Baristas

By Lili Grouse

From the moment Mason became the manager of The Daily Grind, a solid friendship between him and his second-in-command Zoe was formed. However, when Zoe's boyfriend breaks up with her, the simmering sexual tension between her and Mason is brought to a boil.

 

Meanwhile, the intrusive lens of a reality TV show creates drama in their little coffee shop, seemingly determined to bring Zoe down.

***This is a 14K word standalone novella set in Australia and features workplace drama and some language. Reader discretion is advised. ***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Grouse Hill Publishing
• Release date: Nov 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9789198812817

Lili Grouse

Growing up on a farm, Lili Grouse discovered her love of storytelling early on, making up bedtime stories for the calves, who were probably happier for the attention than the actual storytelling. In school, she was given a notebook to be used solely for writing stories in. She filled it up and asked for another - she was working on an epic, darn it. Of course, writing time in school wasn't enough, so she took to writing - and illustrating - stories at home on printer paper her father happily provided. Cut to thirty years later, give or take, and Lili Grouse is still at it. These days, her stories have less to do with strawberries going on adventures and searching for hidden treasures, and more to do with finding that elusive happy-ever-after. It is her dream to one day write for a living, but in the meantime, every minute not spent working, sleeping, or reading is dedicated to working on her passion.

Book preview

Zoe

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Coffee? I ask my boss, Mason Michaels, as I poke my head into his office.

Did you check the storeroom? he says, not looking up from his laptop screen.

Oh, the hazards of working at a coffee shop… No, I meant, do you have time to grab a coffee? I need to talk to you about something.

Ah. Yeah, sure. Just give me a few minutes and I’ll be out.

I duck out to grab a table in the most secluded section of the coffee shop before making myself a skinny Caramel Latte and a full cream Flat White for Mason.

I’m just setting down the cups on our usual table when Mason walks over, drawing admiring looks from the majority of our patrons.

Excellent timing, I say as we take our seats.

He grins, making that insanely adorable dimple of his appear, and picks up his Flat White. I thought I’d give you enough time to get my coffee just right.

I roll my eyes at him, feigning annoyance, but the rare species of butterflies residing in the pit of my stomach give a little flutter all the same. Considering I’ve been working with Mason for three years now, I should be immune to his charms. The operative word being ‘should’…

So, what’s up? Mason asks after taking his first sip. Everything okay at home? That boyfriend of yours treating you right?

My cheeks heat, and I’m not sure I can blame it on the coffee. Paul and I are more like roommates these days. We keep such irregular hours that we hardly spend any time together. And the fact I get butterflies when my boss smiles at me doesn’t make me feel any better about my relationship.

Um… yeah, all good on that front. Saying it out loud, it sounds pretty unconvincing. "I actually wanted to talk to you about Real Baristas."

Mason sighs into his mug.

You’ve already made your opinions clear, Zoe. You’re my second-in-command. The producer doesn’t see how you can be omitted from the show.

But why are we even doing the show? As I recall, you agreed that it turned this place into a circus last year.

It’s not my call, Zoe. Murray and Malcolm signed a contract with the network. Filming starts in less than a month.

I sigh and cross my arms as I lean back in my chair. Did you even try to discuss it with Murray or Malcolm?

Malcolm seems to be the only one taking my calls at the moment, and he thinks the show is the best thing that ever happened to The Daily Grind.

I sit up, resting my arms on the table. He said that?

He said, and I quote, ‘Deal with the circus, Mason. We took home three times our usual earnings last year, and that trumps staff drama.’ Mason mimics Malcolm’s clipped tone perfectly.

The two owners of the coffee shop could not be more different. Murray is all about progress and a positive work environment, while Malcolm is all about the money and cuts corners wherever he can. He was the driving force behind bringing The Daily Grind to reality television.

He also reminded me how the show has elevated us all to stardom and that we should embrace our popularity, Mason adds.

I groan as I sit back in my chair, defeated. If Mason can’t convince the brothers to change their minds, no one can.

As for stardom? Last season made Mason the face of The Daily Grind. Women are lining up to buy coffee just to get a selfie with him. I have a feeling the attention has less to do with the reality show and more with our drop-dead gorgeous manager and his natural, sexy swagger. Objectively speaking, of course.

Zoe

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Two weeks into filming…

Ow!

Crap. I just burned myself on overflowing coffee. All because I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing. Again. This so-called reality show is going to paint me as a total klutz and I’ll never find another barista job if I get fired.

You okay? Charlize, one of my colleagues, asks, and