Chapter 18
“HOW much would be the monthly rental?” Benjamin asked Caroline. He’s still not convinced that she’ll let them live in her house.
They just met after almost two decades, and he doesn’t think that she considered him as her friend when they were in high school. He never had a chance to know her back then, even they often shared the same bleachers in their MAPEH class, and they ate their lunch in the same canteen. Benjamin felt that Caroline was avoiding him, for what reason? He doesn’t know.
“No rental fee,” Caroline answered. “It’s fully furnished, exterior, and interior. The water and electric lines were done last week, making the house ready for occupancy.”
Benjamin was speechless. “I-I’m sorry, Caroline. But, I don’t think it will be fair for you—”
Caroline touched his arm. “Benjamin, don’t think about the rental for now. Think about Anastacia and Antonette, they’re not getting younger.”
Janessa’s right. Antonette and Anastacia were not kids anymore. Benjamin heaved a sigh. “Okay, but I’ll pay the rentals.”
Caroline smiled. “Okay—” She took out her phone. But, when she gazed down at the screen, her expression changed.
“You can take that call, I’ll just prepare the Cioccolata Calda—”
Caroline stopped his arm when he’s about to walk towards the kitchen. “This is not important—”
“Am I not important anymore, Caroline?” A tall man in a casual business suit approached them. “So, is he your new guy?” he asked and roamed his eyes around the café. “Nice café.”
“Tim, what are you doing here?” Caroline let go of Benjamin’s arm to face the man. “How did you know that I’m here? Wait, did Hyacinth tell you?”
Benjamin’s forehead creased. He looked at the man in front of them. He chuckled in Caroline’s questions, but his dark eyes were still intently focused on her. Benjamin doesn’t like the way this man looked at Caroline. But what does he care? It’s their private matter.
“I’m Lucas Santiago,” he offered his hand to him. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to make a scandal. That wasn’t my thing of vengeance.”
“I’m Benjamin Monticello,” he said as he shook hands with him. “It’s good to hear that you won’t make a scene in my café, `cause I doubt I will let that happen.”
The man named Lucas smirked. “I won’t do such lowly actions, bro.” His stare went back to Caroline again. “I’m here because I wanted to try your roasted coffee, one of my employees said that your roasted beans are one of the best green beans that he ever tasted.”
Benjamin saw the irritation in Caroline’s face. He knew that this man wasn’t here for their coffee. He came here for Caroline.
“So, Hyacinth called you?” Caroline asked, brows furrowed.
The corner of the man’s mouth turned up. “She hasn’t called since you left me in the middle of my wedding proposal to you. I guess she decided to cut ties with me.”
Wedding proposal? Benjamin cleared his throat. “Excuse me, should I take your order, Mr. Santiago?”
“Sure,” he answered without taking his eyes off Caroline. “One cup of roasted coffee for dine-in and thirty cups for take-out, but please serve it later.”
Caroline held on his arm and turned her back to the man. “I’ll help you prepare his orders, Benjamin—”
“You’ll stay here with me, Caroline.”
The man grabbed Caroline’s arm and dragged her away from him. But, Benjamin stopped his arm from pulling Caroline.
“I thought lowly actions weren’t your thing, sir?” Benjamin asked in a casual tone. “Grabbing a woman’s arm and dragging her were perfect examples of lowly actions as a man.”
Lucas looked at him. His pupils flared, but ceased in a few moments and let go of Caroline’s arm slowly. “Caroline, talk to me, and I won’t do things that will make you regret meeting someone like me.”
“I can’t believe you’re using those words to me, Tim,” Caroline spat as she glared at the man.
The man smiled and offered his hand to her. “Shall we?”
Benjamin watched as Caroline accepted the man’s hand. She turned to look at her before she let herself be carried by him, but to his surprise, her eyes don’t show any fear.
“I’ll follow you in the kitchen shortly. This guy needs some babysitting,” she said and pulled the man’s hand away from him.
Benjamin’s eyebrows drew together as his gaze followed Caroline, and Lucas occupied one of Demitasse’s center table. They looked close to each other, well, they should, because according to what the man said a while ago, Caroline left him during his wedding proposal to her. Was it true?
Benjamin shook his head, that wasn’t his problem. Whatever Caroline’s relationship with that man was none of his business in the first place.
“Dad! Antonette doesn’t want to join us. She’s busy with making her website—” Anastacia halted when noticed that Caroline wasn’t with her. “Where’s Tita Caroline?”
“She’s with her friend,” Benjamin replied. “Let’s go to the kitchen and help me roast our bestselling green coffee beans.”
“But, Tita Caroline will film it step-by-step,” Anastacia said and looked around the café. “Oh, who is he?’
Benjamin shrugged his shoulders. “His name is Lucas Santiago.” He put his arm around his daughter’s shoulders. “Let’s go. Caroline said she’ll join us later.”
While his baristas were busy preparing the thirty cups of roasted coffee, Benjamin’s thought was occupied by Caroline and the man she was talking with at the dining area. He can’t help himself get curious every time he heard Caroline’s laughter from the outside. She seemed to be enjoying the man’s company. Then why did she break up with him?
“That Lucas guy looks like a rich businessman in some of the movies that I’ve watched,” Anastacia commented. His twelve-year-old daughter was standing in the foyer of their kitchen.
“I agree. Look at his tailored suit and white trousers, it looks expensive. And, his brown leather shoes, was that came from a high-end shoe and apparel in Europe?” said the Demitasse’ counter staff, Lily.
“Dad, what’s his name again?” Anastacia asked him. Her fingers were ready to type the letters on her phone screen. “He must be on the internet.”
“Everyone’s on the internet,” Lily said. “He’s kinda sweet with the girl. She must be his girlfriend.”
“That’s Tita Caroline…” Anastacia trailed off.
Benjamin placed one cup of roasted coffee and cioccolata calda on the tray. “His name is Lucas Santiago,” he said to his daughter as he carried the tray of the man’s order. “I’ll just serve it to them—”
“I’ll do it, sir,” Lily carefully took the tray from him. “So that I could get a close glimpse of our handsome customer.”
As soon as Lily stride off towards Caroline’s table, Anastacia typed the man’s name in her phone’s search tab. After a moment, Benjamin heard him gasped. Some of their kitchen staff looked at her surprisingly.
“What is it, Anastacia?” Benjamin stepped closer to his daughter.
“Dad, that guy is one of the country’s wealthiest man in the year 2016,” Anastacia said in a whisper. “That was just last year. If this article is true, then what’s his connection with Tita Caroline?”
***
