01

CPOV

This day has already been one giant cluster fuck. Andrea is out sick and Olivia can't even make a fucking decent cup of coffee. What an idiot! She's lucky I need her father's connection or I'd have fired her by now.

I'm walking down the block to get a cup of coffee myself. I step into Seattle Independent Coffee Roasters. It's not busy at all. Without even looking at the barista I automatically order my Americano with cream and no sugar. "That'll be $2.95." I look up at the barista, mostly because I only have twenties on me.

She is beautiful - long, full, chestnut hair and the bluest eyes I have ever seen. When I give her my money I notice she has a tattoo on the inside of her forearm that says, "But his dreams were as gigantic as his surroundings were small."

"Jude the Obscure."

She looks up at me, "Excuse me?"

"The quote on your arm. It's from Jude the Obscure."

She smiles at me. "I was a literature major in college. This was the only benefit of having a boyfriend who is a tattoo artist." Of course, she has a boyfriend. Look at her, she's gorgeous and obviously is smart if she has a quote from Thomas Hardy on her arm.

"Your boyfriend did that?"

She looks up at me and blushes slightly. "Ex-boyfriend. Only the tattoo lasted. Is this for here or to go?"

Suddenly I find myself saying, "For here." I never intended to stay and drink my coffee. In fact, I have a lot of work to do. But I just want to see her just a little more. I'm probably just infatuated because I'm between submissives at the moment.

"You can have a seat. I'll bring it to you when it's ready."

"Thanks." I take the $10 bill from my change and put it in the tip jar. That's more than a 275% tip but I don't care.

She gives me a sweet smile. "Thank you." I give her my killer smile I know gets the girls and walk over to a table. I make sure I have a good view of her. I take out my blackberry and start reading my emails. I have to look busy I suppose.

She brings over my cup of coffee and with it an almond biscotti. "The biscotti is on the house." She smiles as she says it.

"I feel honored, um…" I don't know her name.

She reaches her hand out, "Ana. And you?"

I shake her hand, "Christian."

She smiles at me again. "It's nice to meet you, Christian. Enjoy your coffee and please let me know if you need anything else." She turns to walk back to the counter and I notice how nice her ass looks in those jeans. I normally don't like women wearing jeans but I have to admit she looks good.

I don't know how long I've been sitting here but I've been nursing this coffee to buy myself some time. She has music playing and is dancing a little to the music. A guy walks in, she looks up at smiles at him. "Hey, Bobby. Do you want the usual?"

"Hey, Ana. That sounds great." She turns and starts the machine. The Rolling Stones' 'Miss You' comes on the radio. "Ana, come, you have to dance with me. It's my favorite song."

"Bobby, you know I can't dance!"

He smiles at her. He's older than her but they seem to have a good rapport. She probably gets along with everyone. "It doesn't matter how you dance as long as you have fun. You have to!"

She rolls her eyes at him. "Fine." She comes around the counter and he takes her hand. He dances and twirls her around. She must be one of the most uncoordinated people I have ever met. But, she's laughing and it's the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. At the end of the song he dramatically and playfully dips her making her laugh even more. It actually makes me laugh with her. She seems genuinely happy and I don't know why. Surely you can't make much money being a barista and she probably has student loans.

As I watch her some more, I send a text to Welch.

~Can you get the employee listing for Seattle Independent Coffee Roasters?~

~Yes, shouldn't be an issue. Anyone of particular interest?~

~Ana. Don't have a last name. Young, early twenties probably.~

~I'll get it to you ASAP.~

Welch knows me well. I have no doubt that with Barney they both will get me the information I want. Bobby sits down on an overstuffed chair and reads the paper. Shortly, Ana brings him a coffee cup and a huge piece of chocolate cake.

"I swear, Ana. You make the best cakes. Why don't you open a bakery?"

"I don't know. If I turn it into business, then it won't be fun anymore. You know? Plus, what would I do if I could never serve you coffee?"

"Fair point, Ana. But one day I'll see you on the front page of this paper for doing something great."

She rolls her eyes again and disappears back to what I imagine is the kitchen. She comes back to the counter and I have to go now. I walk up to her and put the empty mug on the counter. "Thank you, Ana. It was the best cup of coffee I've ever had."

She smiles at me, "I hope that means you'll be back."

I turn to smile at her and give her a wink. "Oh, Ana, I fully intend on it." I walk out the door and back to Grey House thinking the entire time about Ana and the coffee shop.

The rest of the day throughout my meetings all I can do is think about her. After my last meeting of the day, Ros looks at me and says, "What's going on with you, Christian. You're completely distracted."

Ros is my right hand. I don't think I could operate my business without her. She's also the only person besides family and Elena who I let call me by my first name and talk to me like that. All I can do is smile and think about Ana.

"Holy shit. Christian, you've met someone haven't you?" She asks completely in shock.

"Did you say the word 'someone' purposely?" Many people, including my family, think I am gay. It's because no one has ever seen me with a woman. It's just because they don't know about my lifestyle. Otherwise, they would be completely disgusted with me.

"Christian, I know what the rumors are, but I also know you aren't gay."

"How do you know?"

"Because I am gay. We know our own kind. So what is her name?"

"I didn't say I met someone."

"You didn't have to. Just tell me already."

"It's nothing. I stopped to get a coffee and the girl at the counter was cute."

"So ask her out."

"Are you kidding me? We don't have anything in common and what would a young, pretty girl want with a guy like me?"

"Christian, don't be an idiot. A young, pretty girl dating a good looking, successful CEO, who has too much money. It's every girl's' dream. Except mine."

I laugh at her. If I had anyone who was a friend, she would be the closest thing. "Get out. It's 5 and you need to get home to Gwen."

She stands up. "When are you leaving?"

"I don't know. In a couple of hours, I guess. I don't have someone like Gwen waiting for me."

She gives me a sad smile. "OK. Goodnight Christian. Don't work too late."