The barista, a freckled red-head probably just turned 18, was staring with a gaping mouth. For a moment he'd forgotten where he was, before he was able to ask "what would you like," his eyes never flinching.
Christie was used to this behaviour in men. It wasn't just her perfectly slim face, her wavy blonde hair, her hourglass figure or her perky tits. Lots of girls got unwanted attention for having those, but with Christie it went beyond. Every guy in the Starbucks had turned their head when she'd entered, and a few were staring still, at her shapely bum hidden behind her tight blue jeans. They just couldn't help themselves, really. Not with Christie.
"I'll have a cappuccino, please. But with oat milk, if you can."
"Okay," the barista responded with a nervous smile. His eyes were locked on Christie's, and it took him a moment before he realised he was the one who was supposed to prepare the coffee. He quickly sprung into gear. Christie chuckled. Even though she was used to guys tripping over themselves in front of her, it never stopped being funny, in a flattering way.
"Here you go," the red-head said as he put the expensive cup on the counter. "That will be 2.45 please."
"Oh. Eh." Christie made her voice sound innocent and vulnerable. "I forgot my wallet at home. Any chance you could help me out?"
"I'm afraid we're not..." the barista muttered, then he sighed. Christine had flashed him a quick, charming smile, and he'd lost his ability to resist. "I'll pay for you, don't worry."
"That's so nice of you. Thank you," Christie said, her voice sounding like sunshine on a summer day. She picked up her cup as the lovestruck guy pulled out his wallet. "Oh, also. You don't think I could get a sandwich or something? Cause you're such a nice guy."
The red-head shook his head, fighting himself. He spoke quietly, embarrassed, but also scared of upsetting the woman of his new-found admiration. "I make minimum wage here. I don't have any spare cash."
Christie smiled softly, understandingly. She glanced at his name-badge, and then looked up to his twitching eyes. "Adam. That's a really nice name. It suits you."
Adam melted. He looked over his shoulder, making sure his manager wasn't in earshot. Christie knew she had him. "I'd love an avocado on toast, please, and an orange juice. With a vegan chocolate chip cookie."
Adam looked dumbstruck at the drop-dead gorgeous girl in front of him. He knew he didn't have it in him to resist anything she asked of him, even if it would cost him his job. He sighed, and looked into the seductive, mahogany brown eyes.
"Bring it over, yeah?" Christie said lightly, and with a coy wink she turned around and made her way to a small table by the window. She knew Adam would be staring at her ass. Had he been less of a pushover, she might have added some swing to her hips, just for safety, but with the red-head she knew it wasn't necessary.
Christie loved playing with guys. She thrived on twisting them around her finger. Lived for seeing them crawl under her. She didn't need free coffees, or free sandwiches. Only twenty-one, she made 80 grand a year (her boss just couldn't turn down her requests for a raise). She lived in a two-bedroom flat in Manhattan free of charge (her landlord was just such a sweetie). And whenever she felt like travelling the world, there was always some adventurous guy happy to take her along (at his expense, naturally).
The mischievous blonde sat down at her table, looking out at the busy high-street. She loved New York. There was no shortage of things to see, people to meet.
Guys tripping over their feet to impress her.
Christie had always had a lot of admirers, but since she turned 18, she started to notice that the attention she got exceeded what other girls who shared her good looks received. There was something supernatural about it, Christie was sure. Some might call it a gift. Christie just referred to it as her "thing". Over the past few years she'd learned to control and utilize it. How to use it to overpower someone's natural inhibitions, and how to limit it's effect on those she had no interest in. It was through practised restraint on Christie's part that all the guys in the cafe had only starred at her ass.
Adam came over, and hurriedly put a tray with everything Christie had asked for on it. She noticed the napkin had been folded into a heart.
"Thank you," she said, not looking up at the nervous barista. But Adam wasn't leaving. He stood over her, looking down, twiddling his fingers. Christie ignored him, and bit into her toast. Adam just stood there, too scared to speak but too enamoured to leave. Finally Christie looked up at him. "Don't you think you should mpfgh..."
Her words got cut off as Adam leaned down and shoved his tongue into her mouth. He grabbed her with both hands, and kissed her passionately. It took all her strength for Christie to push him off her. He staggered back, equal parts embarrassed and hurt.
"I didn't mean to do that I'm a really nice guy I could be your boyfriend maybe," be blurted out in a single sentence, loud enough that the whole cafe could hear him. People looked over, but the nerdy red-head had eyes only for her.
"I think you should go back to work," Christie said forcefully. There was no smile now. Adam dropped his eyes to the floor, and after hesitating for a moment, walked back to the counter. There his manager came up to him, and hissed angry words Christie couldn't hear.
She turned back to her food. A lot of girls would have lost their appetite from being forcefully kissed against their will, but this wasn't the first time this had happened to Christie. Not by a long shot.
That was the downside to her "thing". The problem with having guys falling uncontrollably for her was that they, well, couldn't control themselves. They literally couldn't help themselves, which made Christie not judge them too harshly. It's why she had had to learn to control it. A smile would get her a free coffee, but a smile and a wink might be too much, and could drive a guy over the edge, where he couldn't resist the male urges Christie awoke in him. She'd gotten very good at reading men over the years, but she'd clearly misread Adam. He must have been even more pathetic than she took him for.
It was a short walk from the cafe to her office, so she didn't mind walking. It felt good stretching her legs, and she felt uplifted by every head that turned in her direction. Her clothing was purposeful. Long jeans, a thin, white t-shirt that went almost to her neck and a dark grey cardigan. Stylish and attractive, but showing as little skin as possible. Had she been walking down in a crop-top or short-shorts, she certainly wouldn't be enjoying the walk.