"I'm sorry," Delphine says looking up at Scott with shining eyes. She was on the floor trying to quickly wipe up the coffee she spilled. Hands shaking. "No harm done, I'll make the new one," Scott replies with a gentle smile. He grabs a new cup then walks over to the machine. With a coffee soaked rag Delphine stands up. "Again, I'm really sorry," she says to the customer. Eyes downcast. "Incompetent," the woman replies with a scoff of disdain. Her sharp gaze evaluates Delphine. With a quick flip of her blonde bob she sighs, "Does Aldous really expect this place to make money, letting such people work here."
"One cup of hot tea," Scott cuts in holding the drink carefully in his hands.
"Mm. Thank you. See to it that, that one doesn't get orders wrong again," the woman says from tight, red stained lips.
"I'm sure it was an honest mistake."
"Mistakes should be…corrected." The dark eyes drilling into her made Delphine question if the mistake the woman was referring to was actually about the spill or her. A manicured hand dropped folded money onto the counter. As Delphine picked it up and tapped on the register, she squashed the urge to both defend herself and continue apologizing. Aware than anything she said would put her in even worse standings. Chimes hit the door casually. "Hey, sorry I'm late. I stopped by—Oh. Hey, Rachel…I didn't know you were coming today," Cosima says with a guilty smile. She walks over to the blonde, skateboard in hand. "Yes. Well, Aldous mentioned in passing that he hadn't had time to check up on the shop this month."
"Hm. He hasn't," Cosima muses.
"As I said. So, I took it upon myself to make my way down to this…venture. It's not doing as well as I'd hoped." Cold eyes glanced back at Delphine. Noticing the look, Cosima paused. She eyed Rachel before looking at Delphine. Trying to read Delphine's face. Eyes squinting to a glare behind black frames, she asserts, "Actually we're doing really well. You'd be surprised. Especially, now that we have another hand."
"When people don't show up to work on time it does help to have a spare."
"It helps to have a manager that actually cares about their job," Cosima bit back. A few more quips were shot between Cosima and Rachel. Each one losing its hint of passive aggression and gaining a tone of straight aggression as they go. Delphine's gaze went from one to the other with each response. Cosima was becoming very bold with someone who apparently had the power to fire her. Biting her lip Delphine wasn't oblivious to the fact the simmering conversation was subliminally about her. "Oookay, Cosima. How bout you go put your stuff down in the back room," Scott rushed. He had shuffled over to Cosima when he saw her grip tighten on the board. Face relaxing from it's frustrated state Cosima muttered, "Fine. Yeah."
"Delphine can you give Rachel her change so that she can continue her observation of the shop."
"Of course," Delphine had forgotten about the money in her hands. She glanced at the listed change on the screen. Then quickly counted it out. "Here you are," she hesitates, holding the change out. Hopefully Rachel didn't notice the minute shaking of thin fingers. From the smirk on her lips, she did. Wordlessly Rachel turned, walking towards the back of the shop. Click of fierce heels going with her.
"Bitch."
"Cosima," Delphine reprimanded. Wide, doe eyes, turned to face Cosima. "What? Don't lie and say she isn't. She's a bitch. It's a fact," Cosima shrugs. Pulling the apron over her head. She adjusts the bun on her head before stepping towards the register. "But she's your boss. Shouldn't you not say things like that, when she could hear?"
"Meh. It's Rachel. She can't really fire me. I'm sure she'd like to. But Leekie would just hire me back." Delphine holds her response as a customer comes up to the line. Cosima takes the order. One, small, mixed berry smoothie. Delphine moves to the mini fridge grabbing the fruit, ice, and the juice. Making the drink as quickly as she can she hands the lidded drink to Cosima. Who gives it to the customer with a smile. When they're gone she leans back on the counter facing Delphine. "I don't fully understand why she can't fire you," Delphine says playing with her fingers.
"Okay. Well technically Rachel is our manager. And technically she should be here every day, you know, managing. Side note. She also has power to fire us lowly workers if she wanted. However. Leekie likes me, for some crazy reason. Who knows why? I've only been in like two classes with him. Either way, he's the one that offered me the job. Even if Rachel were to fire me, because this is technically his place, once he saw I was off the payroll he'd probably talk to dear daughter Rachel and then hire me again." Just the thought of it put a cheeky grin on Cosima's face.
"Daughter?" Delphine's face was scrunched in confusion. She's been working with Leekie for a couple weeks now. None of his tangents have ever gone towards children. There was a very long and bizarre digression detailing his ideal human beings' characteristics. But nothing about family. Cosima stood up straighter. Glancing back at Rachel who was speaking to Scott, about some concern of hers no doubt, Cosima lowered her voice, "Yeah. Leekie's like her father figure. That's why she's the manager btw. Her bachelor's in business helps, I guess. But really she only in charge cuz of Leekie."
"Oh. But father? I don't believe Aldous has mentioned children."
"She's not really his. Biologically. Her mother died when she was really young. And supposedly her birth father left her. Leekie's been kinda raising her since she was like 8? I think it was 8. But don't like take anything I'm saying as stone hard fact. This is all according to Sarah. Rachel's been a pain in her side waaaay longer than mine."
"I see." Delphine replies glossing over the fact she has no clue who Sarah is. With a sigh Delphine casually glances over at Rachel again. Looking away quickly when she catches Rachel's eyes. With a snicker Cosima asked, "So. What did you do to get on her shit list? Not like it takes much. Did you make a Dunkin' Donuts reference? Cuz yeah don't do that. Sarah actually got a rise out of her for that comment."
"Oh," Delphine gave a smile but it was obvious she didn't understand the joke.
"Dunkin' Donuts…coffee. The coffee place. Rachel's last name is Duncan. She is working at a….nevermind. What did you do?" It took a few more moments for Delphine to make the connection. Cosima couldn't contain her grin as she watched step-by-step understanding click it's way on Delphine's face. With wide eyes and a gasp she said, "Oh! I get it! That is funny. Oh, but not something she wants to hear, no."
"Nope. But Sarah makes the comment every time anyways." From the knowing grin on Cosima's face something tells Delphine Sarah isn't the only one. "But seriously Delphine. I'm nosey. What did you do?" Cosima begs. She gives Delphine a puppy dog look. A very good one. "O-oh. Well I had accidentally gotten her order wrong. I was making a coffee instead of tea."
"How'd you manage to do that? They don't even, well I guess coffee…hot tea. Coffeeee, hot teeeee, yeah they rhyme. But wow that was enough to get the Duncan Death Glare?"
"I also dropped it," Delphine blushes looking down.
"What?" Cosima laughs. Noticing Delphine's pout she apologizes, "I'm sorry. That isn't funny. I can't believe you dropped it. Oh my God. Not on her right?"
"Mon Dieu, no. No, thank goodness," she looks around nervously, "she really would have killed me then."
"Yeah, really," Cosima laughs. Patting Delphine on the shoulder she says, "But hey. Don't worry. Rachel hates everybody. So even if you didn't do anything she wasn't going to like you. You saw how she was with me." Nodding Delphine steps forward. Two people had come in. Walking up to the counter. Delphine wanted to mention how Cosima basically defended her with Rachel but held her tongue. She didn't have the time at the moment. And she wasn't sure she was ready for Cosima's responses. Giving the two men a pretty smile she asked if they were ready to order.