That Businesswoman

For office workers your branch was a favourite stop on their way in to start the evening shift. And for one office lady in particular yours was the only stop. Her name was Christina, and she was as strait-laced as they came. Her black hair was always tied in a prim bun, and the rest of her poised body was wrapped in a crisp white shirt, and a pinstripe suit jacket and skirt. Her skin was the colour of hot chocolate, which was also her typical order. And when you thought about it, you'd never seen her order anything else. Ever. Like clockwork she would come in, place her order, and sit down at her booth waiting for it to be delivered. In the meantime she would open up her laptop and get to work. You didn't know if she had an office. You got the impression she came here after work, instead of before, in order to finish up her files somewhere she was more "comfortable". And she was certainly comfortable around you. She wasn't as persistent as some other customers who had their own favourite servers, but whenever you served her she gave you very special treatment.

So here she was again. She asked you for a hot chocolate, of course. This time with chili flakes. Coming from her this was a monumental shift. You nodded, and within a few minutes you were taking her order to her table. She barely looked up as you placed it by her computer. You were about to go back to the front desk when you heard her.

"Wait."

"Yes, Christina?" She came so often she was a customer all the staff knew on a first name basis.

"I want you to sit beside me today."

"Y-Yes, Christina." This was unusual and meant you'd be taken away from your duties, but Christina had an understanding with your boss that she was entitled to extra service as long as there was someone available to cover for you.

"Look at this," she rotated her laptop towards you. "This is the report my employee handed in that needs to be filed by midnight tonight."

It was a wall of text as far as you could see.

"And THIS is what it's meant to look like."

She changed tabs and suddenly you were looking at a very neatly laid-out document with graphs and plenty of subheadings. Even you had to admit it looked user friendly, though you couldn't understand it. She groaned and put her head in her hands.

"God, I'm going to be here all night..."

"We close at 11pm, ma'am, just so you know. But you're welcome to stay until then."

You were trying to play the helpful server.

She looked at you out of the corner of one eye, then leaned back into into the cushioned bench.

"Do you know why I always come here?" she asked.

"Because you like our drinks so much?"

She let out a dry laugh.

"They're alright, sure. But the real reason is you."

"W-What?

"I like you. Have since I saw you. You're always hard at work, trying to get things done. Pay good attention and listen to your boss. God, I wish my own employees had half the commitment you do. And that's not even mentioning that pretty-boy face of yours."

"T-Thank you, Christina. I do my best."

"I can tell. Call me Christie."

"Sure... Christie... Is there some way I can help you?"