You were working at your bakery, music playing in the background while you cleaned the window. The sweet smell of bread was wafting through the building as the baker was making sure to hurry so they could get everything done within time.
It took you and the workers there enough time to get everything ready since you were short one person. Supposedly, they were stuck in traffic…but you knew better. There was always something new with her as to why she couldn’t make it on time.
A few minutes later as you were cleaning a few things, you hear the bell. You could usually tell who it was by the way they opened the door, specially for your regulars. When you heard the familiar sound of the bell, you smile to yourself. “Morning Cupcake” you call out while you head to behind the counter getting to behind the register to see Lena who was starting at you curiously.
“Cupcake?” she asked curiously as you opened your mouth and closed it quickly.
“I…yes…morning … comma….cupcake” she said as Lena smirked a bit seeing she had gotten you flustered.
“Morning Comma cupcake…that makes a lot more sense” Lena teases as you groan a bit.
“I’m sorry Ms….I thought you were one of my regulars.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint.”
“No, of course not I just…” you smile when you notice she was teasing you. Taking a deep breath you keep yourself from getting flustered any further. “why don’t we start over?” you ask with a smile before telling her your name.
“Lena Luthor” she said as she walked to the counter.
“Hmm…I think I like cupcake better, but Lena Luthor is a close second”
“Coming second to a cupcake, I’m flattered” she said chuckling. “Oh, right, I have to get going soon…can you pack up 5 boxes of assorted donuts, i’m sorry for the large unexpected order”
“Not at all…don’t worry I got it” you assured her going off.
You quickly get to work, grabbing five empty boxes from the shelves, and your hands move swiftly as you begin filling them with a selection of your best donuts. You can’t help but glance at Lena every now and then, intrigued by her presence. It’s not every day that she herself comes in; Jessica is usually the one running the errands.
“So, what brings you by today?” you ask, your tone casual, though a touch of curiosity lingers.
Lena gives you a small smile, watching you work. “Jessica’s caught up with something, and I figured I’d come by myself this time. Thought I’d see what all the fuss is about. It seems like everyone in the office loves your donuts”
“Ah, so you wanted to confirm if my donuts are actually as good as she says,” you tease, glancing up from your task with a playful glint in your eye.
Lena chuckles softly. “Exactly. Can’t let my team run on subpar snacks, can I?”
You let out a mock gasp, clutching a hand to your chest. “Subpar? You wound me, Ms. Luthor. Cupcake is now definitely off the table.”
She laughs a little louder this time, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Okay, okay, I take it back. I haven’t even tried them yet, but I’m sure they’re incredible.”
You smile triumphantly, sliding the last donut into the fifth box. “As they should be. My donuts, like my sarcasm, are top-tier.”
Lena leans slightly against the counter, resting one arm on it as she watches you. “I’ll have to take your word for it... though I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews from Jessica and the rest of the team.”
You close the final box and stack them up, tying them together neatly with a bit of twine. “Jessica has good taste,” you say with a wink. “And you’ll find out soon enough just how good I am.”
Lena arches an eyebrow, clearly amused by your confidence. “Bold.”
“You don’t get where I am by being shy,” you reply smoothly, sliding the boxes across the counter toward her. “Now, that'll be 90 dollars.”
She chuckles, reaching for her wallet. “Fair enough.”
You watch as she pulls out her card, the sleek black material almost as intimidating as the woman herself. But you can’t help but be drawn to the little smile on her face as she hands it over.
As you swipe her card, you lean in a little, lowering your voice conspiratorially. “Next time, I’ll make sure to set aside some cupcakes just for you. Special order, Ms. Luthor.”
Lena’s smirk deepens. “Now that sounds like a deal I can’t refuse.”
Handing her the receipt, you watch as she takes the boxes, effortlessly balancing them in her arms. “Thank you… for the donuts, of course,” she adds, her gaze lingering on you for a moment longer than necessary before she turns to leave.
“Anytime, Ms. Luthor. Or should I say… cupcake?” You call after her with a grin, watching as she stops at the door.
The next day, you're in the middle of icing a fresh batch of cupcakes when the bell rings. You don’t even have to look up to know it’s her, the faint hum of excitement creeping up your skin as you wipe your hands on a towel.
“Back already?” you call out, glancing over your shoulder. “Didn’t expect to see you so soon, cupcake.”
Lena’s smirk is immediate, her voice smooth as she saunters toward the counter. “What can I say? Turns out your donuts are actually as good as Jessica said.”
“Oh?” you raise an eyebrow, finishing up with the cupcakes and moving to the register. “Just the donuts, huh? So you didn’t come back because of my sparkling personality?”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” she teases. “But I suppose the ‘sparkling’ personality didn’t hurt.”
“Well, I’m glad the donuts passed the snack test. But I’ve got something even better for you today.”
Lena’s brow arches in curiosity. “Better than donuts?”
You grin, reaching under the counter and pulling out a single cupcake with perfectly swirled frosting and a delicate dusting of sprinkles. You slide it toward her with a flourish. “I made this especially for you. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s even better than the donut”
Lena’s eyes linger on the cupcake for a moment before shifting back to you, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “A cupcake, just for me? I feel special.”
“You should,” you reply, leaning on the counter and meeting her gaze. “Not everyone gets the VIP treatment around here. Consider it my way of ensuring you keep coming back.”
She chuckles, picking up the cupcake and inspecting it like it’s some sort of piece of art—which, let’s be real, it kind of is. “You think this is going to keep me coming back?”
“Well, that and my irresistible charm,” you quip, giving her a wink. “But mostly the cupcake.”
Lena takes a slow, deliberate bite of the cupcake, her eyes closing briefly as she savors the taste. When she opens them again, you notice the slight curve of her lips. “Okay,” she says after a moment, her voice low. “You might be onto something here. This is… really good.”
“Really good?” you repeat, feigning offense. “It’s better than really good. That’s my secret recipe.”
Lena laughs softly, wiping a bit of frosting from the corner of her mouth with a napkin. “Alright, it’s excellent. Happy?”
You grin, leaning closer. “I knew you had good taste.”
Lena shakes her head, but there’s warmth in her eyes. “You’re quite confident, aren’t you?”
“I try,” you say, flashing her a smirk. “Besides, confidence is key when you’re trying to impress a pretty girl.”
Lena’s smile lingers as she holds your gaze. “Who says I’m impressed?”
“Oh, I know you are, You just won’t admit it yet.”
She sets the empty cupcake wrapper down, her eyes still locked on yours. “I guess you’ll just have to keep trying.”
Your heartbeat quickens, the space between you suddenly feeling smaller. “Well, lucky for you, I’m pretty persistent,” you murmur, still leaning on the counter, your faces just a little too close for it to be casual anymore.
Lena tilts her head slightly closing in just a bit, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “I’m counting on it.”
The moment stretches, a subtle tension hanging between you, but just before either of you can say more, the door jingles again, as another customer walks in.
You straighten up, giving Lena a playful grin. “Looks like you’ll have to wait until next time for more of my charm, it seems like it’s in high demand”
Lena chuckles softly, standing up straight. “I’ll be back, don’t worry.”
A few weeks pass with Lena going over in the mornings for a cupcake or some pastry you had ready for her. Jessica was still going over every morning to pick up the donuts for the office, but Lena often dropped by afterwards to pick up the cupcake herself .
That morning, you’re wiping down the counter when you hear the familiar jingle of the bell. Without even looking up, a grin spreads across your face.
"Morning, cupcake,” you say, glancing up to see Lena strolling through the door, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.
“Morning,” she replies, her voice light, but her eyes bright as they meet yours. She stops in front of the counter, leaning against. “I’ll take the cupcake I was promised.”
You bite back a laugh, shaking your head as you reach for the display case. Lena’s visits had become routine over the past weeks, her excuse always the same: "just here for a cupcake." But it’s clear there’s more to it than that.
After boxing her cupcake with a little extra flair today—because who doesn’t love sprinkles?—you set the box on the counter and meet her gaze, your tone teasing but pointed.
“So,” you start, leaning on the counter, “will you be taking me out on a date soon? Or do I have to ask Jessica to handle that too?”
Lena blinks, clearly caught off guard, but a slow smile spreads across her face, and you can see the glint of amusement and something warmer in her eyes. “Wow,” she says, laughing softly. “Didn’t think you were going to call me out like that.”
You shrug, your confidence unwavering. “Well, someone’s gotta make the first move; and since Jessica hasn’t passed me any dictated memo from you, I decided to do the heavy lifting” you tease, giving her a wink. “Thought I’d speed up the process.”
“You’ve got a point there,” she admits, her voice softer now. “I just wasn’t sure if you’d even be interested.”
You arch an eyebrow, giving her a knowing look. “You’ve been coming in here every morning for weeks,for a special cupcake I make for you everyday...the only way I could be more obvious is if I had spelled it out on the cupcake”
Lena lets out a small laugh, finally standing upright, her hands resting on the counter as she leans in slightly, her gaze locking onto yours. “Okay, fair enough. I was just waiting for the right moment.”
“So,” you prompt, feeling a flutter in your stomach despite the confidence in your voice. “What do you say?”
Lena looks at you, her expression softening,“I’d love to take you out. How does dinner tomorrow night sound?”
Your smile widens, your heart skipping a beat. “Sounds perfect. Should I send Jessica a message to make sure she schedules it in?”
Lena laughs again, shaking her head. “Don’t worry, I’ll remember”
You watch as she takes the cupcake, her eyes lingering on you just a little longer than before. "Until tomorrow, then," she says with a wink, turning to leave.
As the door closes behind her, you find yourself grinning. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough.