" Mr Nikons is here and asking for you " Aurora stepped into the kitchen an annoyed look clouding her face. They both couldn't stand Nikons wills but Thia was certain her hatred ran deeper after all she was the one he relentlessness pursued.
" Why ? " Thia grumbled already knowing the answer to that question. She tied her apron tightly around her waist letting out a sharp huff of annoyance. They haven't even officially opened for the day yet he was here just as they had flipped the open sign to continue his mindless ramble about how she would make a fine mistress and a good mother for his four children's peppered with crude remarks here and there about her body and how he thinks she would be great in bed.
She had long had enough of his countless visits months ago but business was slow and he gave a hefty tip.
" Probably to convince you into marrying him again. That unruly man " Aurora snarled " He simply cannot take no for an answer. "
Meris said nothing. she moved to the freezer, retrieving the dough she'd prepped the day before. She set it on the baking board with a heavy thud, taking a shaky breath to steady her nerves.
" I can send him away for you "
No " Thia dusted the flour from her hands unto her apron. " I will attend to him " she squared her shoulders and walked back out front.
Mr Nikons was already lounging in one of the bistro chairs, his hands draped over the armrests while he scrolled through his phone.
" Mr Nikons " his eyes snapped up at the sound of her voice.
" Haven't I told you to call me Wills, love ? " he grinned shifting his weight.
This visibly shuddered, a flash of disgust hitting her at the sight of his stained, brown teeth. Wills Nikons was a stubby, wealthy man with a scraggly beard and a prominent pot belly—not at all her type, and significantly older. He was a regular, though not for the pastries or tea, he barely ever touched his tea but ordered them anyways. He was there because he fancied her, fueled by the believe that he could make her beg for him. His big-man ego viewed her refusal as a challenge rather than a boundary.
" How can I help you Mr Nikons ? " Thia asked pointedly ignoring request. His smile faltered a little before he forced it back.
" A little respect would be appreciated as I would be your husband soon " he gritted out. Thia couldn't suppress a snort at his delusions.
" Is there anything else you would like ? I have to get back to work " she said her tone remaining clipped and professional.
" How has business been Meris ? " The sudden shift in his tone made her freeze.
" What do you mean ? "
He chuckled darkly sinking deeper into his seat.
" I'm a man of little patience Thia and my patience has run thin" he paused clicking his tongue against his teeth " Tell me, what would you do if I was to buy the entire store down this block including your little cafe ?"
Thia clenched her fist by her side, her nails digging into her palms. He wouldn't would he ? He would. The cold distant voice, he used confirmed it. It was nothing like the sickening sweet, flirty voice she was used to hearing.
" You wouldn't ? "
" Oh I would " he let out another laugh resting his head lazily on his hand. " This block is big enough for ... A mall maybe ? Or a big five star restaurant. I would make a fortune " he taunted, his lips pulled up in a dark smile.
Thia felt a heat of rage radiating through her. She wanted so badly to reach out and connect her fist with his face and wipe off that ugly smile off his face.
She was already shaking from anger. His smile only widened, his eyes shining with amusement.
She let out a shaky, ragged breath in an attempt to compose myself.
" What do you want ? " she gritted out glaring down at him with so much hatred.
" You "
************
" That bastard. I swear if I get my hands on him I would rip his balls off and shove them down his throat " Aurora spat out her face seething with anger as she rambled. She was pacing the kitchen floor, her face flushed with fury.
Thia had filled her in on her conversation with Nikons and as expected, she was as furious as Thia was.
Like any other rich, entitled bastard, Nikon had done his homework on Thia's life and was aware that she was barely scraping by and the cafe was the only thing keeping her sane as it belonged to her parents. It was more or less black mail and it didn't stop there. He had promised to make her life a walking nightmare if she didn't submit to him.
" Should we phone the police ? " Aurora asked pausing her pace to look at Thia, eyes filled with pity and concern. She bit down at her lips nervously biting down on her lips.
Thia sighed rubbing her temples in frustration. " With what evidence ? And even so the fucker is rich. He could pay them off "
" So what now ? You are not actually going to give in right ? "
She didn't want to.
God knows she didn't want to but she had to. For the cafe. She had promised to take care of it.
She nodded wiping away a stray tear that had dropped. " I will become Mrs Nikons "
No Thia don't 😭
I sort of feel sorry for her
Thoughts ?" Mr Nikons is here and asking for you " Aurora stepped into the kitchen an annoyed look clouding her face. They both couldn't stand Nikons wills but Thia was certain her hatred ran deeper after all she was the one he relentlessness pursued.
" Why ? " Thia grumbled already knowing the answer to that question. She tied her apron tightly around her waist letting out a sharp huff of annoyance. They haven't even officially opened for the day yet he was here just as they had flipped the open sign to continue his mindless ramble about how she would make a fine mistress and a good mother for his four children's peppered with crude remarks here and there about her body and how he thinks she would be great in bed.
She had long had enough of his countless visits months ago but business was slow and he gave a hefty tip.
" Probably to convince you into marrying him again. That unruly man " Aurora snarled " He simply cannot take no for an answer. "
Meris said nothing. she moved to the freezer, retrieving the dough she'd prepped the day before. She set it on the baking board with a heavy thud, taking a shaky breath to steady her nerves.
" I can send him away for you "
No " Thia dusted the flour from her hands unto her apron. " I will attend to him " she squared her shoulders and walked back out front.
Mr Nikons was already lounging in one of the bistro chairs, his hands draped over the armrests while he scrolled through his phone.
" Mr Nikons " his eyes snapped up at the sound of her voice.
" Haven't I told you to call me Wills, love ? " he grinned shifting his weight.
This visibly shuddered, a flash of disgust hitting her at the sight of his stained, brown teeth. Wills Nikons was a stubby, wealthy man with a scraggly beard and a prominent pot belly—not at all her type, and significantly older. He was a regular, though not for the pastries or tea, he barely ever touched his tea but ordered them anyways. He was there because he fancied her, fueled by the believe that he could make her beg for him. His big-man ego viewed her refusal as a challenge rather than a boundary.
" How can I help you Mr Nikons ? " Thia asked pointedly ignoring request. His smile faltered a little before he forced it back.
" A little respect would be appreciated as I would be your husband soon " he gritted out. Thia couldn't suppress a snort at his delusions.
" Is there anything else you would like ? I have to get back to work " she said her tone remaining clipped and professional.
" How has business been Meris ? " The sudden shift in his tone made her freeze.
" What do you mean ? "
He chuckled darkly sinking deeper into his seat.
" I'm a man of little patience Thia and my patience has run thin" he paused clicking his tongue against his teeth " Tell me, what would you do if I was to buy the entire store down this block including your little cafe ?"
Thia clenched her fist by her side, her nails digging into her palms. He wouldn't would he ? He would. The cold distant voice, he used confirmed it. It was nothing like the sickening sweet, flirty voice she was used to hearing.
" You wouldn't ? "
" Oh I would " he let out another laugh resting his head lazily on his hand. " This block is big enough for ... A mall maybe ? Or a big five star restaurant. I would make a fortune " he taunted, his lips pulled up in a dark smile.
Thia felt a heat of rage radiating through her. She wanted so badly to reach out and connect her fist with his face and wipe off that ugly smile off his face.
She was already shaking from anger. His smile only widened, his eyes shining with amusement.
She let out a shaky, ragged breath in an attempt to compose myself.
" What do you want ? " she gritted out glaring down at him with so much hatred.
" You "
************
" That bastard. I swear if I get my hands on him I would rip his balls off and shove them down his throat " Aurora spat out her face seething with anger as she rambled. She was pacing the kitchen floor, her face flushed with fury.
Thia had filled her in on her conversation with Nikons and as expected, she was as furious as Thia was.
Like any other rich, entitled bastard, Nikon had done his homework on Thia's life and was aware that she was barely scraping by and the cafe was the only thing keeping her sane as it belonged to her parents. It was more or less black mail and it didn't stop there. He had promised to make her life a walking nightmare if she didn't submit to him.
" Should we phone the police ? " Aurora asked pausing her pace to look at Thia, eyes filled with pity and concern. She bit down at her lips nervously biting down on her lips.
Thia sighed rubbing her temples in frustration. " With what evidence ? And even so the fucker is rich. He could pay them off "
" So what now ? You are not actually going to give in right ? "
She didn't want to.
God knows she didn't want to but she had to. For the cafe. She had promised to take care of it.
She nodded wiping away a stray tear that had dropped. " I will become Mrs Nikons "