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Sophia Parker's life took a turn when a modest young man who introduced himself as Alex walked into her Café, and left her a tip and a thank you note that she waved off. He became a regular customer in her Café and engaged her in friendly conversations, taking her for a walk and a date which he tagged a friendly one. Alex grew to love her simplicity and intelligence and got fond of her. Their love got ignited and they bask in their euphoric attraction. What Sophia didn't know was that her modest boyfriend who reportedly is a guy struggling to get a job is the billionaire tech guy, Alexander Rothschild. Things fell apart when Sophia got an offer to work in a Company in the neighboring city and was perplexed when her modest boyfriend was sitting among the interview committee and he's introduced as the CEO. When their relationship was on the verge of recovery from the deception it was earlier built on, Jacqueline Sinclair emerged with Alex's worst nightmare, Lylah and they are here to stay, disrupt and destroy. Jacqueline claimed to be pregnant for him and on hearing that news, Ava slumped and was rushed to the hospital where she was diagnosed with Chronic kidney failure. Will Sophia survive? Will Alex and Sophia's love thrive through these adversities?
THYE CAFÉ 5 pm
"One cup of Espresso" A hasty customer ordered.
"Coming right up" Sophia responded cheerfully.
She brewed the coffee with a smile on her face, made a love design on it, and served it with a smile.
"Happy drinking" She wished heartily and the customer flashed her a smile and left.
She sighed and started cleaning the counter. That has been her daily routine. Brew a coffee with a smile, serve with a smile, and do everything with a smile even though her situation permits her to just lose it and cry down torrents of tears.
Her phone rang and she ransacked her bag to bring it out. The number calling was saved as "Clio's class teacher". She heaved a sigh and picked up the phone slowly.
"Hello" She muttered.
"Hi, this is Clio's class teacher" The voice said.
Sophia nodded as if she could see her.
"I've been trying to call you but your number has been busy" The lady on the other end continued.
Sophia has seen the call but ignored it on purpose because she has run out of excuses to stall them.
"I'm sorry about that. I left my phone at home" Sophia lied.
"That's fine. I'm calling to remind you about Clio's tuition fee. It's long overdue and failure to pay might lead to withdrawal. Please make sure you pay as soon as possible" The lady relayed.
"No problem. Thanks for the reminder" Sophia mumbled.
"Alright. Bye" The call ended.
"Oh God" Sophia exclaimed gently when she dropped the phone. Her countenance fell drastically and sadness was evidently written on her face.
"Where do I get the money? My salary for this month isn't till the next two weeks... Gosh" She lamented again.
Her head dropped on the counter in dejection. She wouldn't have done that if it was rush hour. But it was already evening and people rarely come in during this time.
"Hello" A Soothing voice called out.
She jerked up in reflex and quickly masked her expression with a smile.
"What can I get you?" She asked perfunctorily.
"An espresso" He replied in an endearing tone.
Sophia looked at him and his blue eyes bored into hers.
"Coming right up" She took her gaze off him and set to work.
"It will rain very soon. Won't it?" The guy asked.
"Oh, really?" Sophia feigned interest.
She was not in the mood to strike up a conversation with a random person. She has a lot going on in her mind already.
"Yes" He nodded. "I'm Alex by the way" He started.
The coffee machine made a soothing noise.
"The forecasting agency predicted that there won't be any rain in the next two days. So, I think you're wrong sir" She blurted and focused her gaze on the brewing machine.
"They can be wrong you know, they are humans too" Alex pressed on.
"The thing here is not about them being humans. It's about them being expert and professionals in their Field. They are the ones who can predict the weather better because it's their area of expertise" She explained avidly.
Alex was stunned and only muttered an okay.
"Here comes your expresso. Happy drinking" She said with her usual smile.
Alex collected the coffee from her hand and their hands touched. Sophia's gaze locked with his again.
He brought out money from his pocket and dropped it on the counter. From the bulge, Sophia could tell it was more than the stipulated amount.
"I think you overpaid" She pointed out to him.
"Consider it a tip, For the conversation I enjoyed" He smiled boyishly and exited the Café.
Sophia stared at him until she couldn't see him anymore.
"What was that?" She wondered and felt her heart skip a bit.
No doubt, he was a handsome and simple guy with admirable facial features.
Sophia grabbed the money on the counter and felt a rustle with it. She looked at it and saw that it was a crispy folded paper.
Curiously, she opened it and it read thus: Your smile can light even the haziest of days.
Sophia felt her insides churn strangely as she read the handwritten note. She traced her fingers along the perfect handwriting on the note and let her fingers savor the smooth texture. She revered the sincerity of the letter and how It got to her. No doubt, she has been receiving random compliments but never has she received a handwritten one.
"When did he write this?" Sophia wondered.
She soon waved the feeling off and started preparing to leave.
"Sophia" A middle-aged man entered the Café and called her.
"Boss" Sophia flashed her most endearing smile.
"How is your health?" She asked.
"What can an aging man do than to hope for good health?" He replied heartily.
"How was sales?" He drew out a chair and sat closer to the counter.
"It was fairly better than yesterday's" Sophia divulged.
"Sounds fair enough. Let's make calculations and you can close for the day" He said.
Sophia brought out all the money she made and they both counted it and sorted it out.
"Thank you Sophia" He appreciated genuinely.
"You're welcome boss" Sophia responded cheerfully.
"I will see you tomorrow" He said and walked to the entrance.
"Boss" Sophia called out in a low but audible tone.
"Yes" He stopped in his tracks and turned to her.
Sophia clasped her hands together nervously but she reasoned that she had no other options.
"I need your help" She intoned shyly.
"Is everything okay?" He asked with concern laced in his voice.
"Yes. I mean no. It's Clio" Sophia stuttered.
"Clio? What happened to her? Is she sick?" The man panicked.
"No, she's well and healthy" She refuted.
"So, what's the matter?" The man pressed on patiently.
"Her school fees have been long overdue and the school is considering her withdrawal" Sophia explained melancholically.
"That's so sad" The man sympathized.
"Please, can you give me a salary in advance? Please" Sophia pleaded with misty eyes.
She detests doing things like this but she has no choice if she still wants Clio in school.
"I'm sorry Sophia but I have to pay for my health fee"
"Oh right" Sophia felt guilty for bothering the ailing man.
"But I will see what I can do and get back to you" He assured her.
"I will really appreciate that sir" Sophia eyes lit up.
"Pack up quickly and go home to Clio" He urged and exited the Café.
...................................
Sophia walked down the lively street deep in thought. She was oblivious to the excitement and buzz around her as she concentrated on the wants gnawing her insides. Closing time is when she has the time to brood as she is busy offering the happiness she didn't get to strangers over a cup of espresso during work hours.
The lyrics of Jeiel Damina's song boomed through the speaker and the lyrics etched into her soul.
And if you feel under pressure
Lost a close treasure
Broke beyond measure
You gotta remember you're not what they call you
Can't limit yourself to what people tell you
You're the final word!
"All will be well" She consoled herself and continued her short journey home.
Her mind drifted to the stranger who had written her a note earlier. She found herself thinking more about him but she soon waved it off as just a mere kind gesture. She got to the entrance of her small but decent one-bedroom apartment. That was all she could afford for Clio and her.
"Leave me alone or I scream" That was Clio's distressed voice.
Sophia was alarmed, she kicked the door open in reflex and yelled her name.
"Clio"
Sophia Parker’s life took a turn when a modest young man who introduced himself as Alex walked into her Café, and left her a tip and a thank you note that she waved off. He became a regular customer in her Café and engaged her in friendly conversations, taking her for a walk and a date which he tagged a friendly one. Alex grew to love her simplicity and intelligence and got fond of her. Their love got ignited and they bask in their euphoric attraction. What Sophia didn’t know was that her modest boyfriend who reportedly is a guy struggling to get a job is the billionaire tech guy, Alexander Rothschild. Things fell apart when Sophia got an offer to work in a Company in the neighboring city and was perplexed when her modest boyfriend was sitting among the interview committee and he’s introduced as the CEO. When their relationship was on the verge of recovery from the deception it was earlier built on, Jacqueline Sinclair emerged with Alex’s worst nightmare, Lylah and they are here to stay, disrupt and destroy. Jacqueline claimed to be pregnant for him and on hearing that news, Ava slumped and was rushed to the hospital where she was diagnosed with Chronic kidney failure. Will Sophia survive? Will Alex and Sophia’s love thrive through these adversities?
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!