Page 43 of The Barista and the Billionaire Boss

“Sometimes I can’t tell if you’re humble or paranoid,” I said with a raised eyebrow, my hands on my hips. “But seriously, Caleb, don’t you think the people of Pebble Point are smart enough to know the difference between a genuine act and someone trying to buy their loyalty?”

“Of course they are,” he replied, his eyes darting away from mine. “I just... didn’t want to risk it.”

“Risk what?” I pressed, stepping closer to him. “The possibility that people might actually like you for who you are instead of your bank account?”

“Ouch,” Caleb winced, but his eyes showed an amused glint. “You really know how to hit where it hurts, Zoe.”

“Only when I need to make a point,” I said with a smirk.

“Point taken,” he conceded, crossing his arms and giving me a half-smile. “I guess I’ve been so focused on keeping my business persona separate from my personal life that I didn’t realize how much good I could do here.”

“Believe it or not, we small-town folk appreciate honesty and transparency,” I teased, nudging his shoulder. “And despite your initial Grinch-like demeanor, you’re actually doing some great things for this community.”

“Grinch-like?” he snorted. “Really?”

“Hey, you’ve come a long way since then,” I reassured him, leaning against the counter. “Just promise me one thing: no more hiding your philanthropy, okay? People should know they have a local superhero looking out for them.”

“Fine, fine,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “No more hiding, though I wouldn’t go as far as calling myself a superhero.”

“Good,” I said, nodding in approval. “Let’s get back to work before she decides our coffee beans aren’t up to code.”

“Zoe, hand me that sponge, would you?” Caleb asked, rolling up his sleeves to clean a hard-to-reach kitchen corner.

“Sure thing, Mr. Masters,” I quipped, tossing him the sponge with a grin. “But don’t forget, you’re in my territory now.”

“Ah, yes, your coffee-scented kingdom,” he retorted, smirking as he scrubbed vigorously. “I wouldn’t dream of overstepping my bounds.”

“Good,” I replied, chuckling to myself as I wiped down the countertops. “Because if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s brew coffee and run this place.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Caleb admitted, pausing to survey our progress. “We make a pretty good team, don’t you think?”

“Surprisingly, yes,” I agreed, glancing around at the now spotless café. “I never thought I’d see the day when a big-shot CEO like yourself would be helping me clean my family’s coffee shop.”

“Life is full of surprises,” he said, straightening his tie and adopting a mock-serious expression.

With renewed determination, Caleb and I got busy addressing the remaining health violations.

***

At 2.59 precisely, Ms. Warner came striding through the door, a skeptical eyebrow raised. As she approached, I couldn’t help but notice how different Caleb seemed from the uptight businessman who had arrived in Pebble Point just weeks before. He exuded a warmth and sincerity I hadn’t seen in him until now.

“Ms. Warner,” Caleb began, his tone confident yet respectful. “We’ve addressed each of the violations you noted earlier and would like to request a re-evaluation.”

“Very well,” she replied, her voice crisp and efficient. “Show me what you’ve done, and I’ll consider revising my findings.”

Together, we escorted her through Pebble’s Brew, pointing out every improvement we’d made in response to her initial assessment. With every tick of approval on her clipboard, I could feel the tension easing from my shoulders.

“Alright,” she finally conceded, her stern expression softening just a touch. “I must admit, you two have done an impressive job of rectifying these issues in such a short amount of time.”

“Thank you, Ms. Warner,” I said, breathing a sigh of relief. “We take the health and safety of our customers very seriously, and we’re committed to maintaining these standards going forward.”

“Very well,” she agreed, closing her clipboard with a snap. “I’ll withdraw the violations against Pebble’s Brew. Keep up the good work, both of you.”

“Thank you,” Caleb echoed, shaking her hand as she prepared to leave.

The bell above the door jingled as Ms. Warner left, and the silence that followed seemed to stretch out like an eternity. Caleb stood by the counter, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, staring at the floor as if it held the answers to life’s most pressing questions. His stormy blue eyes flickered up to meet mine, and for a moment, I was lost in their depths.

“Zoe,” he began, his voice low and uncertain. “I…”

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