. Plus, it wasn't as if she'd be qualified for it either.

"Don't be so modest!" Seeing that Gail wasn't telling the truth, Iris decided to pick up the pace. "A man from the RF Group called her up and asked her to do an interview with them!"

Hearing the company's name, Sherry's eyes lit up. "The RF Group? Holy shit! That's a big company. You'll be rich!"

Gail shrugged. "It's just an interview."

"Still! With this beautiful figure, you'll ace the interview for sure!" Iris moved towards them, analyzing Gail's figure.

"I mean, your breasts are a bit small, but a push-up bra could fix that. You look like a bomb! By the way, I just heard that the CEO is a young man! Since his father just retired, he quickly took over, so if you manage to snag him, you'll be rich!" Sherry winked.

It had always been like this, all her college life.

They had always teased each other of finding a rich husband.

"The CEO can give me a car as a little gift, and I'll approve," Iris echoed, jumping up and down.

Sherry grabbed Gail's hands and seated her on the chair, dancing around. "We'll just need a red envelope of around thirty to fifty thousand dollars. Obviously, we'll give you gifts, like Durex or lingerie."

"Keep up the strength, you know?" Iris added. "If you snag the CEO, I'll give him up for you."

"You see how Iris sacrificed her love?" Sherry teased even more.

"Go and get your man, sister!"

Gail flushed at her words. Although she was already used to them, they never really gave her a chance to talk herself.

"For someone who hasn't had a boyfriend, you sure talk like you do." Gail pouted. They hadn't even met him yet, and they were already talking about her wedding gifts!