JASMINE

I lifted the bottom tray of our display case for the umpteenth time, tryinig to keep the irritation out of my demeanor. " Is it good now Rach ?"

"Yes perfect Jay !" my boss called from the other side, smiling. "Thank you so much for fixing it for me, I'll let you get back to opening up."

" No problem Rachel." I smiled as she walked off, leaving me to tend to the rest of the bakery. My job at the bakery here in Cheesecake Factory was going better than I expected, despite the strenuosity of the workload. I loved decorating cakes and putting together desserts, and apparently have been so good at it that the manager has been speaking about promoting me to star baker after just a few months.

Openings were just so exhausting – having to wake up early to restock cakes, supplies, going back and forth up the stairs in the back of the restaurant. I sighed deeply, scrubbing at the display case. The job was great despite my constant exhaustion from juggling it with school. And I DEFINITELY needed the money right now. So I shouldn't complain.

"Excuse me."

I scrubbed slightly harder, lost in my thoughts.

"Um, Lady ?"

My hand jolted, and my eyes darted up-

And I was staring into the most gorgeous eyes I've ever seen.

They were an almost chestnut color, a warm and inviting shade, though the cool and calculated gaze behind them contrasted with them greatly. He had an abnormally large fro, which was up in a high bun, his edges slicked with a skill I could never have with my own untamed hair. His skin was a warm russet, and he had the most perfect strong cut jawline, coated in after shave. It made me want to nibble on his chin.

Gods what is wrong with me ?

I shook my head slightly, focusing again on his eyes. "I'm sorry sir, we are closed. We will be open in another 5 minutes."

He rose one perfectly arched brow, gesturing behind him. "The front door is wide open."

I smiled kindly. Great, he was another one of those. "Yes sir, to help air out the building, but as I said we will be open in a mere 5 minutes and then you can order anything you'd like. Please wait outside until that time please."

He sighed deeply, looking me up and down. "Miss, I know they are not paying you enough for you to be this uptight."

I sputtered. "Excuse me ?"

"Corporate America is banking of goody two shoes employees like you to dish out their policies and care too much about their businesses so that they can profit off of your ignorance and not deal with you questioning why you don't get paid as much as you should."

I stared wide eyed at him. Who the hell does he think he is?

" Are you really using some speech you heard from some lame podcast about the issues with capitalism to justify why I should get fired for serving you a…" I looked at this outfit, – a black suit and tie- and smirked. "A double shot espresso?"

He raised a brow again, and I shrugged. "Your super cold, cutthroat demeanor gave it away. What are you some praised ceo's assistant who feels he finally made it to the top and can spit advice about "the man" to the "little guy." I air quoted, smirking again. His eye twitched, and I felt a little proud for getting to him for some odd reason.

"No. I'm the CEO philanthropist who might have a word with your boss about your inability to work your shift professionally."

Stiffening, I reiterated: " When it is 9 am, sir, you may order your lame, basic-"

He put his phone in my face, interrupting me.

9:03 A.M.

Had I really been arguing with this man for 8 minutes ?

I swallowed the rise of cuss words at my throat, plastering a smile on my face. "Will that be all sir ?"

"Add a shot of water to that espresso, lady.

So an americano then dumb ass ? I thought snidely, as I punched in his order.

Hey I gotta get some licks in, even if it's just to myself. "That will be 4.85."

He wrote a check (what an oddball) and handed it to me.

As I worked on his drink, I felt his eyes trained on me, and I had to fight to tell him to keep his eyes to himself now that I was on company time. Regardless of that begrudgingly gorgeous face of his, he was an asshole and if he was a CEO like he had mentioned, probably treated his employees horribly. And he had the nerve to preach to me about capitalism. What a hypocrite.

"Here you are sir." I gingerly placed his drink on the counter, fighting the urge to smack it down. "An americano."

" I asked for an espresso." He spoke calmly, his eyes trained on me still.

I smiled softly. " an espresso with hot water is an americano sir. Have a good day."

He watched me for a moment longer. His eyes unwavering. I watched back as evenly as possible, ignoring the slight flutter in my chest. Why did he have to be so fine?

Finally, he offered a half smile, and I felt my chest convulse. " How… well-rehearsed you are." Despite it being somewhat of an insult, it felt like a genuine compliment. I forced myself to smile again." Have a good day sir! Enjoy."

He nodded, placing something in the tip jar. And then he sauntered out the door and into the busy street, getting lost in the hustle and bustle of Woodcrest on a Friday morning.

Sighing, I pulled out what he put into the jar – it hadn't looked like money at first so I had to make sure it wasn't something stupid or inappropriate. I heard myself gasp loudly, the wad falling out of my hand as if it was a hot pan.

"$1200 bucks ?" Cindy almost roared. I waved my hands frantically, trying to hushing her. "Yes I know. It had a note tellimg me to keep it to myself.

Cindy's mouth seemed stuck on wide open mode. "Bitch please tell me you did what the fuck ?"

I sighed, sipping my Moscato. "No… I told my manager and left it in the jar. It seemed unfair to do that- "

"BITCH FUCK THEM BITCHES- "

"Cindy for crying-"

"Ma'am I'm gonna have to ask you to keep your voice down." Our waitress had returned, frowning at Cindy.

Cindy glared right back. "Okay miss thang relax I'll keep my voice down you don't got to be on my a-"

"We will be quiet ma'am !" I gave her my most sincere smile. "My apologies." She smiled at me before glaring again at Cindy and walking off.

"Gurl what ?"

"Do you want her to spit in our food ?"

Cindy waved her hand in dismissal. " Girl never mind that. Did his ass want to hit or some shit ? How he look ?"

I felt heat raise to my face. " I mean… he was… conventionally attractive ? But he was an asshole which in my mind makes him ugly."

Cindy smirked at me, her blue eyes sparkling. " Gurl I see it all in your face he was fine as fuck."

I huffed, crossing my arms. " Like I said face yes, personality no."

" Nah bitch you liked his ass." She brushed some of her blonde tendrils away, smiling huge. " Bitch I bet that's why he handed you that money, he saw that give away blush of yours and wanted some action for real –"

I choked on my drink, then smacked her arm playfully. " I cannot stand your ass."

My best friend laughed, her blonde hair lifting and falling with every breath, She was so beautiful, and I wondered if she knew. It was like I was friends with a model, and I was sure I just looked like her slightly overweight best friend she kept to seem " diversity-oriented."

" Gurl he was for sure feeling your ass, I mean how can he not." She brushed some of my hair behind my ear. "Bet he was tryna show off to get some pussy next time forreal."

I huffed, just as our food came in. "Well then he wasted over a grand of money then."

HUEY

I halfway stormed into my office, careful not to slam the door too loud. That last meeting almost got out of hand. That was the last time I would let any of my employees try to undermine a company I worked so hard to build from the ground up.

I was very lenient. My hatred for the capitalistic structure was the backbone of this business, and my employees received incredible rates as well as unlimited sick and vacation days. I was always open to what they had to say as they are what help keep this place running, but Derrick. Fucking Derrick. Trying to spread rumors about me and then speaking snide remarks during MY meeting, in MY meeting room, in MY building. As much as it pained me to do so, I had to put my foot down.

"Clarissa?" I spoke into the intercom. Her sweet voice answered back. "Yes Mr. Freeman."

"Inform Derrick Johnson he has been fired, and to have his shit cleared out by 3 pm."

Her response was immediate. "Certainly Mr. Freeman." I could hear the understanding in her voice.

Sighing, I say down at my desk, sipping the coffee Clarissa had made me a little earlier. I grimaced. It was incredibly weak, with slight grounds floating within the liquid. My mind drifted to the amazing espresso with hot water the lady had made me yesterday morning. Despite being insufferable, the woman could make a mean cup of joe. My mind began drifting to other aspects of her as well. Her pretty tan skin, the way her work clothes hung perfectly on her body showcasing her beautifully ample breasts, thighs, ass…

"Shit."

Coffee spilled from the cup, where I had stupidly placed it on my speaker. My keyboard was drenched.

"Fuck."

I clicked on my speaker again. "Clarissa ?"

"Yes Sir ?"

"Please send any available janitor to my office. Also please order a new Keyboard ASAP."

"Right away sir."

I sighed, leaning back in my chair, my mind drifting again.

…Those beautiful evergreen eyes. Even her long ginger hair (straightened; I could tell she was black from a mile away). Usually I would despise anyone trying to hide their natural hair, but seeing her's straightened just made me more curious about what her natural hair really looked like.

I frowned to myself. My interest in that woman was overly concerning. Especially considering how much money I had left her. I have no clue what came over me… maybe her antics amused me more than I thought? It had been a while since I had any interaction with a woman besides Clarissa that had not seemed like she had expected something more from me- like her eyes didn't beg something more of me. And the girl was a hard worker- and I may have felt bad for egging her on. It was a shit day. I haven't gone back since due to not wanting to have another crazy interaction with her. Despite her…attractive assets, she was an ass. Albeit a hard working one.

Pushing the woman out of my mind, I gathered my coat and computer bag just as the janitor Efron came in.

"Evening freeman. Need me to fix up some stuff?"

"You know I'm a klutz of sorts sometimes Efron." We dabbed each other up. "I left a $50 on my desk for your troubles."

He smiled. "Much appreciated Sir."

"Anytime homes."

As I walked to car, grumbling about the ridiculous fee downtown to park, I caught a glimpse of an odd altercation.

"Sir I really don't have any money, please let me go-"

"Bitch I want more than money from your sexy ass !"

A man was harassing a woman, and as he grabbed at her ginger red hair, I sprang into action.