Not Impressed

DANA

I never liked affogato. I always thought of it as coffee for a kid. I don't think espresso and vanilla ice cream should come together. They should be eaten and drank separately, enjoyed in spoons or straws. Eating them together just seem… wrong.

But that's before I tasted this new version. Aside from vanilla ice cream, Ivor used an almost-melted chocolate ice cream and the first spoonful was heavenly.

"you like it, don't you, Miss?" – he was sitting across me on the table.

"not bad. It's not that common, though. This may do."

He smiled. After he asked for my order, he asked me if I would like to try something different. He said he's working on something to be added on the menu and he'd like me to be the first one to try. I hesitated. God, I only went here to have a cup of coffee to destress. He asked me again and I don't know what went to my head that I couldn't hesitate from his offer the second time. I nodded and he followed me to this table.

"…and because you liked it, it's on the house."

"no! let me pay. I insist."

It's one of the principles I live by. I feel uncomfortable when someone spends money on me. I don't want to be under someone's favor. I don't need them to do that for me. I can pay my own bills.

"oh… I didn't mean to offend you or something. I thought it was polite because this isn't the coffee you wanted to order in the first place." – he explained himself, scratching the back of his neck

His cheeks flared, like he was embarrassed of what he said. He's wrong anyway. I didn't feel offended. If I'm a regular girl, I would be flattered of his offer, but that's simply not who I am. I don't accept free stuff… I'm not saying there's something wrong about it, though.

With a click of a tongue, I got my purse out and handed him a P1000 peso bill.

"keep the change." – I said and was about to stand up when he stopped me.

"wait, miss." – he still looked embarrassed

"yes?"

"can you not give me a tip? I feel worse."

I smirked. This man is clearly a newbie in this business. All good hearts and no boldness. If Dad were alive, he would be laughing at this man, but then give him encouraging words of wisdom right after. A sad thought crept in but I shook it off. No, not now. I don't need that now.

"fine."

I swallowed, feeling a slight lump of sadness at the base of my throat. The peso bill was untouched on the table, slightly moving from the blow of the wind from the passing staff people. I picked it up.

"how much will that be?"

"you'll really pay for it?" – he asked. I guess my point's still not that clear to him?

"I will. I don't need you doing me favors."

"that wasn't a part of the menu."

"Still. You used your resources for that. it's only fair."

He then smiled. Very anti-climactic. I frowned.

"what's so amusing?"

"you're exactly how the magazines describe you. You don't like to be beaten by anyone in anything."

Just how the magazines describe me? plural? He was reading magazines about me? What is he, a creep or something?

"that's kind of creepy?" – I said, which was supposed to be a statement but ended in a rising intonation, making it sound like an unsure question instead.

He only looked away when I said that. Didn't even deny it, huh? I'm not blind nor oblivious to the fact that he was flirting with me. His words, his body language and the fact that I was the only one in here he was giving his attention to, all were indications of being his apple of the eye of the moment. It didn't make him special at all. When you're rich and powerful, you attract men… not the good ones though. As per the case of Ivor, I think it's too early to tell which kind he belongs. Not that I'm interested or something.

"whatever. I'm paying." – I said, grabbed my bag and walked towards the counter. Peter (the man behind the counter) saw me approached and gave me a smile.

"another order, miss Dana?" – he was smiling like a golden retriever

"no. I'd like to pay for the affogato I just had. no, it's not on your menu but the one your boss wanted me to try." – I said as he pressed something on the screen. From my perspective I cannot see what it was.

He looked confused for a second and then signaled his boss to take a look at the screen.

"as she said, the drink isn't available on the menu so she's not allowed to pay." – Ivor was saying that to Peter but his eyes were glued on me.

I was starting to lose my cool. Why can't he just accept my payment and get this over with?

"I. SAID. I'LL. PAY." – I said in clenched teeth. What part of "I don't like free stuff" did he not get?

Again with the smile. If he's really trying to woo me, it's irritating.

I looked at the Nordic wall clock behind him. I had been gone from the office for a total of 26 minutes. Every minute counts when you're a CEO. All in all, the lost times hurt 26 times more. Exasperated that he was not accepting my payment, I bit the inside of my cheeks, now both stressed and upset.

This won't end sooner if he continues to act as a brat. I also know I won't be giving in. to give in now opens more doors of similar experience in the future. I cannot risk. I have a principle I always go by. Retrieving the now-crumpled one-thousand peso bill from my pocket, I took three steps forward and slammed it on the counter desk.

"I don't have much time with me, Ivor. Here's my payment. Do whatever you want with it."

And I left the coffee shop. I'm not in the mood to play games, Mr. Lynch.