Chapter 1
The café was quiet, the clinking of silverware and the occasional hiss of the steam from the espresso machine filling the air as the last of the evening crowd trickled out. The sun had set, and the low light of the streetlamps outside cast a soft glow on the window panes. Tess Wells sat behind the counter, her brow furrowed in concentration as she flipped through the financial books, adding up the day’s receipts.
She ran a hand through her hair, frustrated. The café had been a steady source of comfort for her, a place where people come to relax. But tonight, everything seemed off.
She hears the sound of a door slamming in the back, followed by the soft sniffles of her waitress, who’s locked herself in the restroom again. Tess’s patience was running thin.
With a sigh, Tess leaned over the counter, her voice cutting through the quiet, “Mario, if she doesn’t come out in five minutes, I’m firing you.”
In the kitchen, Chef Mario’s voice echoed back, sounding amused despite the tension. “Five minutes? You’re being generous.”
Then a calm, commanding voice broke through the tension, “Before he gets fired, can we have something to eat?”
Tess had just finished cleaning up, ready to call it a night, when the door jingled open. Without looking up, she called out, “No, we’re closed.” she answered, her voice flat as she tried to maintain composure, even though a strange sense of tension filled the room.
Adeline’s gaze softened, and with a playful yet tired smile, she took a step closer to the counter. She lowered her voice, just loud enough for Tess to hear, but not for the employees to catch on. “Oh, please, would you reconsider? We’re terribly tired and starving.”
Tess hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking toward her two employees who were still staring wide-eyed at the President, clearly frozen by the sudden appearance of someone so powerful in the small, humble space.
A beat of silence passed, and then, before Tess could even respond, Vivienne, the waitress who had been about to leave, turned to face the scene. She froze in place, her bag still slung over her shoulder, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of the woman standing before her. Tess slowly rose from her chair, her eyes widening as she processed the situation.
She put on a smile, her voice steady despite the rapid beating of her heart. “Welcome, Madam President,” she greeted, the weight of the words not lost.
Madam President smiled back, though there was a hint of exhaustion in her expression. Her voice was soft but insistent. “Have you reconsidered?”
Adeline Calloway smiled, the movement gentle but tired, as if the weight of the world had taken a toll on her. Her cheekbones, once sharp with determination, now seemed faintly exhausted. She gave Tess a small nod.
Tess was about to respond, but then—bang—the bathroom door flew open and Mary burst out, her face streaked with tears.
“He told me to come pick up my things!“ she cried, her voice breaking as she hiccuped between sobs.
Tess’s stomach sank. The combination of her employee’s emotional breakdown and the unexpected intrusion of the President made her feel as though the world was colliding all at once. She took a deep breath and turned to Adeline with an apologetic smile.
“You are all welcome. Please, have a seat while I deal with this.”
She waved her hand toward Vivienne, who was still frozen in place. “You can go home, Vivienne.”
Vivienne blinked, still unsure of what to do, her frown deepening. “Are you sure, boss?”
Tess’s patience thinned as she sighed again. “You won’t get paid extra,” she warned, her voice firm.
Vivienne, still looking a little rattled by the presence of the President, gave a small smile and nodded toward Adeline. “Sorry, Madam President. It was nice meeting you.“
Adeline, though worn from the long day, gave a subtle nod in return, her eyes lingering on Tess, who was now focused entirely on the sobbing Mary.
Tess’s face softened, but there was a hint of irritation behind her gaze as she watched her employee’s meltdown. She turned to the table and waved her hand, motioning for Adeline and her group to sit. “I’ll be right back. Please, make yourselves comfortable.”
Adeline nodded again, her lips curving into a quiet smile, but Tess could see the wariness in her eyes as she glanced at Mary.
For a moment, it felt like time slowed down. Tess watched Vivienne leave, still holding her handbag with a look of confusion on her face. Then, all attention turned to the young woman at the counter, her sobs growing louder.
The café’s warm, familiar atmosphere seemed to dissipate for a moment as the reality of the situation set in—she had the President in her café, and yet, all Tess could think about was getting through the emotional wreckage in front of her.
Adeline, however, seemed to understand. She sat down quietly with her secretary and the Secret Service members; her gaze never leaving Tess as she made her way back to the sobbing Mary, her thoughts racing.
Would this turn into something more than just an unexpected visit? Was this moment truly a sign of something else?
But for now, Tess had to fix what was right in front of her—before she could think about anything else.
Tess took a deep breath as she turned to Mario, who was busy in the kitchen, his hands moving deftly as he began to prepare food for the President and her entourage. She stepped toward the counter, her mind still racing between the unexpected presidential visit and the emotional chaos unfolding with her employees.
“Mario,” she said, her voice a little sharper than usual, “what do we have left? What can we make quickly?”
Mario glanced up, wiping his hands on his apron before answering with a shrug. “We only have chicken strips for wraps left, boss.”
Tess didn’t miss the subtle exhaustion in his voice. She nodded, her eyes flicking to the table where Adeline and the others had settled, waiting quietly.
“Okay, go ahead and make them. Get them out as soon as you can.”
Mario nodded and got to work, pulling out the chicken strips and prepping the wraps, his movements quick and efficient. Tess, however, couldn’t shake the concern for Mary. The sobs had died down for the moment, but the tension was still thick in the air. Tess walked over to the young woman, who was still standing near the counter, her face a mixture of embarrassment and uncertainty.
Taking a deep breath, Tess’s gaze softened just slightly, though the frown on her face didn’t budge.
“I have two questions for you,” Tess began, her tone steady but firm. “Do you like working here?”
Mary looked up, her tear-streaked face nodding quickly, though the slight quiver in her lip betrayed her.
“Yes, Tess,” she whispered, her voice quiet but sincere.
Tess didn’t immediately respond. She crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing as she studied Mary for a moment longer. “Do you want to lose your job?”
Mary’s eyes widened in panic, and she immediately shook her head, the first signs of more tears forming in her eyes.
“No! No, Tess, I don’t want to lose my job, I swear!” she pleaded, her voice starting to crack.
Tess held up a hand, silencing her before she could get too upset again. She leaned in slightly, her gaze softening, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in her words.
“Listen to me, Mary. I’m not going to fire you, but you need to get it together.” Tess placed her hands gently on Mary’s shoulders, her touch firm but kind, grounding the girl. “Take your things. Go home for the night. Come back in two days, and when you do, I expect no more crying from you. Do you understand?”
Mary looked up at Tess, her chest heaving with emotion. She nodded quickly, her head ducking slightly in acknowledgment.
“Yes, Tess. I understand. I won’t cry again.”
“Good,” Tess said, giving her shoulders a gentle squeeze. “Go now. Get your things.”
Mary hesitated for a moment, the weight of the situation still hanging over her, but Tess’s stern but caring gaze made it clear that this was non-negotiable. Slowly, Mary turned, her steps heavy as she made her way to the staff room to gather her belongings.
Tess watched her go, her mind flickering back to the group at the table. Adeline, sitting with an air of quiet authority, had been waiting patiently, and Tess knew she couldn’t keep her waiting much longer. But she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that everything was a bit off tonight.
As Mary passed through the back door, Tess called out, “Don’t forget, two days. I mean it, Mary.”
Mary gave a small, tearful nod before stepping out, leaving Tess standing in the kitchen doorway, her thoughts heavy.
Tess’s eyes flicked back to Mario, who had finished prepping the wraps and was just finishing them off on a plate. She gave a quick nod of approval before walking over to Adeline’s table, taking in the composed demeanour of the President, her patience almost unnerving.
With a final glance at the door where Mary had exited, Tess set her focus on the task at hand. Time to make sure the night went smoothly for the President, no matter what had happened before.
