Sapphire_Lake

Halle has a café running now. With her sick mom, she has to work extra hard for a successful operation. After 5 years she was able to put back her tragic past and move forward focussing on her mother and the café. With two of her friends' help she's been progressing through her life alone. Now that things were going well there is a new problem. The person who ruined her name and brought chaos into her life is back in her life. And he's coming back for revenge. Will she be able to handle it and take care of her mom?

Will you leave me alone? I don't have time for you anymore!

Halle came to the café at five in the morning. For almost a week, there had been non-stop customers. No time to bake in the evening because people just kept coming, so she started early today, with all the lights except the Baking Room switched off. She didn't inform Pace about this. Pace would be furious otherwise.


            The timer dinged. Halle took the tray out and dumped those cupcakes on the cooling rack and started filling a new set of cupcakes and placed them in the oven.


            She watched them bake for a while. Thinking of everything that happened last week, except for the sudden surge of customers, nothing fishy had happened yet.


            She was finally done with all the cupcakes. And the buttercream was made, all that needed to be done now was covering the top of the cupcakes with cream and she'd be good to start off the day.


            She placed all the cupcakes in the glass counter. She unlocked the door to the café, in case of any early customers and went to ready the coffee maker.


            It's seven now and Halle's all set for the day. But Pace was still not here. The shop bell clinked as the door opened.


            "Oh hello Halle," he grinned. "You seem very happy to see me."


            He came and sat on the couch. "Forgot what?" he asked. "Left something at home?"


            "No," said Halle. "I don't have any donuts!"


            "Oh, man." he faked sympathy.


            "No, but really," Arien was trying not to laugh. "Where did all the donuts go? Some days I think I'm the only one who eats those donuts. You'll always have stock of it."


            "Here's the thing," Halle brought him an espresso and a vanilla cupcake. "Once you left, some magic happened and we're getting a heck lot of customers every day."


            Halle pointed to all the cupcakes in the counter. "These were freshly baked today morning."


            "Awesome," he took a bite out of the cupcake. "Hmm . . . maybe I'll become a cupcake fan soon."


            "If this keeps going then," he looked at Halle. "You'll save enough money for your mom."


            "Yes." She slowly smiled. This was exactly what she stayed away from thinking. Every time, she hoped for something, it will never happen.


            Halle looked at the door as the shop bell rang. It was a customer.


            Where is Pace? she thought.


            "Okay, then." Halle stood up. "I'll go check on the customer." She smiled. "Have a great day today."


            "Sure." He smiled back. "Where is Pace?"


            "I don't know," Halle shook her head. "I need to call her."


            Halle went to the customer, "Can I take your order, sir?"


Chapter 17