"It's so cold" A girl rubbed her palms cladded in handwoven woollen gloves before shoving them in her coat's pockets.

Snow crunched beneath her shoes as she trudged her way through it. She tugged her coat closer to extract as much warmth as she can.

"I was doing so well tucked in a warm blanket, sipping hot coffee while reading one of my favourite books near the fireplace" she sighed walking fast to reach her destination.

Seems like yesterday night's snowfall has already created difficulty for people, Carnaby street has always been one of the busiest streets in London which is now covered in Chrystal slushy white shining powder.

People were removing snow with the help of a snow shovel which was now collected in front of their shop's door acting like an obstacle for the free movement of their costumer or passersby. Shoving the snow to the side on an already small mountain of snow that formed due to the continuous mounting of snow on top of the other.

She stopped for a moment to scrutinize the road for any upcoming vehicle from either side, looking left then right when she was satisfied no vehicle was coming she hurriedly crossed the road to reach the cafe.

The bell which was attached to the door chimed as she pull the door open, the strong and sweet smell of coffee instantly hitting her nostrils.

"Hey, Claire" A young woman in her late twenties greeted me with a smile busy with the cup and coffee machine.

"Hey Aria", Claire says as she takes off her coat and scarf to hang it on a stand near the door, then she ruffles her hair to remove any snowflakes, her cheeks rosy red due to the cold.

"I thought you wouldn't come" Aria chuckles while pouring hot coffee into a cup, steam oozing out of it and its aroma tickling her nostrils.

"Honestly Aria I Wasn't going to come to Cafe today but you called and Arthur forced me to come today" Claire rolled her eyes and pointed her fingers towards Aria to which the latterly chuckled louder.

"Oh! Come on Cal you know tomorrow is Christmas Eve and today is our last working day of the year, we will now meet after two weeks don't you want to spend time with your friends" Arthur jumps over the counter to stand next to Claire and kept his left hand on her right shoulder, blinking his eyes with so much intensity into innocent that only made Claire wonder if his eyelashes would break any time soon.

"Yes, yes exactly Claire" Aria chimed in and winked at Arthur to which he gave her a goofy smile.

Claire shakes her head at them before going to the back of the counter to grab her apron. Donning her apron she takes Aria's place while Aria gets herself busy with other work as totoday'safe had more customers than a normal day, which wasn't surprising at all as 'Café du paradis' was one of the most famous cafes down this lane.

It had its name known to everyone not only because of the taste of coffee which gets imprinted on the taste buds of anyone who drinks it but also because of the sweet delicacies they have that melt in the mouth like butter on bread and dissolve like sugar in liquid. Completely conferring justice to its name, the one feels like a heavy paradise.

It has always attracted people and during Christmas or any other special occasion, the cafe always had triple the number of customers on normal days.

"So what are your Christmas plans this year" Claire questions as she pours coffee into a cup and does a latte art with utmost concentration. The art she seemed to have mastered after years of practising and performing it.

The swirls form espresso as her hand moves effortlessly pouring liquid to form an art."Well perceiving that it's going to be my first Christmas with Ayden that I am excited for and looking forward to it as well, So this year Ayden and I are going to celebrate it together" Arthur exclaimed looking at how swirls are now forming a heart, his eyes twinkling.

He has always been fascinated by this but couldn't make one. Not like he never tried, he did but it didn't go as well as he thought. The heart resembles a white blotch if nothing else.

"Oh! So Ayden is in London" She ask as she wipes her hand with a napkin once the work was done admiring her work she kept the cup on the.

"Not yet, he will arrive today in the evening " He mumbled the last part. Claire noticed the change in his voice that was quite contrary to the previous one, turning to face him she ask " What happened why do you sound sad aren't you happy that he is coming".

"He is scared of rejection, he is planning on proposing to him this Christmas but is afraid" Aria voiced as she came to pick up the tray on which Claire kept the cup of coffee.

Claire turned to look at her and then back to Arthur with frowning eyebrows "Aren't you guys dating for the past eight to nine months, what are you afraid of ?" she keeps her palm on his arm "And I am sure he likes you back I mean who wouldn't you are such a charming guy" she teased with a giggle.

Arthur was indeed charming with his dark brown locks that curls around his neck, green eyes like a forest pool, a small sophisticated button-like nose adorned with freckles and Pink plump lips which looks more exquisite when sma file grace the.

Arthur and Claire have been best friends for five years now, they were friends three years before he joined the cafe where she and Arthur work now. It's been two years since she started working here which was Arthur's idea as he had already been working in this cafe.

Claire needed a job to work in during her spare time so Arthur suggested she work in this cafe where she met Aria for the first time and they both instantly became friends as Aria was a polite kind lady and Claire was introverted but friendly.

Both giggled while Arthur smiles sheepishly and crossed his index and middle finger, which didn't go unperceived by both the girls as their giggle now turned into a laugh. Claire proceed to pinch his cheeks and pinched them a bit too harshly making him flinch back, rubbing the spot where she pulled his cheeks leaving it reddish pink now.

He narrows his eyes at Aria before pointing his finger at her and uttering "You don't get to laugh here miss I know you are planning on kissing Jordan this Christmas Eve" He drawled with a smirk and cross his arms over his chest.

Aria gasped as her cheeks held a tint of pink while her ears were bright red, she passed a sheepish grin towards Claire and him before tugging a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

" I see " Claire teased with a smile.

"What are your plans?" Aria cleared her throat before asking Claire a visible attempt to change the topic and divert it to another conversation.

" Nothing special, I am going to spend it with my grandma as usual which I Love to do" she smiles, Arthur and Aria shared a brief glance before speaking "Claire you are 25 now and you don't even have a boyfriend yet, I mean usually, people are committed by this age and I have never seen you with someone of the opposite gender " Arthur voiced.

Claire look at both of them and sighed  "I haven't yet felt that way for anyone, no my fault " She throws her hand up in the air tired of listening to them, they smiled at her and kept a hand on her shoulder "Don't worry you will find 'the one' for you I'm sure of it " Claire smiled back not like she was dying to find 'the one' he might take as much time he want to arrive in her life she doesn't care.

"Here Claire can you please take this order to seat number five on the left near the window", Aria says after remembering the order that was placed.

"Sure" Claire picks up the tray and made her way towards the seat.

~~●●~~

"Dad I am leaving now the meeting is over I need to head back to the office and you please head home after this" A man argued with his father as his hands clenched and unclenched in the process to calm him

"But-"

"Not buts Dad you asked me to accompany you here even though my presence wasn't necessary you could have handled it on your own but still I came and now I want to leave " He snapped.

"Fine" his dad sighed in defeat knowing his son better so as not to argue because he wouldn't listen. He wanted to spend some time with his son which he seldom gets cause of his busy schedule, he arranged meetings in this cafe to spend some time with his son once the meeting gets over and here his son was just wanting to leave as soon as possible.

He got up from his seat and turned around fixing his wristwatch, he was about to take a step when his father's voice halted his steps.

"Marcellus"

He turned around to face his father but before he could he felt something hitting his chest with a shrill voice or more like someone. His reflexes quickly got to their function and he held the person.

The girl's eyes were screwed shut as she held his arms for support as if her life depends on it.

Claire peels open her left eye to see before she opens her get one, her face fear-stricken her wide eyes stare at Him and then his chest.

Marcellus followed her gaze and looked at his chest, his white shirt now turned brown with the coffee staining his shirt, his gaze trails further down and sees all the things which should be on the tray scattered on the floor.

He looked back at her and was taken aback by her look now, just a few seconds ago her eyes held fear and now they had anything but fear.

Claire glared at him and step back before pointing her finger towards him "You! Because of you I lost my balance couldn't you watch and walk" she snapped at him and eyed the floor displeased.

"Excuse me" He retorted, anger in his eyes clearly evident he wasn't going to take whatever nonsense she has to deliver now, it wasn't his fault she bumped into him, she should have opened her eyes while walking.

"What? No, what" She glared at him keeping her hands on her hips. "You will have to pay for whatever damage you have done", she said eyeing the spilled coffee, broken cups and tray.

"Really? Well, don't you think you should be the one to apologize since you ruined my shirt" He says crossing his arms over his chest, his muscles bulging underneath the jacket and shirt

"NO! You should be apologizing because you weren't watching busy fixing your stupid watch" she retorts back her cheeks turning red due to anger.

"Well as you said miss you saw me fixing my watch then shouldn't you be watching your way because I was 'busy' you said and I quote then this" he pointed with his left hand towards the mess that was created on the floor "Should have been avoided" he smirked

"Wha-"

He narrowed his eyes at her before walking past her keeping his hands in his pockets, leaving her gaping at his retreating back before she could utter something else Aria came running to her to stop her. "What are you doing he is the son of the owner of this cafe Hernan Ambrose" she whispered in her ear.

Claire was frozen, her blood turned cold as if her veins were pumping iced water instead of warm blood "Her-Hernan Ambrose's son" she whispered practically to herself.

Hernan, on the other hand, sat around in his seat observing the scene that was unfurling in front of his eyes, the thing which surprised him the most was his son's reaction. He didn't shout or yell back which was very unusual of him to do, had there been someone else he would have shown that person his place but he didn't say anything to her, all he said didn't even sound serious as words left his mouth. He smiles to himself thinking something.

Claire's body started to shake as she pictured herself being thrown out of the cafe then comes her coat and scarf flying towards her and directly hitting her face. There she was now jobless. She turned to Aria who looked at her with wide eyes.

"What do I do now" Claire mumbled on the verge to cry as her vision becomes blurred due to the tears that started to pool in her eyes.

"Hey hey don't worry sir is a very kind man I'll look into it okay you go home now, don't worry " Aria assured her.

"No no no" Claire shakes her head "I will apologize to sir, yes I will apologize" she says in affirmation.

Aria gives her a look of sorrow "He left" she said pointing towards the entrance as the bell chimed indicating his departure.

Claire's shoulder slumped in dejection she gaze towards the entrance and then back to the messy floor, pressing her lips in a thin line she shakes her head and bent down to pick up the cups and tray.

"Leave it, Claire someone will clean it up this is not your job" Arthur stops her "I suggest you go home now and don't worry as Aria said we will manage everything okay"

Claire dejectedly walk towards the counter sparing a last glance towards the mess before she removed her apron and grabbed her coat along with her scarf.

She muttered a small thankyou to Aria before leaving, she knew Aria could manage it since she was the manager of this cafe.

She opened the door to step out, cold air instantly hitting her face as the gush of cold wind blew right past her making her shiver and wrapping her scarf securely around her neck.

This was one hell of a day for her but little did she know, there were more to come on her way now.