Page 17 of Grump and Grumpier

A few other people are arriving, but we don’t cross paths with them as we traverse the office, and Jackie tells me she’ll take me around for introductions after people get settled.

In the break room, the focal point is a shiny black and silver machine that takes up a lot of the counter space. While I slip my labeled lunch into the refrigerator, Jackie takes coffee beans from a canister and fills two hoppers at the back of themachine. She checks another compartment and adds water.

To her right, there’s a shelf filled with coffee cups featuring the Community Bean logo and a small rack of syrup bottles. All the room needs is a bakery case, and it could be a pop-up coffee shop itself.

“This little beauty can make anything,” Jackie says, gesturing me closer for a demonstration. There’s a touchscreen menu with a dizzying number of options and settings. She selects an Americano, whatever that is, and sets a cup on the front tray. The machine whirs to life, grinding the beans, then dispensing the drink, filling the room with the fragrance of coffee.

“It can make all sorts of espresso drinks—macchiatos, cappuccinos, lattés, you name it.”

I did a lot of research on the company and its mission, but it looks like I’m going to have to continue my studies with a quick course on coffee drinks, so I don’t look clueless around here. Jackie is clearly so impressed with this machine that I don’t dare tell her that I never plan to use it.

“There’s an attachment for basic milk. We also have non-dairy alternatives in the refrigerator, and various sweeteners here.” She reaches for a smaller canister from another shelf and adds a spoonful of sugar to her cup. “Sure you don’t want one?”

“Not right now. It smells good, though,” I add to be polite.

“It’s heaven in a cup.” She holds the drink close to her mouth and breathes in the aroma.

I’ve had sex with the bosses, and I don’t like coffee. I feel like I’m two strikes down before the game has even started.

CHAPTER 13

JANSEN

“Would you like a cup of coffee, Jansen?” Gloria, the assistant Derek and I share, is in the doorway of my office.

I return my attention to the stack of papers on my desk, muttering, “No, thanks.” After I left the gym this morning, I stopped in to check on our uptown location and got a cup there.

There are three more pages of inventory reports to review, then I need to move on to financials. Things piled up while I was upstate overseeing a new location opening.

As I’m cross-checking some numbers, Derek appears. “Morning.”

I give him a nod.

“How’s the new shop looking?”

“Rocky.”

Derek leans against the doorframe. “What do they need?”

“Time. More staff.”

“Let’s meet before lunch.” He starts to leave, but then returns. “I’m going to the climbing gym tonight. Want to come?”

“Too much to do here.”

He lingers a moment longer. “Ana starts today.”

“I’m well aware.”

I return to my work, expecting him to leave, but instead, he steps inside, closing the door behind him. “She said no more hookups. Not while she’s working for us.”

“We’ll see about that.”

CHAPTER 14

ANA

As promised, Jackie takes me on an office tour and introduces me to everyone. She points out the closed doors to Derek’s and Jansen’s offices, but leads me away from them.

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