CHAPTER 9
I had to spin the block a few times before I found parking on the street outside of Hott Stuff Coffee Bar. Zimyra suggested this place – said it was owned by her sister-in-law. I figured I’d give it a shot this morning since, according to her, it’s the best coffee in Columbia.
It must be.
This line is out the door. I had to wait ten minutes before I was finally at the front to place an order.
I say, “Hi. I’m a first-timer. What’s your most popular order?”
“The most popular is a large regular with HWC, a dash of cinnamon, and two Splendas.”
“HWC?”
She smiles. “Heavy whipping cream. You must not come to coffee places much.”
“I don’t.” Because I usually have someone to pick up my coffee under normal circumstances.
“Well, you’re in good hands here. How’d you find out about this place?”
“I believe it was your sister-in-law who told me to come here…said this was the best coffee in Columbia.”
Her eyes brighten. “Zimyra?”
“Yes. That’s her.”
“Oh, cool. How do you know Zimyra?”
“I work for her. I’m the maintenance man at Atlantic Properties.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“What’s your name?”
“Axel Jennings.”
“Nice to meet you, Axel. I’m Nykendy.”
“Nice to meet you as well.”
“You must be new at Atlantic?”
“Something like that. I just relocated here from Bridgeport.”
“Nice. You’ll love working with Zimyra. She’s as sweet as they come.”
I grin and say, “You must not know her as a boss.”
She chuckles. “Not really, but if she’s anything like she normally is, I know she’s good to work for.”
“We’ll see, I guess.”
“Well, welcome to Columbia. You’ll love it here. The people are friendly, and we really do have that Southern hospitality culture, except for when we desperately need our morning coffee, so I suggest you hurry up and pay before they start a riot up in here.”
“Right,” I say, pulling my wallet from my back pocket. I hand her a twenty and tell her to put the rest in the tip jar.
“Thank you. I’ma have to thank Zimyra for sending me a new customer.”
“While you’re at it, tell her to be nice to me, too.”
I take my cup and head outside. I take a sip before I get into the whip. It’s heavenly – tastes so much better than the stuff in the lobby, not that the coffee in the lobby is bad. It’s just not premium like this. I can clearly taste the difference.
I get inside my vehicle and start it up. The clock shows it’s 8:32. I have a little less than a half hour to get to the job. It’s not far from here. The drive will probably take me about fifteen minutes just as long as I can cruise through his traffic.
Then I run into an accident. The cops and a firetruck have all lanes impassable. All I can do is sit here and wait.
Five minutes pass.
Ten.
I figure I better call Zimyra to notify her of my tardiness. I take out my cell and pull up Atlantic Properties, then dial the number. After two rings, Zimyra answers, “It’s a good day at Atlantic Properties. This is Zimyra. How can I help you today?”
“Wow. You actually sound nice over the phone.”
The line goes quiet.
“Hello?” I ask to confirm we’re still connected and she hasn’t hung up.
“What do you want, Jennings?”
Jennings . I’m really starting to hate that she calls me that.
“I was calling to let you know I’m going to be late. I’m stuck in traffic.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
“You think I have some control over the traffic?”
“No. Just get here when you get here.”
Click .
She hung up on me. I done really ticked her off. No, she’s not the sweet woman her sister-in-law described. She once was – I was a recipient of it, but the woman hates me now. I’m on her bad side and I’m not sure how to bring back the bubbly woman I first met – the one who answered the phone just now.
I finally get to the office a quarter until ten. I throw the whip into park, get out in a hurry, walk into the lobby, and say, “Good morning.”
“Mauricio has the report,” she says without even looking up from her computer screen.
“You mean, Saldana, correct? I mean, if we’re staying consistent, then—”
“He’s probably in the maintenance shed,” she says, cutting me off.
“Ah’ight. Got it,” I say and head out because after sitting in traffic this morning, I’m not particularly in a good mood myself. I’m not trying to go back and forth with her. I guess our truce meant nothing. I can’t win with this woman. I’ll just stick to work and leave it at that. That’s the safest bet for me.