The Civic type R, black with red accent, glided smoothly through the streets. Driving it was a man of a descent so mixed that he would simply answer with his hometown whenever someone asked about his ethnicity. He obviously had east asian thrown in there somewhere with his small eyes and straight black hair under his driver's hat. Carl might not be the quietest driving companion, but he was a very capable driver who also knew when to not disturb the little miss.

His cue started when Alexandria opened her iphone with black casing, dancing her slender fingers across it quickly. The car radio beeped. Reflets dans l'eau by Claude Debussy started playing, and Alexandria sighed in relief as the music gently filled her cranium. She was an addict- her opium was the distinct sound of piano key. There was a place in the dark recesses of her mind, hungry for something that Alexandria had never bothered to look deeper into. After all, the beast had always been lulled to sleep by the first clink of a good composition.

Alexandria reached for her macbook in the back seat and turned it on. She clipped her glasses to the eyeglass holder from her bag, black pearl ornate dangled to the top of her cheek. It held her glasses firmly in place as she looked down to the laptop on her lap. She looked ridiculous with it, almost like an old lady, except for her youthful pout that she hadn't quite lost yet. The car window was tinted: Alexandria liked her privacy.

Her slender finger glided lightly in a series of taps across the keyboard as she began to make the power point, the notebook with the notes she jotted down on the lesson and during recess was spread open beside her. Beside her, Carl was fully concentrating on his job- the car moved so smoothly that Alexandria's body never changed the way it relaxed on the front seat, all the way to the bakery.

She was so undisturbed that she did not notice Carl glancing at her as they entered the questionable neighborhood, visibly regretting his decision to take her there and was debating to himself whether he should've taken her there or not. No matter how Carl looked, Alexandria looked like a rich girl compared to some of the girls on the side of the street who stared with hope at the unfamiliar hatchback with dark tint making its way through their streets. Her soft black curls hanging just above the nape of her neck, virgin, never bleached; the healthy glow in her skin free of any scar; but most importantly- her expression was one that was free of longing desperation. The 31 year old man sighed as he parked the car in front of D'Amico's Caffè e Pasticcini.

"What's wrong, Carl?" Alexandria had started putting her laptop back into the bag as soon as she felt the car slow down, and now when it's fully parked she was all packed up and ready to go. The funky glasses strap was back in her bag. She wouldn't have to bow down her head so low when she could put the laptop on the table later. She glanced at the clock, noting the duration taken for this trip. It was quite acceptable, even though she'd always be happy with less.

"It didn't look this bad when you're not here, Miss, I swear."

"What's bad?" Alexandria finally casted her gaze around the area, her eyes still cloudy with work. "It looks... okay to me." She knew she paused a beat too long, but how couldn't she, when she just noticed dilapidated street signs outside the window?

Drivers couldn't afford to live so nice, she thought to herself, and she should be respectful. Carl seemed very sure of this place, which was odd because Alexandria definitely treated Carl to very nice places before. She supposed not-so-rich people also had not-so-rich taste. She shouldn't judge.

"It looks nice, like in crime movies!" Alexandria hoped she sounded sincere. Carl rubbed a hand behind his head. "That's very insulting, Miss," he admitted, and Alex bit her lip in embarrassment. "But you meant well, you meant well."

"I'm sorry. I like your honesty, Carl, no other employee of grandpa's would tell that straight to my face. I could've had no clue forever." She and Carl shared an amused look. Carl stepped out of the car and opened the door on her side.

"Glad to be of service." His gray eyes twinkled and he winked at her as she took his brown, bony hand and stepped outside the car. "I know I'm your favorite, good Miss Alexandria, but now I know know for sure. Good to know."

Alexandria scoffed, bemused. She looked up to the building. Her photochromic glasses turned dark quickly as the orange light of the afternoon sun hit them, hiding her eyes that were filled with doubt. The building looked old. "Is this a tourist site?" she asked. "Like those old cafes in Paris? It's novel."

"It should be," Carl chuckled. "Not sure, Miss. We can ask the owner later."

"She must be rich," Alexandria commented. After a year with Carl, she had grown to speak her mind more with him. "I know usually the second story of buildings like these are for the employees. It looks small but they live there, do you know?"

Carl grinned, humoring the young girl. "How dreadful."

"Grandpa said its good business sense, the most loyal employees are the ones with nowhere else to go. They're cheap, too. I can't imagine living like that, though, if it was me I'd pay my employees enough to have their own apartment." She paused. Would she? Her grandfather was an excellent businessman, she should listen to him. A bleeding heart has no place in making a business decision.

"Prices are dreadful high these days, Miss, they might want to save money."

"Why, a property is always a good investment."

"Not buy, rent-"

The bell jingled as they entered. Alexandria thought it was a nice little detail. She headed straight to the table with a power outlet. Even from behind her darkened glasses she noticed the custom-made furniture as she made her way and was impressed. She was here to do her task, however, and didn't dawdle in the slightest, not even casting a quick glance to the counter. The clock was ticking. She only had one hour before her next schedule and the trip here already took ten minutes. She quickly set up her laptop, her relaxed expression shifted back to work mode.

"Do you want to look at the menu, Miss?"

She smiled at him, back to being polite. She began fishing for her wallet. It went without saying that everything would be paid by her, as usual. "Please order your favorite, I'll take the same."

"My treat, Miss." Carl waved off her protest before she even had the chance to take her eyes off the screen. Alex knew this much- an employee offering a treat, even though she lacked nothing, is a token of appreciation and she had to take it graciously. She looked into his eyes, touched. "I'm honored, Carl."

Carl shook his head, clearly not expecting Alex to answer him so seriously. He seemed elated, however. Adjusting his black and white uniform, the lanky man sauntered his way to the counter and greeted the person manning it.

"La mia bella nonna!" Carl began warmly. "Your number one customer is here. You already know me so well."

He leaned forward with a serious expression, as if sharing a devious secret with the lady. "Please put extra love in it, nonnatelli. See, my little miss' head is smoking from a very important homework. Nonnatelli, you believe me now? I told you she studies all the time like she was paid nuggets of gold for it! I don't know how her head hasn't exploded! But don't tell her about this, she's a worrywart already. Tsk tsk."

If Alexandria had her morning bath as relaxation ritual, then Carl had this cafe. Though, as he had told Florenzia often, he's almost always relaxed. This job paid well, the little miss was not hard to please- eager to please, even, ever so polite when she needn't be. Carl often joked that sometimes he felt like he was the heir of the company instead of Alexandria. When he wasn't chattering and joking so much, however, when rain poured outside and Carl got into his sentimental mood, he would say how grateful he was to be working with her.

This job was a blessing in his life. Sure, he didn't have any fancy position, but he had a boss who would quietly listen to him chattering away during work hours and treat him to fancy meals every week. "As a thank you," she would say, and while Carl didn't comment specifically on it whenever he told the story to Florenzia, he mentioned the exchange often enough to show how it left a deep impression on him.

As many with his economic background, he had struggled for years, doing this and that, having dealt with asshole bosses for a lot more than he preferred. When he applied for this job, as he often repeated to Florenzia, he expected the heiress would be one of those kids who were spoilt rotten and would happily step all over their driver. And Carl would've taken it quietly, because the pay was very good. As it turned out, at this job finally he found peace and appreciation. He now had both the time and money to be spending his late afternoons and early nights in this cafe while waiting for the time to pick up Alexandria, something he thought would only happen when he was old and retired.

Firoenzia smiled, "Of course, of course!" How could she not memorize her favorite customer of all time, order. She couldn't help, but laugh at his words. "Only the best for mio Carlitos, and his welcomed guest. My pastries can help settle the mind." She began punching in the order on the register, a sweet smile still playing on her features. "You go on and have a seat. You must rest after having worked. I'll bring it out to you, Carlitos." She reassured.

Turning towards the coffee machines, she began making their drinks. "Caro nipote, please get two plates of pasticciotto ready for our lovely customers." His Nonna's head barely peaked over the windows frame. Lio simply gave a curt and obedient nod of his head. Preparing two plates with said pastry. Grabbing a tray he placed the plates on it. The plates were nicely decorated with a sweet dark syrup. As he waited for his Nonna to finish preparing the drinks, he continued cleaning up.

"Caro, all done. Please don't keep our Carlitos and his company waiting." She hurried him. Picking the tray up, he walked out of the kitchen and behind the counters. Carefully, he placed both drinks on the tray next to the plates. It was a funny site, a giant of a man that wore an intimidating glare, serving dainty pastries. He still wore his apron, that wasn't exactly his size. Still paying no mind, he wandered to the table. Standing in front of the table and the two people there, he began placing the plates and mugs done. Finally, he took a moment to look at the customers. "En-" He cut himself off as he caught a glimpse at a certain girl with glasses and black hair. "You've gotta be fucking kidding me." He gritted out, as he glared at Alexandria. Not a care for the man she was with, or even his grandmother potentially over hearing his harsh words.

"Always the light of my day, la mia bella nonna."

Carl was never comfortable with Helios' presence, and it showed through his stiff body language whenever Helios came around him. He never rudely stared at him though, just tried to avoid interaction as much as he could. In his eyes Helios was a thug his age, and he wanted nothing to do with that life. He always worried about Fiorenzia, such a sweet and kind lady, having that kind of man as her grandson.

His eyes widened in shock when Helios spoke so harshly, and jaw dropped when he saw the usually collected Alexandria's expression.

Whenever Alexandria was deep at work, she was most vulnerable. Her mind, usually always buzzing and analyzing, grew quiet and unguarded. The girl's wall had a crack on it, and Helios' completely unexpected remark was a strike to her mind castle- followed by a burning trebuchet projectile launch as she looked at what he's wearing.

Aside from admiring bad boys, Alexandria, a food lover, was a sucker for men who could cook. In her head such men are soft and lovable and the kind of husband she would want, if only it wasn't the logical choice to select a busy businessman as a marriage partner in the future.

The combo of a bad boy with a man who cooked absolutely blew her mind to pieces. That, and the fact that a huge ripped man in an apron was smoking hot.

Alexandria's lips parted and no sound spilled from them for a good several seconds. Her shaken eyes, now no longer covered by the dark tint of her glasses as they had returned back to clear after sitting awhile indoors, traveled in a panicked frenzy, tracing Helios' scarred muscular arm glistening with sweat from the oven, up to his huge shoulder and the form-fitting tank top, then sharply down to his white apron. Back up to his face. Then back down, taking in his overall appearance. Her expression grew more and more baffled until she finally returned her gaze back to his face and uttered in an almost accusatory tone.

"What are you wearing?!"

It was apparent that right after the remark, something clicked back to place in her mind. A tinge of pink colored her pale plump cheeks. She turned away in embarrassment, raising one arm and placed her palm between her and Helios so she could no longer see him.

"I didn't see anything." She proclaimed, as if it would erase what just happened.

Hélios was familiar with Carl. The man was practically here every waking day. Always chatting his Nonna's ear off. At times he'd been tempted to tell the man to piss off, but he knew how much that would upset his grandmother. For whatever reason, Fiorenza highly enjoyed Carl's company and always welcomed the man with open arms. Lio knew the man did not like him, or was at least uncomfortable around him. When he'd pass by, he could see the man's body stiffen, as if Lio was going to stab him in the back or something. Once he was out of the room, he was back in a relaxed state, all attention on Fiorenza. Funny, how he's never even spoken to the man, yet knew he didn't like him. Lio didn't care, as long as his Nonna liked him, he'd stand it a little longer.

Hélios' burning gaze watched Alexandria. He skipped just to get away and now she's here at his place of work. He watched her expression change for once. It wasn't fake smiles, or blank, like how it normally was. He couldn't quite pin point it, as it was shock, but it didn't seem to be fear kind of shock. His glare deepened as he watched her give him a once over. Jaw clenched tightly at her words. "Fuck you." He snapped. "What, never seen someone work for their own money?" He hissed, clearly pissed off. He tossed the accusing finger right back. "Daddy's money, is that it? Never worked a day in your life." He accused.

The male was by no means self conscious. He knew he looked good underneath his clothes. However, in the moment he wished he'd taken the apron off and put his hoodie back on. It made him feel little. It didn't help his case either with what Alexandria had said. The big bad wolf humbled by an apron.

Her cheeks picked up a new color. She was blushing? Hélios wasn't sure what to make of this now. Maybe he'd misinterpreted the interaction? He couldn't dwell on it long as he heard his name being called, "Hélios! Cosa fai?! Non puoi parlare così ai nostri clienti!" (What are you doing? You can't talk to our customers like that.) Fiorenza's expression carried a worried look, as she hurried over. Standing next to Lio, she pulled on his arm as if trying to pull him away. She gave an apologetic look to the both of them, "I'm so sorry! He did not mean that! He's a little tired and stressed from school." Her words almost a plea. She couldn't believe Lio would say such things.

No one, and absolutely no one other than family had ever yelled like that at Alexandria. She had an automated response whenever she started to see her mother or her grandfather getting angry- she knew the signs leading to it, recognized the steps, and she had learned the dance.

However Helios' anger seemed to have come out of nowhere and it didn't help that Alexandria was absolutely flustered that she had just openly checked him out right in front of his face, with her mouth gaped open nonetheless. Yet it made no sense to her that he would suddenly bring her daddy into this. Helios hit the jackpot. Alexandria might be secretly picky about a lot of things and had a ton of pet peeves, but there were very few topic that she felt deeply about. Her father and his money were exactly among them.

"My father..." she gasped. "...don't make money!"

Alexandria slapped his accusing finger and pointed back to his nose. Their height difference was ridiculous and Alexandria really had to raise her chin to look up to him, but she was not intimidated at that moment. Her little nose scrunched up in anger.

"What are you doing here?! I'm trying to pick up the slack for our project, peacefully, while you're here with whatever hobby this is-" she whipped her arms up and down at his attire, incredulous, "and you dare come at me about work you big-"

Just then, it dawned on her as she once again gave him an involuntary look-over. Bakery. Apron. The fact that he just served them their order. Helios was, in fact, working. She stumbled, grasping for words, as Fiorenza hurried over to them.

She looked at them in utter confusion when the old lady started scolding him in a foreign language. Despite not paying attention to this place since she strode in, Alexandria had caught that the place was Italian, and she immediately assumed the lady was speaking the language. When Fiorenza made her apology, instead of responding to her, Alexandria looked back to Helios, lost. "...you're Italian?"

"That's not what's important, Miss!" Carl interjected, baffled, waving his hand at Alexandria. He was in more of a mess than Alexandria herself. He pointed at Helios. "You're a highschooler?!"

Silence.

In the embarrassing silence, Alexandria began to come to her senses. She finally noticed that Fiorenza had apologized to them, which means she would be the manager of this bakery, or judging by her age, more likely the owner. She couldn't believe it. She made a scene in public, in Carl's favorite bakery that she was visiting for the first time at that.

Blood left her fingertips as she was growing mortified. The girl pressed her cold hands together, grasping her knee-length skirt, and bowed her head in shame. "I apologize, ma'am, I didn't mean to cause disturbance in your shop. We could leave now if you'd like, I'll pay immediately and compensate you for your discomfort."

Now Carl couldn't believe Alexandria's reaction, and the man was very expressive. He threw a look at Fiorenza, bobbing his head at Alexandria's direction, as if saying a mixture of 'I told you so' and 'Can you believe this?!'.

((edit: typo))

Hélios was forever mad at the world, for what seems like unknown reasons. He could target just about anyone with his wrath. He could always find a reason to hate someone. Or pick a fight with someone, whatever mood he was in really.

His glare deepened as she stood up to him. My father don't make money. He replayed her words in his head. So what mommy made the money? He wanted to respond with a snarky comment, but held his tongue. A wild fire flamed in his amber eyes, as she slapped his hand. His jaw clenched tighter. It wasn't like it hurt, but he hated that he had to let it go. Fiorenza's presence being the only thing that stopped his actions. He scoffed, "You-" He was cut off by his Nonna.

"Oh yes, he is half Italian, half Greek." She giggled slightly, nervousness could be heard in her voice. She patted Lio's arm, as if he were a prized pony. She was trying her hardest to de-escalate the situation at hand. Seeing an opportunity to do so when Alexandria mentioned him being Italian. Fiorenza wasn't even mad that Alexandria served the anger right back at Hélios. She knew he deserved it, he started it all. Simply wanting to forget it all even happened. Fiorenza turned to Carl, "Mhm, my Lio only has one more year left in High school." She smiled, relieved to be able to change the topic.

Placing a small hand on Alexandria's shoulder, she smiled. "No need to apologize, Miele. And please stay and try some more pastries. It's on me." Her voice was reassuring and sweet. (Miele is Honey) "In fact, you mentioned a school project? I'm assuming you two are partners for it, Lio was just finishing up his work. You two can work on youre project together." She clapped her hands excitedly, at her own suggestion. Stepping behind Lio, she was hidden from view. She tried pushing the overgrown boy towards the chair next to Alexandria, but he didn't budge. "Fottimi." (Fuck me) Lio huffed out. Fiorenza smacked his back, "Lio." It was stern. His jaw clenched, as he stopped fighting her and willingly walked towards the chair to take a seat. "Eíthe i anóteri dýnami na me chtypísei tóra." (May the higher power strike me down now. | This one is Greek XD) The words flowed smoothly off his tongue, as he spoke his native language. His Nonna ignored him. Unlike him she wasn't mixed and didn't speak that language.

Fiorenza motioned for Carl, "Come I want to show you a new recipe." She smiled proudly and began walking back to the counter.

As soon as his Nonna was out of ear shot, "This is bullshit." He sighed, as he leaned back into the small chair. Sprawling his long limbs out. He hadn't bothered taking the apron off. The anger from before had died down, his Nonna had that unique power over him. He glanced at her for a moment, before stealing her notebook. His amber eyes skimming the pages, still not speaking another word to her. He blamed her, for putting him in this position, even though it was not her fault. Replaying her words in his head, he thought for a moment. "You're so damn dramatic." He said it like it was an observation, and not insulting. His eyes still on the pages.

Alexandria peered at Fiorenza from under her eyelashes. It was standard for hospitality places to offer free food or service when their employee messed up, and they would offer it sweetly like this. Alexandria had a nagging feeling, however, that most of them simply wanted the customer to not make any more scene, and the thought of herself having made a scene mortified her. Fiorenza probably just wanted her out of there.

As she looked at the old lady, however, there was something soothing about Fiorenza's presence. The touch of Fiorenza's hand on Alexandria's shoulder sent a wave of calmness that unknotted the twisting in her stomach. She felt... accepted and forgiven. It had been a long day, after all. For some reason she started to feel tears started to well up, Alexandria quickly pushed self-pitying thoughts to the back of her mind. She gulped, and suddenly the feeling of wanting to cry was gone.

"That won't be needed, ma'am," Alex spoke, but what came out was a whisper no one seemed to hear- or paid attention to.

She had mixed feeling when Fiorenza pushed Lio towards her direction. She didn't really want to deal with this big brat now, after all that happened, she felt overwhelmed. But immediately after meeting Fiorenza. she really wanted to make her happy. Fiorenza's innocent excited clap immediately placed a weigh on Alexandria's small shoulders.

Now, she had to make Fiorenza happy.

Carl could see the little miss thinking. He would be thinking hard, too, if he was to be left alone with an overgrown high-schooler. Knowing he's a high-schooler didn't make Carl fear Lio less. Surely Helios was actually an adult that started as a juvenile criminal, and flunked so often that he was still in high school. Fiorenza mentioned one more year in high school. Poor woman, it must be hard for her to wait for her thug grandson to graduate high school for so many years, but she still said it so sweetly. What an angel. He casted a sympathizing glance at Fiorenza, but he would talk all these thoughts out loud to her later anyway.

"Wait, nonnatelli!" As Fiorenza walked away, he immediately made faces at Alexandria. The girl didn't seem afraid, which he admired, but then again the miss barely expressed anything except what he just witnessed earlier. Maybe she's hiding her fear. He blinked twice. Alexandria looked at him in confusion. He blinked twice again, hard. Roughly translated to: 'blink twice if you need help'. Alexandria didn't catch what he meant, though, and returned to him a polite smile. Carl sighed in exasperation and followed Fiorenza, occasionally stealing glances at the two as he walked off.

Alexandria watched Carl and Fiorenza leave in disappointment. Fiorenza's presence was calming to her, while Carl, she hadn't the time to apologize to him for causing a scene in his favorite bakery. She hoped that Fiorenza was actually okay with it and wouldn't treat Carl differently since they seemed to be very close.

Helios is half Italian, half Greek. Carl is close with the owner or manager of D'Amico's Caffè e Pasticcini, who is a kind old lady. Her name is Nonnatelli.

Alexandria filed these information in her mind. Earlier Helios spoke in a language she didn't understand, but it sounded different from Italian. Maybe it's Greek?

"This is bullshit."

She heard Helios said. Here he comes, whining again.

"You're so damn dramatic."

This guy truly knew how to piss her off, like no one ever did before. She shot him a glare.

You're the drama queen making a scene everywhere you go!

She swallowed the thought. As soon as Alexandria looked at him, though, something shifted again in her. That outfit was still too much. She turned her head away from him.

"I can't look at you. Can't you take off that apron?"

"That won't be needed, ma'am." Hélios had heard her, although it was very quiet and he almost didn't pick up on it. It sounded as though she wanted to leave, but reluctantly stayed. He counted understand why. She could easily make up some excuse and get up an leave. Clearly, she was upset with Lio. He also noticed the look Carl was giving Alexandria. He wanted to scoff. He was used to people making those faces at people who had to speak or be in the vicinity of Lio. Like they felt sorry for the person.

Spotting her throw a glare his way, he sent it right back. He was just as upset as her. Being forced to comply to make his Nonna happy. He looked down at his apron, confused as to why apparently she couldn't look at him. It was just an apron. If she hated it that much he would simply keep it on, just to bother her. "No, whats's wrong with it?" He huffed in annoyance. "Never seen and apron, Alexandria?"

"What's my part in all this?" He questioned, as he zeroed in on her notes. If he would be forced to do this assignment, he'd might as well know what load of the work was for him. He turned the page, checking if she had written more. Flipping to the back of the notebook, he ripped a blank page out. Searching the tabled he snatched her pencil. He would list out his work load in order. He sat up, back straightened up, as he peered at her other items on the table. Through his thick lashes, he spotted her uneaten pastry. Pointing at it with the pencil, "If you aren't going to eat it, at least give it me." He grumbled. He was just as proud as his Nonna's recipes.