Romans 10:9
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
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I walk into the cafe taking off my trench coat as the weather reminds me that we are getting closer to winter time. If the freezing cold wasn't enough of an indicator of that, the rain is telling. I shake a hand through my hair which i really regret not getting cut and drops of rain drip down from it.
There are a few customers that invade the cafe, drinking their cups of coffee and laughing in the warm building. They look at me for a moment as i hang my trench coat on the coat hanger at the front of house. None of them saying as much as a word to me, like they are scared because of what they have seen or what they have heard
I watch their faces visibly droop as i step further into the building, their conversations dying with the dark atmosphere which is me. As if i carry a gloomy cloud over my head, they don't dare start speaking again when im in the room, only hiding their heads behind their cups of hot chocolate that im paying for.
I roll my eyes clamping my lips together proving their attitudes towards me to be right yet once again. I feel a hard bump on my back from the door that makes me turn my head around only to see a distressed Eden stomp in with a soggy umbrella that is flipped inside out.
Even drenched from the rain she still manages to look angelic, she wears a puffy jacket over her plain black sweater with a silver necklace and the bracelet that i got her
Her hips are a work of art in those dark blue jeans that cling to her skin, her thighs are thick tempting me wickedly, her hips dip in slightly at the sides...
Mona Lisa. That's all i see. A very wet frustrated mona lisa.
"Sorry! I didn't see you there." She spares me a glance before she goes back to battling the broken umbrella, shaking it back and forth making rain drops splash everywhere.
"How could you, as little as i am." I tease smirking in response to her sarcastic nose scrunch.
"Haha." She scorns before grunting as she throws the umbrella to the floor. I take a mental note to get her a new umbrella, one that doesn't look like she got it out of some dollar store. Louis, Chanel maybe?
"Um..." she runs a hand through her freshly coloured hair that looks like it's about to curl back at any point.
"Im sorry if i have been treating you unfairly, I understand how-" i lift a hand to silence her,
"Please dont. It's me that should apologise for being so forward with you when i always knew about your faith and how much of a role it plays for you." I offer, i see her chest deflate with relief,
"You're something else you know that?" She smirks,
"So i have been told. However I'm sure not in the same manner you are using right now." We lowly chuckle to each other before our heads hang low and there is this comfortable tension between us, both of us wanting to say so much more but refusing to give in.
"So we are good?" She twists her foot into the floor while pulling at her sweater sleeve,
"I suppose, I mean i have no other option than to tolerate you now that you work here right?" I say jokingly releasing some of the tension,
She puts her pinky finger in the air in front of me with pursed lips, i look to it expectantly...
"What's this?" I wave towards her hand carelessly,
"We have to promise each other from now on we will be less of a headache to each other and more of a support system." She pleads pushing her finger forward for me to take,
"You have never been a headache to me..." she smiles in the most wholesome way that makes her smile lines become that much more beautiful. They get deeper when i put my pinky up, tying it around hers,
"But i can agree to that promise." I utter shaking our hand, she can't help herself as she rushes into my body for a hug.
"Thank you." Her muffled voice speaks through my cardigan cloth. It takes everything within me not to embrace her deeper in this hug. Not to take her deeper than she has ever known, in the only way that i have ever known.
So i keep my hands to my side and let her take what she needs from me.
"What happened with the umbrella did you beat it up?"
I look harder at the battered umbrella torn inside out,
"Or get it jumped?" I mutter when she pulls away, watching her eyes squint at me, i take notice of her new hairstyle.
I try to keep my eyes in my head but her straightened ginger hair that drops down to her shoulders takes all my attention away.
"I had a horrible morning-" She starts off and i relax knowing that even though yesterday was harsh for the both of us, she is willing to move forward. Eden always gives to me what i get From nobody else, a second chance.
I take one hand of her jacket and watch as she allows me to take it off for her.
"First i had to get up early, i mean extremely early just to get my hair done because my best friend wanted to try a new salon." She goes on putting her hand out allowing me to remove the other sleeve.
"Thank you-" She turns around with a head nod, i place the coat beside mine on the hanger ignoring the stares of complete confusion from the customers.
I am expecting them to whisper, to gossip to do whatever they usually do when i show any signs of being a human being with any emotion other than hate and anger, but for her i don't care.
I follow her steps as she continues her story, speed walking to the counter where she grabs her apron that hangs on the other hanger.
"Where was i again?" She asks throwing it over her head,
"The salon..." I respond not waiting for a request i step in and gently pull her hair out of her collar and over the apron's collar. She hesitates for a moment but then allows it, continuing her recap.
"Oh yeah, so serenity tells me to follow her to the salon right? So of course i say yes because i admit i have been neglecting our friendship a bit-"
"What a horrible friend you are?" I say jokingly,
"Well excuse me, the reason is because i was kidnapped by a crazy man who i had on his knees yesterday." She teases bursting out laughing as she playfully pushes my arm.
I wince remembering how desperate she made me for her, my eyes curse me as they look towards the exact spot it all happened and the scene plays out a million times over, just to really torture me.
"I was drunk."
"Yes drunk in love..." I can only chuckle as she makes a love heart with her hands and puckers out her lips making a kissy face. I respond with rolled eyes i refuse to laugh, it would only increase the power she has over me.
"Are Christians allowed to listen to Beyonce? i thought she was the devil to you guys." I banter back with folded arms,
"Switching the topic because you can't handle the heat huh? I get it." She playfully winks before turning on the cash register following the instruction folder by every step.
"Finish your story." I order, turning to my own side and pressing my thumb on one of the main keypads and inputting some key information,
"So i was under the dryer with serenity beside me right? I tell the stylist i just want a simple wash and condition since i had just taken my braids out the night before besides the only reason i was at the hair salon in the first place is because of ore mi." Her accent kicks in at the end as she spoke her language.
"Ore mi?" I repeat turning my head to her for a moment, she giggles in that cute way that imprints in my head, a sound i prepare myself to hear a million times over today.
"What's funny?" I ask her, I can't the corner of my lip lifting as she continues to mock my miserable interpretation of her language.
"Ore mi " She ridicules me in a robotic tone, forcing a deep voice to try and copy mine.
"It means my friend. You know... like you are to me?" She looks away from me at the last part but purses her lips to stop herself from laughing,
"Oh you got jokes huh?" I hum with a smile loving how this all feels... I haven't had a conversation like this in a long time, where it's just... what's the word. Healthy?
"Anyways..." She drags out the word before leaning over the counter towards me, i take notice of the fact that she is enjoying whatever healthy thing is going on between us right now.
"I tell the lady i want a simple conditioner and a simple shampoo, jeje, 5 minutes under the machine i realise my scalp is burning. Abeg tell me why she put a relaxer in my hair?" She slaps the back of her hand to her other hand's palm,
Mental note, the more comfortable she is with you, the more her Nigerian side comes out.
"So now I'm stuck with straightened hair for only God knows how long, oh and to top it off she added colour." She tugs at her hair shaking her head clearly disappointed at what she got,
"Well if it's any consolation, it looks beautiful as do you." I say nonchalantly trying to respect whatever boundary she put between us yesterday.
"Hey... now we kind of match." She bounces her shoulders, pointing to my orangey brown hair either she knows what she is doing or she knows what she is doing.
"I guess we do huh? Im going to die my hair blue to fix that issue, maybe cut it off all together." I joke, im filled with a sense of stupid pride when i see how much it makes her laugh. After all she has been through, its nice to see that sunny eden coming back.
I see the strings of her apron loosened at the side of her body,
"Let me see you real quick." I ask waving her over, her brows squint but she trusts me enough to walk over, I turn her body around noticing how every move she makes is almost robotic,
"Your apron strings, have them tied at all times." I grab them and she slowly puts her hands to her sides to let me bring them to her back.
There's a growing tension as i tug on each side, her waist isn't giving up when i tug it tighter, i can hear her breath gather in her chest as her head hangs low for a moment. I can read her mind, I pray that she can't read mine.
"Is that tight enough?" I whisper tugging it another time so that she jumps a bit, She doesn't dare look back at me but i know my mission is achieved, letting her know that i still crave her without saying a word
"That's perfect... thank you." She says breathlessly putting her hands on her hip dips, I would stay like this forever if i could taking that control back so that she loses her breath, showing her how easy it is for me to make her remember the other side of me.
I internally groan when i hear the ding of the bell from the door as another employee, kasondra walks walks in soaked from the rain. She takes down her hood and burrs from the cold pulling off her gloves as she greets all of the customers who once looked at me as if i were the devil himself. Their once cold gazes are now replaced with sunny smiles as they wave over to her
Im starting to think i may actually be the problem... no of course not.
Eden practically jolts out of my grip straightening her apron as she walks back to the counter, Kasondra, looks at eden's guilty expression then to my stern face already wondering what she did wrong.
She looks confused as she cowers in with a raised brow, another shocked on looker.
"Are you going to make your money by looking at me?" I question her and she stutters in her words before taking off her jacket in a rush and hanging it up.
"I... Sorry sir." There's a hitch in her voice as she speeds past me into the kitchen getting straight on her job.
"You're mean." Eden says with a pout, refusing to look at me.
"Im not mean, im their employer. their boss. i can't be sweet and rosy or people will take advantage of it like you are right now for example." I say blankly offering her a hint of a smile to try and warm her up again.
"Come on, let's get started." I click my fingers signalling for her to follow me with a nod of my head. She drops everything following behind me as we walk towards the break room where i find the other employee's.
I make the mistake of stepping back, not before i open the door for eden, she innocently walks in with a smile but the rest of the employee's all stop their conversations with jaws dropped to the floor as if i have just committed a crime.
I quickly realise it's because they never see me like this... with anyone and although i prefer to keep it that way, it's almost automatic with eden yet i scold myself and promise i wont do it again.
"Alright, let's not waste any type of time here. Kasondra I'm going to put you in the kitchen today with Emmanuel. Make sure the orders get made on time. Do not waste time today like you both irresponsibly did yesterday." I demand with folded arms against my chest, they say nothing back but nod their head in reply.
"Isla, Kirk you both take front of house and please try and look friendly although it may be impossible for some of you." I order pointing to them accusingly, not sparing a second to care how they feel. That's not my responsibility.
"Yes sir." They all respond unified.
"Emmanuel where are yesterdays reports that i asked for?" He speedily turns around to get them from the table before they are in my grip within a second.
"Great, any questions before we get the day started?" I ask absentmindedly while i flick through the pages scanning as many as i can. I take their silence to mean they understand,
"good, get to wor-"
"Um... sorry, but what about me?" Eden raises an innocent hand forcing an uncomfortable smile on her lips, i can only give her a grin back which alone makes the other employees look at each other like what they are seeing is the unimaginable.
"What about you?" I ask her,
"I- you forgot to give me a job assignment." She looks to me with widened eyes, i didn't forget a thing, i rarely ever do forget anything about the people who matter to me. But to satisfy her i try hard to think of something,
"Hmmm...You had a hard morning, sit down in the cafe and get some breakfast." I say turning to the next page and reading from the start turning around to leave until her words cause me to stop in my tracks again,
"Excuse me?" She scoffs but i only continue reading.
"A hot chocolate and a muffin should do it." I order, i can't see her face right now but i can only imagine she would be grateful since it's what it sounds like she needs. I try to walk out again but yet i am stopped by her words yet again.
"I'm sorry to push on this but... isn't that a bit unfair to the others? i mean i don't mind helping out that's why i'm here after all i mean-"
"Who here has an issue with the role i have assigned to our newest employee?" I say in a stern tone, not one of them dared to speak against me
"Okay then, let's start working shall we?"
"But-"
"Ms Anderson, do you need to be reminded who your boss is?" My voice threatens to raise until my mind registers who im speaking to and patience is the route chosen.
"Team, please remind ms Anderson who her boss is." I close the sheet and hold it under my armpit when my arms cross.
"You sir.." Kasondra spits out, looking to the other employee's for some type of encouragement which they weakly give her by nodding along and repeating her answer.
"Is that clear enough to you Ms anderson or do you require the team to repeat it?" I ask looking over to her with a lifted brow. She rolls her eyes with hands on her hips,
"It's clear sir " She says with an annoyed hitch in her voice
"However i just feel like i can be of more use in the-"
"Hot chocolate and a muffin. that's an order." I look up from the folder sheets to her shocked gaze just to make sure she see's how clear i am being.
"We are wasting time, everyone get to work I'm in the back if i am needed and only if i am needed." I don't spare a second to wait for their reply before i am already out the door.
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I have been trying to get work done for the past hour but my mind has been more focused on trying the texts that my father has been sending me, trying to get me to see him but i have enough on my mind and i don't need him to be part of it.
My mind is clouded and I'm almost ready to explode when i hear some light knocking on the door.
"What." I shout to the door, immediately regretting my harsh tone when i see Eden walk through the door.
"Hello boss, am allowed to bother you for a moment?" She jokes mocking me from before. bending her knees to the floor i cringe and she notices laughing as she walks further into the room.
"I'm assuming there is something that you are looking for?" I push all my work aside and cross my hands on the table when i notice her smile.
"Yes, for a matter of reasons actually. I thought it would be best to disturb you while i am on my break. I am allowed to take break right?" Her tone is so sarcastic it hurts but the distance she puts in between us hurts that much more.
"Tell me my faults and let me apologise for each of them ms Anderson." I entertain her sarcasm by sitting back in my seat, as toxic as it may be i would do anything just to hear her talk even if she's mad at me.
"Okay first, you treated me so different out there today." She says walking closer to the table, closing the gap of breathing space between us with every step that she takes.
"Im your employer eden, how else was i supposed to treat you?"
"Exactly, you are my employer. I work for you, i get paid because i am supposed to be doing hard work in this cafe, not just sitting around and eating the food that the other employees make, im sure they hate me now by the way thanks." She groans dropping a glass of whatever beverage she made for me and cookie on my desk.
I quickly grab the bottle of whiskey and hide it under the table before she notices. I don't want her to think i'm not trying with everything within me not to be better for her if not for myself, but i am coming from a life of drinking every single day... it's not easy to give up and i would be a fool if i pretended that it was.
The last thing that i want is to admit that it's some type of addiction because it's not. I can stop drinking at any point that i please, i just don't want to.
"So you're mad at me because i was concerned about your health?"
"It's not your job to be concerned about my health, just give me stuff to do and let me make some honest money working here okay?" She pleads leaning against my desk with one hand on it so that i am looking up at her
"Okay. I can put you on for serving today, would that satisfy you?" I ask leaning back comfortably in my office chair with my arms tested beside me.
"Absolutely, thank you." She smiles, proud of herself for playing me like a genie ready to grant her every wish.
"Now that that's sorted, what is all of this for?" I point to the food she put before me and notice how quickly her smile changes to one that makes me regret asking her in the first place.
"I'm offended! why is it every time that i come to you, it must be for something?" I sardonically tilt my head waiting for her to confess;
"Okay look... maybe i did want to ask you something after all but at least i came bringing gifts." She gives the widest smile while bouncing her brows.
"Well then, what is it?" I ask her taking a sip of the drink and quickly realizing it's coffee... and thank God it is, at least it's something that will sober me up from the bitter sting that the whiskey left in my mouth.
I watch as she pulls out her phone, squinting her eyes while she scrolls through it. It's beyond me why i wonder who could be in her contacts or even why the thought of a man sending her messages to make her smile frustrates me so much.
But im filled with relief that quickly turns to annoyance when she turns her phone to me,
Diving deeper: A christian round table discussion; Tonight!
Come with a friend, you don't want to miss this.
Somehow looking at the poster advertised by our church makes the taste of this coffee that much more bitter to my mouth. Just like that i miss the taste of the alcohol that i once had. I have been seeing this poster around for a while now but have made it a mission to avoid it like a plague.
It's a small christian event that happens every once a year. To put it in words, its a christian therapy session except the therapist are woefully under qualified. They sit in a circle and babble on about their problems and how they can put God in the middle of them.
It's my idea of a complete waste of a night.
"You have to come with me." She exclaims eagerly, on one hand i know if i go it will bring me closer to having her... on the other hand if i go it will bring me closer to wanting to jump off a cliff.
"I don't know... it doesn't exactly sound like my vibe." I tap my fingers on the table to distract myself from this whole thing.
"Zephaniah is coming." She tempts me in a sing songy voice, a part of me feels bad for her. I have no doubt this is something zeph said to make serenity feel good but the zephaniah i know would rather cut his hand off than do this.
I cant stop myself from bursting out laughing,
"Im serious, he is going to be there. So you should come too!"
"Eden... how can i explain this, zephaniah is hmmm, let's just say he isn't like you or serenity-"
"And yet he can find it in himself to put that all aside and be there... so can you just try?" Her eyes beg me as she shoves the cookie closer to me, Everything within me says no.
but for her....
"Fine."
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Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed the chapter, thank you all for your kind comments i have been reading them all, i really wanted eden and ace to start growing in their healthy relationship but i still have a lot coming for you guys!
See you in the next chapter
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God bless :)