Chapter 1
Sana
A year later
Squinting against the bright sun, I lift my right hand to shield my eyes, and a grin spreads across my face as I gaze at the signboard of my coffee shop.
Brewing Bliss.
It’s been nearly a year since I lost my dad, and moving on with life without him while managing the café hasn’t been easy.
Yet, with my mom’s unwavering emotional support and my own determination to fulfil Dad’s dream, I’m proud to say that Brewing Bliss has become one of the most popular café hangouts in town, even making it onto Page Three every weekend.
In fact, we’ve been ranked among the top fifty and have been named as the most promising café in Bangalore.
Still smiling, I look down at my purse, fishing for my keys before turning the knob and pushing the door open.
I don’t bother flipping the sign to ‘Open’ just yet.
It’s only nine, and I have a full hour before the day officially begins.
Also, that’s a task my manager-turned-friend, Mili, usually handles when she arrives at around ten.
Taking a deep breath, I step inside, and immediately, the faint aroma of coffee wraps around me.
I pause at the entrance, soaking in my café—a place that holds a piece of my heart.
The morning light spills through the tall glass windows, casting a warm, golden glow across the polished wooden floors.
I’ve always loved how Dad designed it with so much thought and care, giving it a vintage charm that puts people at ease the moment they step in.
The walls are lined with vintage coffee ad posters, while the rich mahogany furniture blends beautifully with the soft, cream-coloured walls.
As I walk further in, I set my purse down on the counter and slip in the routine of tidying up.
I give the counter a quick wipe before starting the espresso machine.
With the machine warming up, I flip on the lights before turning my attention to the chairs.
Their cushioned seats need a bit of adjusting, so I move through the space, straightening them one by one.
I also adjust the napkin holders on each table, ensuring everything looks just right.
Just as I finish and make my way back to the counter, the bell above the door jingles, and Kiara walks in.
Dressed in crisp black high-waisted pants and a tucked-in blouse, her brown hair falling neatly to her shoulders, she looks every bit the stylish interior designer she is.
Kiara is a regular customer and, more importantly, a friend I made.
I still remember the day she first walked into my café, her diary in hand, jotting down ideas for starting her interior design firm.
I couldn’t resist striking up a conversation with her, and that one chat blossomed into a friendship that’s only grown stronger since then.
“Good morning! How’s my favourite barista today?” she asks with her usual bright smile, her brown eyes twinkling as she sets her purse on the counter.
“Morning to you too! I’m doing great,” I reply, returning her smile. “Are you sticking with your usual today?”
“Actually, I’m not here for coffee. I just wanted to drop by and say hi,” she says.
I raise an eyebrow, surprised, since she never turns down my coffee.
But before I can ask if she’s okay, she adds with a grin, “And before you start overthinking, let me reassure you—I’m perfectly fine.
It’s just that I have a packed day ahead of me and need to rush.
But I couldn’t do that without saying a quick hi to you. ”
“I’m glad you made time to stop by. You’re always welcome here, coffee or not,” I say, leaning on the counter. “Care to share what’s keeping you so busy?”
“The list is long—new client, finalising on-hold projects, and a million other things to juggle,” she says with a sigh.
“Sounds like you’ve got a lot on your plate. How about I get you a to-go coffee, just to help you power through?”
She shakes her head. “Nah, Mom’s already spoiled me with breakfast and coffee this morning.
” She pauses for a beat, glancing around the café before meeting my eyes again.
“You know how much I enjoy coming here. So, I’ll be back later for my daily fix.
My day just isn’t the same without your coffee. ”
Her words bring a warmth to my chest, and I can’t help but feel a deep sense of pride. Hearing this, not just from her, but from many others who walk through these doors, reminds me why I pour my heart into this place. It’s moments like these that make all the efforts worthwhile.
“I’ll have your usual ready when you get here,” I reply, smiling.
“Perfect. I’ll see you later,” she says with a nod, gathering her purse before heading toward the door.
Just before leaving, she pauses, glancing back at me with a playful grin.
“And I’m turning the sign to ‘Open.’ I don’t want people missing out on your coffee just because you’re waiting for the clock to strike ten!
” With a wink, she flips the sign and steps outside.
I shake my head, smiling at her usual antics before getting to work.
I’m going through last evening’s accounts when the bell over the door chimes again.
I glance up, and for a moment, time seems to stand still.
A handsome man walks in, dressed in a tailored three-piece suit, oozing quiet confidence.
His eyes are glued to his mobile, giving me an excuse to study him.
He’s tall, probably around six feet, with broad shoulders and a well-built frame.
His strong jawline and stylishly set hair make him look like he just stepped off a Page Three spread.
And just like that, a swarm of butterflies flutters in my stomach. Seriously? I’ve served hundreds of customers, but I’ve never felt this way about any of them before. Why the hell am I acting like a love-struck teenager?
I shake my head, trying to snap myself out of this ridiculous attraction, reminding myself that he’s just a customer. I need to serve him, not stare at him like a hopeless romantic.
“Good morning, sir,” I greet him with a professional smile. “Welcome to Brewing Bliss.”
He looks up from his mobile, but instead of returning my smile, he frowns—his deep, chocolatey brown eyes locking onto mine, making my brows furrow in confusion. Before I can question it, he speaks in a brisk tone. “A large black coffee. No sugar, no cream. Make it quick.”
Arrogant jerk. I take back my stupid, fleeting moment of admiration as I nod with a tight-lipped smile. “Of course. One large black coffee coming right up.”
“Quick,” he repeats, levelling me with a look with those intense brown eyes.
“Of course,” I reply, keeping my voice polite despite his rude tone grating on my nerves.
I’ve dealt with my fair share of difficult customers, but there’s something particularly prickly about him that makes me want to tell him to leave his attitude at the door.
Still, I push the irritation down. Customer is king, and good service is the key.
I just need to focus and do my job with patience, I remind myself.
I turn to the machine and prepare his order, silently cursing his arrogance as I rush to get him out of my sight as quickly as possible. Once the coffee is ready, I place the cup on the counter, doing my best to mask my frustration.
“Here you go,” I say as I type on the computer. “That’ll be two hundred.”
He pulls out his card from his wallet and slaps it onto the counter without a word. Trying to stay calm, I take the card and swipe it through the machine. As I do, I notice him grab the cup and take a sip of the coffee. But the next moment, he grimaces, nearly choking on the hot liquid.
“What the hell—this isn’t black coffee. It’s got sugar in it,” he snaps.
Oh no! Damn me for messing up his order, though honestly, he’s the one who should be blamed for it, since he’s the reason my nerves are all over the place, the reason I can’t think straight.
But I don’t voice that. Instead, I hand back his card with an apologetic smile and say, “I’m so sorry. Let me fix that for you right away.”
He places his hands on the counter and leans in slightly, his sharp gaze locking with mine. His nearness makes me gulp. “You know, for someone running a café, you couldn’t even get a simple order right.”
I take a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “It was an honest mistake. I’ll have it corrected in just a moment.”
“Honest mistake?” he scoffs. “Well, your so-called ‘honest mistake’ just ruined my morning. I don’t know how your customers trust a place like this where they can’t even manage the basics.”
I clench my jaw, struggling to stay professional as his attitude clearly tests my patience. “I understand I messed up your coffee, and I take full responsibility for it. But that’s no reason to be rude.”
“Rude? It’s called being frustrated,” he scoffs with a smirk, clearly enjoying his little power trip. “And a free piece of advice—maintaining quality standards is something you should work on.”
“With all due respect, I agree that maintaining quality is important, but so is being respectful. Making someone feel worthless over a minor mistake is unnecessary.” I snap, my patience wearing thin.
“I’ve already apologised and promised to fix it.
If that’s not good enough for you, feel free to take your business elsewhere.
Otherwise, you are welcome to wait while I make you a fresh cup. ”
“I’ll wait,” he replies stiffly.
“Great.” I grab the cup when the jerk decides to speak up again.
“You’ve got quite the temper for someone in customer service.”
I give him my best fake smile. “And you’ve got quite the arrogance for someone who isn’t all royalty. But I suppose we all have our flaws,” I say sweetly, daring him to keep pushing my buttons.
To my growing annoyance, he stays silent. Ironically, that is the only thing I can be grateful for since he walked through that door. “Now, let me get your coffee,” I add before turning around to make his new cup.
This time, I focus completely, determined not to make any mistakes. Once it’s ready, I take a deep breath, then turn to him.
“Here’s your fresh coffee. I’m truly honoured to serve you,” I say, my tone dripping with sarcasm.
The jerk smirks as he lifts his cup. “Glad to grant you the honour. But as for me? I’m not sure I can call myself a happy customer. I mean, a café that needs two attempts to get a simple coffee right? Not exactly my scene.”
I smirk back, not missing a beat. “Good. That means I won’t have to see you again. As for the coffee, I’ve fixed it, so I’d say you can have a nice day.”
“You know, you’re a bit more intriguing than I gave you credit for,” he grins, taking a long sip of his coffee.
I give a shrug. “And you’re a little more annoying than I expected.” Then, I flash him another one of my most practiced fake smiles. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
He nods, his infuriating smirk still playing on his lips as he takes another slow sip, his eyes still locked on mine.
His intense stare sends a ripple of unease through me.
Finally, he sets the cup down and heads for the door.
I release a long breath as I watch him walk out.
There’s something about him that feels different, though I can’t quite decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
Not wanting to overthink it and torture myself further, I shake my head and get back to work.
Not long after, the door swings open and Mili walks in, her bright smile instantly lifting my mood.
“Good morning,” she greets cheerfully as she walks behind the counter, wrapping me in a side hug.
“Morning,” I smile back.
Mili has been with the café since my dad’s time, and when I took over, we quickly became close friends.
I can’t imagine running this place without her.
She’s been my rock through everything. At twenty-nine, she’s a few years older than me, but the age difference never mattered to us.
It feels like we’ve known each other forever.
“Let me throw my bags and put on my apron. I’ll be right back,” she says, hurrying to the back to stow away her things. Five minutes later, she returns to the counter, wearing her apron, with her long black hair tied up into a ponytail. “I see you didn’t wait for me to flip the sign to Open.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “That was Kiara.”
She grins at me. “I guess that’s no shocker. Did we have any customers?”
“Just one annoying jerk,” I sigh, pressing a hand to my forehead.
She rubs her hands together, her black eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Ooh, this sounds interesting. Tell me about it—was he handsome?”
I give her a reluctant smile. “Well, he was definitely good-looking, but his attitude wasn’t exactly charming. To be honest, he was more annoying than impressive.”
“Ah, the classic combination of good looks and a bad attitude. So, what happened?”
“I messed up his coffee,” I huff, recounting the story. “And he made a huge deal about it, tossing snide remarks. But in the end, he was just another customer with an inflated ego.”
She nods, her smile fading as a serious look takes its place. “I should have been there to handle him.”
“I managed that jerk,” I shrug. “It wasn’t the first time, and it definitely won’t be the last.”
She gives me a supportive smile. “Well, you’ve got a knack for handling difficult customers. I’m sure you did just fine.”
I open my mouth to say, ‘Let’s put him behind us and focus on making the rest of the day great,’ but as if sensing my prayer, a group of five teenagers bursts through the doors. And just like that, we’re busy for the rest of the morning, and luckily, no more customers like the jerk show up.
I guess he was truly one of a kind. With a sigh, I silently pray I won’t have to cross paths with him again. I don’t need his sour attitude in my life, no matter how attractive he was or how he made my stomach do some ridiculous flips.