Coffee Wars - Excerpt # 13

Coffee Wars - Chapter Five, Part One

During her next shift, Christina realized the message had gotten around. May’s was swamped with customers. Nevertheless, the café area had been empty all day. The customers who didn’t leave after picking up their orders always made a beeline for the back patio. This gave Christina a clear view out the front window.

As she rang up the lone customer inside, she noticed Expresso’s district manager Keith stomping across the street. When he reached May’s storefront, he yanked the door open, stepped inside, and simply stared. One hand held his briefcase, and the other hand was planted on his hip.

Robert rushed in behind Keith, almost plowing into him. “Hey, boss. Maybe you shouldn’t--”

“Shut it,” Keith ordered him.

The guy Christina had just helped looked up from his phone and sighed out a laugh. “If it isn’t the asshole who ran me out of Expresso,” he said in Keith’s direction.

“Can I help you, sir?” Christina asked Keith.

“Doubt he’s here for coffee,” The customer told her. “He’s the district manager for the place across the street. He whacked shoulders with me a few minutes ago. Then he told me he’d have me arrested if I went inside.”

Keith slammed his briefcase onto one of the tables. Both hands were now stuck to his hips, and his face was bright red. “That’s because you called me an asshole.”

The customer shrugged. “If the shoe fits.”

Robert made a wincing face from behind Keith. “Boss, this is a bad idea.”

“Shut the fuck up, Robert,” Keith told him just as Christina’s co-worker presented the customer with his drink. “Here you go, Sir.”

“Thanks,” the guy said, stuffing a dollar in the tip jar. “I appreciate the professional service. Much better than what I’ve experienced at Expresso.” Then he walked out.

“Where are all of your customers?” Keith said.

Christina crossed her arms, knowing he was fishing for information. “Probably at Expresso.”

Robert piped up behind him with a “Nope.”

Keith glared at him. “One more word, and you’re fired.”

Robert shut his mouth and practically shrank an inch.

“Robert says you’ve had a steady stream all day. So where are they all?”

“I guess they all got their orders to go.”

“Is that true, Robert? Did you see May’s customers leave a few minutes after they entered?”

Robert’s shoulders sagged even more. “I’m not sure, boss. I wasn’t paying close attention.”

A tic pulsed in Keith’s jaw. “Jesus, you’re useless. Has anyone every told you that, Robert?”

Robert’s gaze stayed glued to the floor. “Not until just now, boss.”

Christina’s two co-workers snickered.

“Do you want to order something?” Christina asked. “Or did you come over here just to verbally abuse your employee in front of us?”

Cool as a cucumber, Keith said, “It’s not verbal abuse if it’s true.”

“That’s cold, man,” Christina told Keith. “I think you should order something or leave.”

Keith started to step toward the counter but stopped when two women entered from the back patio, giggle-talking to each other.

“Are those customers? Where were they?”

“Probably the bathroom,” Christina said.

As they walked closer, Keith stepped in front of them. “Hey, were you two just in the bathroom?”

Christina shook her head. “Come on, man.”

Their answer to him was more giggles as they easily sidestepped him and left through the front door.

Keith started toward the hallway leading to the back patio, saying, “They weren’t in the bathroom. What’s back there?”

Christina stepped out from behind the counter, ready to tackle him if she had to. “It’s for customers only. And we don’t want you as a customer. So please leave before I--” Christina was about to say she’d call the cops.

Then Adam walked in from the back. Keith, seemingly on a mission, almost plowed into him. But they both stopped short before they collided.

“What’s going on?” Adam asked her.

“This is Expresso’s district manager. His name’s Keith, and he’s trying to go into the back even though I’ve asked him to leave.”

© 2024 Beth Pontorno