11 | ☕Atlas Valtieri-Coffee EnthusiastAnya Enthusiast? ☕
Anya should have seen this coming.
Should have known that letting a CEO behind the counter would eventually spiral into utter chaos.
But here she was.
Standing frozen, staring in disbelief as a line of customers wrapped around the small café, all eager to get their drinks made by Atlas Valtieri himself.
The once quiet and cosy café, where Anya had spent hours perfecting her barista skills, had now turned into a media circus.
And it wasn't just any media—no, it was the customers themselves who had turned the café into a bizarre scene of coffee-obsessed fandom.
A group of young women, with phone cameras held high, giggled excitedly as they pointed to Atlas, snapping pictures every time he made the slightest move.
A couple of middle-aged men tried to sneak photos from the corner, pretending to check their phones but clearly having their own personal photo shoot session with the infamous CEO.
And there, standing behind the counter like he owned the place, was Atlas.
In his tailored suit, his presence so imposing, it was almost as if the café had been built around him. The same man who normally exuded a cold, intimidating aura was now... interacting with people. Willingly. Making coffee, signing orders, and—most annoyingly of all—enjoying the attention.
Anya tried to take in the absurdity of it all. She had expected a little bit of attention—sure, Atlas was a big deal in the business world, but she hadn't anticipated him to become a local celebrity the second he stepped behind the counter.
One of the women, holding a latte in her hands, asked with starry eyes, "Mr. Valtieri, could you show me how you make my coffee? I'd love to learn from the master!"
Atlas, naturally, nodded and proceeded to demonstrate the process of pulling the perfect shot of espresso.
The woman's face lit up like she had just won the lottery.
She eagerly filmed the whole thing with her phone, capturing Atlas's every move, down to the way his hand gracefully handled the espresso machine's portafilter.
Behind the counter, Anya's mind was spiralling. This was supposed to be her job—her responsibility. She was supposed to be the one to make the coffee, to bring the café to life with her skill and knowledge. But now, it seemed like Atlas was the star of the show, and she was... the bystander.
As she moved around the counter, trying to avoid eye contact with any of the overzealous customers, Kaia popped her head around the corner, clearly thrilled by the whole spectacle.
"I mean, who would've thought? Atlas Valtieri, CEO, coffee enthusiast... or maybe Anya enthusiast," Kaia teased, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
Anya couldn't help but roll her eyes. She wasn't sure if the man was playing a game or simply enjoying the chaos of the café in a way only someone with his wealth and status could. Either way, it didn't make the situation any less overwhelming.
As more customers lined up, it became clear: Atlas wasn't just here for the coffee.
Anya had officially lost control.
The moment Atlas stepped behind the counter, Anya felt the calm, manageable chaos of the café slip through her fingers like sand.
What was supposed to be a simple, calm shift turned into a full-blown media event.
Kaia's café, once a peaceful sanctuary for coffee lovers, was now teeming with people who were more interested in the man behind the espresso machine than the coffee itself.
Kaia, standing beside her, was grinning ear to ear like she'd just hit the jackpot.
"I mean," Kaia whispered, nudging Anya's arm, "Look at them. They're so excited."
Anya's eyes followed the gaggle of customers practically falling over each other to get their drinks from Atlas.
One pair of college girls was literally posing for selfies with Atlas in the background, completely disregarding the coffee being made in favour of getting the perfect shot with their "famous barista."
Anya sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. This was not the plan. This was not how she'd envisioned her first month working here. She turned back to Kaia, who was practically glowing with excitement.
"This is not okay," Anya muttered under her breath, trying to keep her composure.
Kaia, who was too busy watching the show to be of any help, grinned even wider. "It's hilarious."
Anya glanced at her, then back at the crowd.
The café was filled with people snapping pictures, whispering excitedly, and offering Atlas a silent, unspoken admiration.
The line at the counter was now longer than it had ever been, with most of the customers eager for the chance to be served by the elusive CEO himself.
"It's chaos," Anya groaned, throwing a disbelieving look at Kaia.
"Oh, it's chaos alright," Kaia agreed, her voice almost giddy. "But it's good business."
Anya blinked at her in disbelief. "Good business? Kaia, You are trying to run a café, not host a reality show."
Kaia leaned back against the counter, watching Atlas interact with a couple who looked like they were about to offer him their first-born child for the privilege of having him make their cappuccino.
"Yeah, but look at all these people. And all the coffee sales. You've got a celebrity behind the counter, Anya! This is PR gold."
Anya's head was spinning. Kaia wasn't wrong—business was booming.
But this wasn't the kind of attention she'd wanted.
It wasn't just Atlas's tall, brooding presence that had customers lining up; it was the mystique surrounding him.
The power, the money, the CEO status. People weren't just getting coffee.
They were getting a taste of something unattainable.
She watched as Atlas effortlessly crafted a flawless cappuccino, his hands steady and precise despite the chaos around him. A group of college students erupted into cheers when he finished their order, one of them even filming a slow-motion shot of him handing over their drinks.
And through it all, Atlas remained unfazed, like he was accustomed to being the centre of attention. As if it was just another day in the life of a billionaire.
Anya shot her a look, horrified. "You are NOT about to use my suffering as a marketing strategy."
Kaia's grin only stretched wider, clearly enjoying the chaos unfolding. "Oh, but what if I did?"
Anya gaped at her best friend, wondering how the situation had taken such a ridiculous turn. This was her life, her café, and yet here they were—standing at the epicentre of a fame-induced storm. She could already feel her sanity slowly slipping away. Why had she even agreed to this?!
Before Anya could start plotting Kaia's demise—or maybe just toss a coffee grinder in her direction to restore some control—there was a sudden shift in the air. The temperature seemed to drop by a few degrees, and the once-bustling café seemed to quiet in an instant.
Anya didn't need to turn around to know who it was. She felt the weight of his silent authority the moment he walked into the room. Slowly, she turned to face him, arms instinctively crossing in defence. As if putting up some barrier against the inevitable chaos that had now become her life.
"Enjoying your new career?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm, but there was a trace of genuine exasperation buried under the humour.
Atlas stood there, his towering presence swallowing up the space around him. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, his expression unreadable, his gaze cool yet piercing. It was as though he were completely unfazed by the spectacle he had created in her café.
He didn't answer her verbally. Instead, with a subtle but graceful motion, he signed—his movements slow and deliberate, like each gesture carried weight.
Anya's heart sank.
Her soul left her body.
No. No, no, no. She wasn't ready for this.
Kaia, still grinning like a mischievous imp, took one look at Anya's face and burst into laughter. "I mean, why not? Can you imagine the PR boost for the café? You two could be an unstoppable team."
Anya shot a wild look at Kaia, her mind struggling to catch up with the absurdity of the situation. "This isn't a business partnership!" she managed to stammer, though her words felt hollow in the face of Atlas's unwavering stare.
Kaia, completely enjoying Anya's horror, shrugged nonchalantly. "Might as well be. He's already doing your job better than you are, anyway."
"No."
"Anya, come on—"
"I SAID NO."
The words hung in the air like a final, desperate plea.
Anya stood there, arms crossed and eyes wide, hoping that somehow, by sheer force of will, she could shut this down before it escalated further.
But standing before her was Atlas, as still and impassive as ever.
He had just dropped a bomb in her life, and yet he looked completely unfazed.
Instead of backing down, he smirked, as if the whole thing were some kind of joke to him. Then, without a care in the world, he reached out with those long, elegant fingers and grabbed his coffee from the counter, taking a slow sip as though he had all the time in the world.
Anya's mind raced. What was happening? How did she go from making coffees in a quaint little café to dealing with a CEO who was clearly enjoying the drama he'd just created?
Her thoughts collided in a wave of confusion and frustration. She'd said no. This was supposed to be simple, straightforward—a job, a career, a means of getting back on her feet. Not this... entourage of madness Atlas had brought with him.
Her eyes darted to Kaia, who was still grinning like a cat who had just eaten a particularly delicious canary. Kaia was loving this.
Turning back to Atlas, Anya's frustration boiled over. "...You're not actually going to do this, right?" Her voice was a little quieter now, a touch of desperation creeping into her tone. She couldn't understand what Atlas was thinking—or even if he was thinking.
Atlas simply raised an eyebrow. No words, no grand gestures—just that look, the same smirk, and the quiet certainty that he knew something Anya didn't.