by Goode, Ella
“Fuck. Yes. Sorry, man. I can make all kinds of pastries, but this coffee shit sometimes escapes me. I’m not really a fan of coffee, actually. I usually get my caffeine from pop. I guess I like cold drinks. We serve some killer blenders here. Have you tried them?”
I lean against the counter. “No. I’m not much of a coffee drinker either.”
“What? You come here every day.”
“Right but that’s because…” I trail off. Should I really be admitting that I’m hot after this kid’s sister? He might find that offensive. “Because I heard you make the best coffee in town and everyone was right because once I tried it, it’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted.”
“That’s fucking cool. We should make that our slogan. Maybe we’d bring in more money.” He slides the coffee into my hand.
“This place is packed all the time. You’re not making good money?” This is probably an inappropriate conversation to be having, but the kid doesn’t realize it and I’m not going to tell him to shut up.
“I don’t know exactly, but my sister’s stressed a lot and gets grumpy after looking at her computer at night. We were eating Chinese and watching a movie last night, but she couldn’t concentrate. Feels bad, man.” He rubs one hand along his forearm.
This isn’t good news. I’ve been sitting back, enjoying the view, biding my time, but my girl’s suffering? I’m going to have to take action. “I’ve done a little marketing in the past. You should let me take a look at your accounts. I can do some studies about foot traffic, per customer value, margins, and the like. It’s what I do for a living.”
“Really?” His face brightens but falls immediately after. “I’d have to get permission from Eden though, and she doesn’t like outsiders in our business.”
“Are you bothering our customers, Ryan?” Eden appears in the doorway behind her brother. Ryan starts and gulps.
“Nah. We were just talking.” I hold my hand up for a fist bump. Ryan gusts out a relieved sigh and dabs me back. I reach past him toward Eden, my love. “I’m Miles Monroe, your new management consultant.”
Chapter Four
Eden
I hesitate for a moment before I take his hand. I suck in a breath, jerking my hand back at the barrage of emotions that hit me from the simple touch. What the heck was that? It must have been in my head. I’m tired or the stress of trying to figure out why our profits are in the red when we should be in the black is finally getting to me.
“I’m Eden,” I finally manage to get out. Get it together. You’re making yourself look like a fool right now.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Eden.” A slow, sexy smile spreads across his kissable lips. This man is way too good looking.
“I don’t recall hiring a management consultant.” I know I didn't. Something like that sounds expensive. And since this place already seems to be bleeding money from somewhere, it’s definitely not something I can afford right now.
“It’s on the house.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I don't take handouts.” Then you become indebted to someone. I’ve seen how this turns out. My father was always getting in over his head with bookies. Nothing is free in this world.
“Okay, how about we trade then? You provide me with free coffee when I come in,” he suggests.
“You don’t even like coffee,” Ryan chimes in, reminding me that he’s standing right here. “How about bear claws?” He doesn't like coffee? He orders one every day.
“That could work.” Miles gives me a charming smile that meets his eyes.
“I’m not sure. It feels weird to just let someone look over my stuff. Are you really a management consultant?” My eyes run down his fancy suit. It’s clear the man has money.
“Yes. I’ve owned a lot of businesses over the years. There are a number of things we could do here.” He glances around the coffee shop. I watch his facial expressions, trying to get a feel for what he thinks of the place. I shouldn’t care, but for some reason his opinion matters.
“Let him help you, Eden. Why the hell not? You’ve already spent so much time going over everything and I know it’s stressing you out. Please,” Ryan pushes, knowing that I have a hard time telling him no. Plus, I know he’s right.
“Okay,” I reluctantly agree. Maybe he will see something that I don’t. What could it really hurt? At this rate I am going to have to shut down in a few months.
“Shall we?” he asks as he comes around the counter.
“Right now?” The coffee shop has slowed down.
“Why not, E? I got this.” Ryan bumps my shoulder with his.
“Yeah, we got this,” Clare adds. She gives me a look that says Don’t mess this up. I want to roll my eyes at her, but Miles might see me.
“All right. Come get me if we get busy.” Miles follows me through the door towards my office. “To be honest I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. We’re busy all the time. It makes me wonder how other coffee shops manage to stay open.”
“I’m sure there is something we can figure out. This is a prime spot.” I nod in agreement as we enter my office. It really is. We always get the morning rush and then get hit again in the afternoon from the local businesspeople who need another shot of caffeine to make it through the day.
“Just so you know, I’ve only graduated high school. My bookkeeping is self-taught.” I run my palms down my jeans. Why am I sweating?
“Sometimes that’s the best way to learn.” Maybe, but I think he’s only saying that to be nice.
I power on the computer, pulling open the accounting system. He takes a seat in my chair and starts clicking away. I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. I think I want him to find something wrong. That way I can fix it. But I’m almost scared to know what it is.
His eyebrows pull together a few times as he studies the screen. I glance at the computer, wondering what he sees that I don't.
“I think you’re getting ripped off. These products shouldn't cost this much. The markup on them seems to be very high. Hell, you could get them in the store for cheaper.”
“Really? This has always been the price. My father set up all the accounts with the distributors.”
“The prices are ridiculous. You shouldn't be paying this much. I think it’s time to find new distributors.” Well, shit. I’m not sure where I would even begin to do that. I’ve always used the same guy. I can feel myself getting warm as embarrassment begins to settle in.
“I’m stupid for not having checked and compared prices,” I mumble before dropping down in the other chair. My father is a cheap ass when it comes to spending money. Unless it’s at a poker table. There the money seems to flow freely.
“Don’t call yourself that. You trusted your father. Maybe he doesn't know a ton about this kind of business.”
“Maybe. He owns a handful of businesses. A couple car washes and some small buildings he rents out for office space.”
“Let me help you, Eden.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?” I don’t get why he wants to help me. What does he get out of it?
“I like you,” he says, catching me off guard. No, I must have heard him wrong. I’m so not in his league. He should be dating supermodels or something. Not the girl who works at the failing coffee shop with only a high school diploma.
“You like me?” I repeat.
“Is that so hard to believe?” He turns in his chair to face me. “I want to help. This place means something to you?”
“I guess.” It doesn’t have any sentimental value. But it keeps a roof over our heads, and it allows us to be out of our father’s house. He always has unsavory people coming and going. I didn’t want Ryan to have to grow up in that environment. So the coffee shop has always guaranteed that I could provide him a healthy place to grow up. “It’s all I really know how to do and clearly I’m doing it wrong.”
“Then let me make a few calls and get you some new distributors.” The way the man is looking at me would probably have me agre
eing to almost anything.
“Okay,” I agree. I have to do this and put my pride aside. It’s not just about me; it’s for Ryan too. We need this place to survive.
“You won't regret this.” It sounds like a promise. I pray he’s right.
Chapter Five
Miles
“This sucks big monkey balls.” I toss the papers down in disgust.
“What’s wrong?” My sister peers over my shoulder at the notes I’ve typed in from the calls I’ve made to all of Eden’s distributors. “Wait. Her dad has been ripping her off?”
“I talked to all of the distributors, and they deny that they’re charging those amounts, so he must be doing the orders and sending her fake invoices. How am I going to tell her this? Her own dad.”
“You’ll figure it out.” Violet pats me on the shoulder and starts to walk away.
I snag the hem of her sweater. “Wait. Give me some solutions.”
“Are you asking me because I’m a woman and you want to know what to say to another woman?” she teases.
“Maybe?”
“Shouldn’t have spent all your time in your office and maybe you wouldn’t need to beg me for help.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have spent all my time coddling you when you were younger and smothered you with a pillow and maybe you wouldn’t be so difficult.”
“Did you just threaten me? Mom,” Violet yells. “Miles just said he wished he would’ve murdered my younger self.”
There’s no response from our mother. Long ago, she figured out that ignoring us was the only way for her to come out unscathed. Violet and I fought a lot as kids mostly because she swears I pushed past her to get out of the womb first. I maintain that she is slow and that is not my fault.
“She’s not going to respond.” I swivel away from Violet and recheck the numbers.
“I wonder if the mom knows.”
“I think the mom died.”
“Oh, that’s terrible.”
“Yeah.” We know how she feels. Our dad died five years ago. He’d always been sick, and one day his frail ticker gave out. It was sort of a blessing for Mom, though. She didn’t have that burden anymore. “I think I need to feel her out. If she has a good relationship with her pops then I’m going to confront her old man. If she hates him, then I’ll lay out the details.”
“I’m surprised you don’t have a whole dossier on her already.”
“I wouldn’t do that. She’s not a business interest.” Violet gives me a shaky smile and ruffles my hair, a silent gesture of appreciation. She always does these little vibe checks to see if I’m being a decent human. “Love you, Vi.”
“Love you too, bro.”
She takes her leave, and I contemplate murder for the umpteenth time. Her stalker is getting out of prison in a few months, and that’s making her more on edge. Once he’s out, I don’t know what we’re going to do. Before he got put away, I ruined him. He had a few businesses, and I cratered those by setting up a few cons that he bought into immediately. I took his house, his car, and all his money. I warned his friends and acquaintances that if they so much as breathed in his direction, I’d do the same to them. When he gets out, he’ll have no resources, which may make him extra dangerous.
A man backed into a corner with nothing to lose is someone to fear. I need to keep that in mind if I ever confront Eden’s dad.
* * *
To get my mind off murder I track down my Eden. The Daily Drip is busy as ever, and I don’t have much opportunity to speak with her. I keep ordering as rent for my table but I can’t eat it all, so I dump the bear claws, scones, blueberry and cranberry muffins, cookies, and macaroons in a bag. I’ll drop them off at the closest shelter. The one waitress, Clare, has stopped bringing me coffee.
“Heard you were allergic,” she says. “Who’s allergic to coffee? That seems abnormal to me.”
“Me too,” I agree.
“How long you gonna sit in that chair?”
“‘Til Eden has a break.” No reason not to be frank. It’s obvious why I’m here.
“You better be careful with her, otherwise we’re going to hurt you,” Clare warns. “No trifling with our girl’s heart. She’s had a hard time.”
I lean forward. “In what way?”
“She’s responsible for all of this, isn’t she? The café, her brother, everything because her good-for-nothing dad is too busy gambling everything away.”
“What’s Eden think?”
“None of your business.” Clare flushes, belatedly realizing she’s said something she shouldn’t have. “Anyway, we’re watching you.” She stalks away after that last warning.
I guess that’s why he’s cheating his daughter, but it doesn’t tell me how Eden feels about it. She could still be protective of the old man.
A half hour later, Eden drops into the chair opposite me. “Clare says you’ve been waiting for me. Does it have to do with the distributors?”
“It does.”
“Gosh, you could’ve emailed me or texted. I feel bad you’ve waited this whole time.” Her pretty mouth turns down at the corners.
That is unacceptable. “There’s nothing I’d rather do.”
“Don’t you have a job? You said you manage businesses?”
“I’m retired.”
“Really?” Her eyes flare wide.
I can’t imagine retiring so young. It’ll be a dream to retire at sixty-five at this rate.” She chews on the edge of her lower lip. I try not to stare. “Is the situation salvageable? I want to be able to put Ryan through college.”
“It’s salvageable.” I spread contracts in front of her. “These are new distributor contracts. As you can see, your costs are going to go down by over sixty percent. With your gross monthly receipts, you’ll have an immediate profit increase of forty percent.”
She grabs the contracts and starts reading. “Forty percent? That would be amazing.” Her eyes stop. “Wait. These are between me and the distributors. Not my dad.”
“Right. I thought that you owned The Daily Drip?” I say even though her dad is on the incorporation papers filed with the state.
She shakes her head and sets the papers down. “No. It’s my dad’s, so I’ll need to get his signature.”
“I can’t imagine him not signing them. It’s going to be a huge savings. I’m happy to go and talk with him with you.”
“No. I don’t think he’d like that. He’s kind of private about his business stuff.”
I’m not liking what I’m hearing, but I’m not going to push it.
“Do you have a card? I can suggest he give you a call if he has questions.”
“You won’t need it. I’ll be here every day.” I push away from the table and grab the bag of goodies. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Chapter Six
Eden
I look over the paperwork again, not understanding how or why my father would let this happen. It’s so unlike him to toss money away. He’d rather gamble it away. Sadly, I know there is something I’m missing, and he isn't likely going to tell me what that is.
If I had to guess it’s because he is a freaking con. I should have known when he offered to let me take over this place and said if I start turning a profit, I could buy it from him at cost. That was clearly never going to happen. He’s obviously made sure of that.
I scoop up the paperwork, putting it into a file and clipping a pen to the top. There is only one way to try to get answers, and that’s to go straight to the source. I make my way to the front of the shop. It’s only an hour until close.
“Hey.” I rest my hip against the counter next to Clare. “Do you think you can close tonight? I need to run out to my father’s place.” I think it’s best to catch him by surprise. That way he doesn’t have time to think about his lies or try to avoid me.
“Of course.”
“Thanks.” I give her a hug before I head up the stairs to check on Ryan. When I enter our place, he jumps up from the sofa, grabbin
g a book off the coffee table. I shake my head at him.
“I have to run an errand. There is pizza in the freezer. I shouldn’t be too long.”
“Cool.” He fidgets with his book, waiting for me to scold him for playing video games instead of doing his schoolwork.
“Just make sure you get your calculus done.”
“I don’t understand it!”
“Okay, I’ll see what I can do when I get home,” I say before shutting and locking the door behind me. God knows I don’t understand that shit either. Maybe I can email the school and ask about getting a tutor.
I toss the folder into the passenger seat before starting the car. “Come on, Betsy, don’t die on me now,” I say when it doesn't want to start. I try again. Thankfully this time it does start.
I practice what I’m going to say over and over again the whole way to my dad’s. I know I have to watch the way that I say it so that it doesn’t come off as though I’m accusing him. I should play dumb at first. I’ll lay the info out there and see what he says.
I pull into the driveway, seeing a handful of other cars here that I don’t recognize. I grab the folder before making my way to the front door, which is unlocked. I follow the sound of voices down the stairs to the basement.
When I hit the bottom step, six pairs of eyes swing my way. They’re all sitting around a poker table. Except one man who is dressed all in black. He’s in the corner with his arms folded over his chest.
“Eden.” My father pushes back his chair. I can tell by the look on his face that I’ve at least achieved the element of surprise. That’s one thing I have on my side. Plus, he looks as though he’s busy entertaining, so that might work in my favor as well.
“Is that your daughter?” one of the men asks as his eyes slide up and down me.
“Yes, but I’m not sure why she’s here.”