Lana’s smile gradually faded as she entered her office. Earlier, she had received a text from the head office asking her to call Dina Watson, the manager she usually spoke with about the Crimson Leaf Café franchise.
This was unusual ti-wise because Dina typically calls her at the end of the month. However, today was mid-month, and she had already asked her to call. She beca tense and worried that sothing was wrong with her branch.
Grabbing her cell phone, she imdiately dialed Dina’s number. To her surprise, Dina answered the first ring.
"Lana, thank God...you finally called !"
"Dina, what happened? It’s rare for you to ask to call you in the middle of the month. Please don’t tell I’m in trouble!" Lana said playfully, trying to ease the tension in her heart.
"Lana, I’m just as curious as you are. My boss asked to send over the details about your café. They want to know about the financial reports related to your branch and also about the employees there. Did you do sothing wrong with the place?" Dina asked worriedly.
Lana was surprised to hear Dina’s words. She tried to recall any suspicious incidents or low sales at her café over the past few weeks, but after a few monts of thinking, she could not co up with anything.
"Well, nothing odd has happened here. Oh, right, Dina, I rember asking you to send a new barista. Still, you said they were unavailable because they all go to the newly opened branch..." Lana paused as she recalled Abigail.
’Is it because I recruited Abigail without reporting it to the head office?’ Lana wondered, feeling anxious. She had recruited Abigail to beco a Barista in her cafe but didn’t hire her for a permanent position.
Lana imdiately relayed her concerns to Dina. She didn’t want to hide anything, as what she did wasn’t illegal. As the owner of the café franchise, she could hire soone if there was a valid reason—she can’t run her cafe alone, and she desperately needs Abigail.
"Is that why they wanted to do due diligence on this café?" Lana’s voice trembled as she struggled to hide her worry.
"No, of course not. You did the right thing," Dina replied, sighing deeply as she wondered why her boss had asked her to call Lana’s café. "My boss only wants to know about your café’s current conditions and so details about the present staff. I don’t think you have anything to worry about this due diligence; they could just want to reward your café for doing well in sales and custor satisfaction."
"I see. I hope you’re right," Lana said, feeling slightly relieved.
"Trust , Lana. You know I never gave you the wrong information before. By the way, please send the details of your new barista. I will process her information to make her a permanent employee. You ntioned she is skillful and highly motivated? So we won’t need to provide extensive training, right?"
"Absolutely! In fact, she is on par, if not better than . I will email you the details now," Lana said, unable to hide her pride in Abigail.
"How about hiring another barista? Do you still need one?" Dina offered.
Lana paused to think. Although Kian had returned to work and promised not to be absent without prior notice again, she still felt the need for an additional barista. She worried that either Kian or Abigail might suddenly be unable to work, and having more staff as a buffer would be safer. The café was attracting many new custors anyway.
"Yeah, please send another one in case my current barista has so family issues again." Lana couldn’t fully disclose about Kian to Dina.
"Sure, I’ll send you an available candidate."
"Thanks, Dina! You’re the best!" Lana quickly ended the call and rushed to the rooftop.
***
anwhile, at Maybach, Andy Bennet was on his way to the private airport, focused on reading a file he had just received from his secretary.
He could hardly believe that Abigail was working at his subsidiary company. Although she was not a permanent employee, she had signed a three-month probation contract.
When Andy Bennet noticed the date Abigail had worked at The Crimson Leaf Cafe, he raised his eyebrows slightly. He rembered the ti he had requested to et with her, but Urbandgrid had told him she could not attend and might be replaced.
’This woman is so interesting. She’s a talented architect and interior designer, yet she chose to work as a barista. Why would she do that, especially for such a small earnings?’ Andy Bennet muttered as he glanced at the white jet parked near his car.
"Sir, the jet is ready for takeoff..."
Andy Bennet snapped out of his thoughts when he heard his assistant in the front seat. He nodded and stepped out of the vehicle, and her face began to fill his mind once again despite his efforts to set aside thoughts about Abigail.
Before boarding the jet, Andy took out his cell phone and texted his secretary.
"Alia, please arrange a store visit for next week at Crimson Leaf Cafe on Oracle Street!"
Instantly, he felt in a better mood. He was excited about visiting her workplace and letting her know that Crimson Leaf Cafe was still part of the Silverstone Group’s Food and Beverage division.
***
anwhile, at Crimson Leaf Cafe.,
Abigail was exhausted from working alone, especially since Lana hadn’t joined her as promised. She understood why because Lana and Kian hadn’t seen each other in almost two months and must have been trying to relieve their longing for one another.
Thinking about this made Abigail miss Sawyer even more. Just being apart for a single day made her miss him so much. She needed to return ho imdiately and have a video call with him.
After finishing her work, Abigail said goodbye to her colleagues and left the café.
However, just as she stepped outside, soone called her na. She turned toward the sound and was surprised to see Kian stepping out of a red Honda HRV parked nearby.
’Why is he here? Isn’t he with Lana?’ Abigail wondered, frowning as she saw Kian walking towards her.
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