Eve Of A Thousand Wakes

18 A Cup of Joe

Blaznavac was a luxury coffeehouse facing Malory Towers. Sandwiched between two skyscrapers, it was a two-storeyed cafe that looked like an establishment from the Renaissance period. Owned by Serbian entrepreneurs, it offered an exotic getaway for caffeine addicts from the grind of the corporate world.

As Ashley stepped inside, the door opened, tinkling a bell to signal the arrival of a customer.

The interior seemed aged half-century, in stark contrast to the Wall Street world outside. A tall, handsome attendant in a sleeveless coat approached her.

"Miss Palmer, good afternoon," he began with a Serbian accent. "The luksuzni is vacant presently, just how you like it."

The joint had two levels. The obican, at the lower level, had over twenty tables and a hundred seats. There was a bustle, and waiters rushed around serving customers.

The luksuzni, the upper level, was for exclusive members only. Ashley, being from the wealthy Palmer family, had a lifetime membership and was a regular at