Chapter 98 - Brewing Misunderstanding

"Hey, William!"

The poor guy didn't bother struggling against Weiss, so he just let him go. Manhandling his coworker never solved any problem, but Weiss hoped that a noogie would be enough of a deterrent to keep him from calling Sarah over.

He gave Weiss a once-over. 

"I'm telling you. You like her."

"I absolutely do not. Stop jumping to conclusions."

"Me thinks the lady doth protest too much."

"I don't care. I don't like her."

Weiss scowled for emphasis.

But his coworker simply offered him a subtle smile – one that he recognized as someone-with-a-plan. Weiss waved a hand, dismissing him before returning to the register to take another order. 

"Whatever. Just go clean the frothier."

"Yes, Sir~!"

---

"I have a Salsa Grave Thin…" the barista called dryly, waving the macchiato around.

"Yes, yes. Is there a Salsa Grave Thin around?"

Weiss laughed a bit from the side. Sarah let out an exasperated sigh.

She set her jaw and approached the counter, looking like she might bite the man's head off. Once there, she growled, "You know that's not my name."

"Sorry, Ma'am…" the barista apologized. 

"I'm not the one responsible for writing the names on the cups. I just call them out."

Weiss grinned. That's until his coworker pointed at him. Sarah turned to look. 

"He's the one you should take your complaints to."

"I already did! But he's a frustrating pigheaded idiot who doesn't listen to me!"

He lifted a brow. 'Pigheaded?' his brain repeated.

"But that's alright…" she huffed, taking the cup. 

"I can handle pigheaded."

Keeping an intent eye contact with Weiss, she chugged her iced macchiato and drained the cup in one-go. She then whipped her wrist across her pink, plump lips, wiping the coffee off them and smearing her lip gloss. Sarah glared straight at him before she dunked the cup in the trash. With that, she turned away, keeping her steps even and measured as she strode out of the coffee shop.

"Ahah, she mad," the barista chuckled.

He nudged Weiss, totally missing the indifferent look on his face. What they just witnessed may have looked like a power move – enough to knock the breath out of men and women alike, but he really can't care less about what Sarah does.   

"I told you, didn't I? You liked her," he teased.

"Do not," Weiss simply said without any heat.

---

"Sana Grayish…?" called the barista, setting the cup on the counter. 

"Your order is ready, Sana Grayish"

He watched as Sarah stalked up to the counter, taking in the sway of her hips and the way her small purse bounced against them. She had her fists clenched at her sides, and as she gripped the cup with white knuckles, the lid popped off. For the hundredth time, he couldn't help but wonder what William wouldn't like about an independent, self-assertive girl like her. 

Not only is she exceptionally pretty, but she has quite the attitude too.

"My name is Sarah Gracelyn," Sarah hissed with bared teeth.

"Sandra Greece Fin? Or maybe Sorry Gate Chin?" chimed Weiss, walking up to the counter. 

"No one's listening to me!"

"I will listen to you, Ma'am."

Out of nowhere, the barista piped in. Both of their gazes snapped to him. He smiled subtly and bowed his head, closing his eyes briefly. 

"If you'll meet me outside in five minutes, Ms. Gracelyn, I'll take your complaint."

Weiss stiffened.

He has a bad feeling about this. "Hey," he tried, but he seemed oblivious to the warning in his tone.

"Okay…" Sarah said with a nod and took the cup. 

"I'll meet you outside."

She made her way out to the door and exited the cafe. Weiss glowered at his coworker, "What are you scheming now? I told you to stay out of this."

"I'll do no such thing. You get to tease her. The least I can do is listen to her complaints. She's a customer."

He really has a bad feeling about this. 

So far, Fallon's suggestion is working. By this point, Sarah is so done with Weiss.

But then, his coworker just had to get in the way. He really thinks he's got a thing on her. Just when she's starting to change her view of him, this guy's trying to twist the truth for his own amusement. 

"Would you like to take her complaint yourself?" he asked with a meaningful tone and expression.

"No way. Just don't take her complaint at all," he snarled, but he just shrugged it off before pushing past him and stepping around the counter. 

Weiss silently watched him cross to the door, his hands stuck nonchalantly in his pockets. The man turns all gentle and friendly once he's out. He realized then that he might be the one who's attracted to Sarah all this time.

She was shaking her fist and saying something, to which his coworker nodded and seemed to make appropriate noises. 

'That guy should really stop. How can I convince him that I'm not into her at all? I'm literally bullying her! How does that look like I've got a crush on her?' Weiss grimaced. 

Little does he know that this coworker of his is a man of culture. In his opinion, if a guy likes to mess with a girl, it means that he likes her. He, on the other hand, won't know such things since he's the type who even has to bother a friend for this kind of stuff.

Weiss continues to watch the two from the counter. He then sees Sarah jerking her head over to the shop, her eyes fixed on him in a fierce glare. 

'See? She totally hates me now.'

His coworker said something else, and her gaze turned even fiercer. He held up a finger, saying more words. Her nose wrinkled. By the end of all of it, he's smiling, and she's gulping down her latte.

Weiss knows that this didn't bode well.

---

"Sasha Green Tea…? Americano for Sasha Green Tea here."

Sarah plodded up to the counter, her hands fixed in claw-shapes. This time, instead of feeling delighted, Weiss feels like he should be on his guard. 

"That's not my name!"

"We have heard and understood your complaint." 

The barista kept his customer service voice mild and ingratiating. Then, he cautiously approached the counter as if baiting a wild animal. 

"If you have any issue with how we run things around here, instead of reporting straight to the manager, I recommend you speak to the source of the problem first," he explained.

"And who is it?" she gritted.

Weiss pretended to peer around. 

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw his coworker shake his head in dismay - two can play in this game. He tapped his chin then grinned widely, narrowing his eyes in sadistic pleasure. 

"Source of the problem? Oh, could it be me?" he teased. 

At that moment, Sarah did something Weiss didn't expect.

She reached out and trailed her finger across his jawline, ending up at his chin before tilting his face up so he had to look down his nose at her. His whole body went still. But rather than being threatened as she loomed in his vision with her face thrust up into his personal space, he felt offended.

"I'd like to file a complaint on you, Sir. Next time, I'll go to the manager," she practically purred before licking her lower lip. 

Weiss thought she looked ridiculous right now. Her lips are slightly parted, her eyes burning bright. Sarah smirked up at him and picked her cup. Then, she sauntered away, her hips swaying with class and grace. 

From the back, his coworker snickered. He scowled. 

"Hey, what did you do to her?" 

"I told her how to knock you off your game."

"By trying to seduce me?"

"It worked, didn't it?"

"No, it did not, and it won't."

"Just admit it already, dude."

Weiss is at his limits. Now, he's back to square one with Sarah.

This dumbass must have told her that he's actually crushing on her. Talk about nosy. If only he wasn't related to his personal attendant, Khalil, he would've already told the manager to place him somewhere else – or at the very least, give them different shifts. But he's got classes to attend too. Both of them are still students, which is why they've got the same work schedule. 

Weiss should probably ask Fallon for help again.

---

"Bring someone to act as your girlfriend, then. Easy-peasy."

It was lunchtime when Weiss had brought Fallon to the library to talk.

He doesn't mind. In fact, he's more than willing to help. He understands him. 

Fallon knows the miseries of having girls tail him around all the time. His locker is often flooded with love letters, his email with marriage interview offers. Weiss is experiencing something worse than receiving invitations, though – he's actually being seduced. Or at least, that's what he told him. 

Being the most sought-after heir of a large corporation, it's no surprise that he attracts ladies who'll pull all the strings just to get what they want even if he's someone out of their reach.