Soma’s POV
Getting back to my apartment, I felt safe. Before I closed the door, I looked to see if anyone was following me. I had butterflies in my stomach I don’t know why I was so bothered by the cop and why he showed me a picture of some guy. Maybe there was a crime family in the area, I have heard about New York and the Mafia but why would they go after a shop that just opened. I had no money, no business.
Walking over to the window, I looked out, “Come on Soma, now you’re crazy.” I said shaking my head before I closed the curtains.
Mouse sat near his bowl; I fed him and ordered some Chinese. Something about orange chicken tonight would be awesome. It would take forty-five minutes, I didn’t mind. I took a quick shower and then poured myself some wine. Something about the glass of wine made me feel relaxed, I don’t know why I was on edge, the cop was probably looking out for me and I should be thankful someone was around to keep tabs on my store for me.
A loud knock startled me; I slowly got up and opened the door. It wasn’t the Chinese food she ordered.
“Um, hi,” I said not sure what to say. “Can I help you?” I stumbled over my words, I wanted to close the door this man was buff he looked like he could hurt someone and he was kind of cute.
“Forgive me, I don’t mean to be creepy, that’s not my intention.” He said clearing his throat. “I just moved into the building, the second floor. I noticed your car in the parking lot; I was told to introduce myself, I am Ryan I live upstairs.”
“Uh okay, do you need something?” Biting my lip, I didn’t want him to know I was nervous. I wasn’t even sure what he meant when he said he knew my car. Was he watching me from his window? Maybe he was the reason I had the weird feeling, I hated feeling this but I knew something wasn’t sitting right here.
“Yes, well no. I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood.” He said sounding nervous. “If you need something I am upstairs, I can help with anything from car repair, to your apartment kind of stuff.”
“Oh well okay.” I half smiled wanting to close the door, but I couldn’t look away. Something about his eyes had me under a spell. I wasn’t sure why he was so interested in helping me out. Everything I had heard about New Yorkers at least in the city they weren’t anything like the way he was acting. It was kind of refreshing but kind of weird too.
“There is something else.” He said running his hand through his hair. “Be careful of Detective Marks.” He said looking away from her. “He is bad news, and he will hurt you if you trust him too much. He doesn’t have your best interest at heart, don’t lower your guard with him.”
“Oh is he?” I said putting my hand on my hips. How would he know about Detective Marks? Was he stalking me? “Who are you again?” Before I got my question Chinese was here.
“Excuse me.” An unfamiliar voice said. “I have your Chinese food here.”
Ryan moved out of the way, so the delivery man could give me my food. “Thanks,” I said handing him enough to cover the food and a tip.
“I’ll not bother you,” Ryan said, before excusing himself from my doorstep. I knew that wasn’t going to be the last time seeing him. After finishing up my dinner, I put the rest into the fridge. I would read before I went to bed.
I tossed and turned most of the night, the one dream that I had was a pair of black gloves choking me. I struggled to breathe, but the person held tight. Waking up in a puddle of sweat, I wasn’t sure what just happened. I didn’t see the person's face, and that scared me a little bit.
Morning peaked around; I took a shower and headed to the tea shop. I was a little early so I had time to stop and get a coffee across the street. I decided to try the coffee shop across the shop, I knew it was competition, but I didn’t care. I needed the additional caffeine to get through the day. I wanted to check out the place to see if they had the same kind of idea as me when it came down to things about the customer. I was surprised, the store was well done.
It was bright and roomy, there were quite a few customers everywhere they were extremely busy which kind of scared me a little. Granted I wasn’t a tea shop that had hot tea, it would be something to consider later on if my business started to do well. But I smiled when I walked up to the counter.
Waking into the café, I was greeted with the most amazing smell. I smiled when I saw they had cookies, I loved oatmeal and was never able to find a place that made ones that I liked to eat.
“Welcome.” A man behind the register said, with a big cheesy smile. “Are you interested in the cookies?” he asked seeing I was staring at them.
“Uh yeah.” I sheepishly smiled. “Can I have a cappuccino as well?” I said pulling out my card.
“Are you dining in, or not?” he said ringing up my order.
“I wish I could.” I tucked my hair behind, “but I own the tea shop.” I half-smiled.
“Your total is $10.40,” he said half smiling.
“Hers is on the house.” A buff man came from the back; he smiled when he saw me. “Nice to finally meet you and welcome to the neighborhood hopefully we can become good friends..” He said bowing his head. “I am Oliver Stone.”
“Nice to meet you too, I’m Soma.” I sheepishly smiled. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to, consider it a welcoming you to the neighborhood.” He half-smiled. “Have a blessed day.” He said disappearing into the back.
I got my coffee and cookies and headed to my shop. I liked the little coffee shop, I didn’t drink it all the time but I would consider going there when I felt the need to refuel with coffee.
Unlocking the door, I turned the sign for ‘open.’ I grabbed the cash from the safe; I figured I was ready for the day. The coffee was great, and the cookies even better. They reminded me of the cookies my mother used to make, one of a kind.
A few hours after the store opened, a few people came in. My first customer bought one hundred dollars in tea, which had been my biggest sale ever, even before I opened her shop.
I was distracted by restocking my tea; I didn’t hear the bell let me know someone had walked into my shop.
“This place is nice.” A man said.
I turned to face him, “Detective Marks right?” I said taking a deep breath.
“You remembered.” He said walking closer to me. “How has business been?” he said glancing at the tea.
“Good so far, everyone has been nice,” I said shrugging her shoulders. “Is there a particular tea you like?”
“Na,” he said looking at me. “I hate the stuff.” He said putting the box down.
“Oh, so what can I do for you?” I asked walking back behind the register.
“Nothing.” He said walking towards me. “I noticed you went to the coffee shop across the street.” He said pointing to the empty cup on the window seal.
“Yeah, nice place,” I said getting nervous.
“That is owned by one of the Stone brothers, I would be careful going there. You might get caught up in a raid.” He said putting his hands on the glass. “I would hate to have to arrest you, but I will.”
“I don’t know what you think you are doing, coming into my store threatening to arrest me, because I bought a cup of coffee from an open business. Get out of my store, I don’t want to see you in here unless you have a warrant or you want some tea.” I growled.
“Don’t worry we will be in touch.” He said with a smirk on his face, he pulled the door open. Before leaving he gave me one last look. “You can count on me being around; I may even make your business go under if you mess with me.” He said before leaving the store.
I watched him walk to a car, and get in; he glared at me before he left. I wasn’t sure how serious he was about coming back and shutting my store down. I wasn’t doing anything; I had to put him in the back of my memory since another customer came in.
“Hello, welcome,” I said half smiling. My mind kept thinking about that detective, I was scared.