As I enter the café, I believe the owner, Janet, is behind the counter where Coco would typically be.She notices me, and immediately, I can tell she’s on guard.Which means she’s unlikely to give me the information I’m here for.
“Good morning,” she greets.“How can I help you?”
“I want her address.”No point in pleasantries.
“I can’t give you that.”There’s a stubborn set to her jaw.
“You can.”I take out the hospital receipt—minus all her personal information beyond her name—and lay it on the counter.“She deserves help.”Janet stares astounded at the price of the bill I paid for a girl I’ve barely spoken to but know I want in my future.“Where does she live?”
“I can’t,” she whispers again.“I promised I wouldn’t.”
My eyebrows raise at that.“Today?She made you promise not to tell me where she lives?”Janet nods shakily.
Leaning forward, my intention is not to intimidate her, but I’ll do what I have to in order to get what I want.“Janet, I want her address, and I will get it, with or without your help.”
She shakes her head.“I made a promise; I won’t break it.”
Nodding, I accept her loyalty and move around the counter.She’s too stunned at first before running after me as I enter the office.
“Wait a minute, you can’t be back here!”
Turning, I spear her with a look.“You’re a smart woman, Janet; you know exactly who I am.Do not cross me.”With that threat, she pales, and I know Coco will hear about this exchange and likely resist me; however, that won’t deter my pursuit of the young woman.
“She doesn’t have a lot,” Janet says.My fingers halt on the locked filing cabinet.“Coco was raised in the foster system; she doesn’t believe she deserves much.”
“She deserves the world on a gold platter,” I argue.
“Are you going to give it to her?”Her chin lifts in challenge.
“I’d like the chance to explore the possibility.I made that clear to her last night.”Didn’t I?
“Why’d you leave her?”The gall of this woman.
“Business.”
She snorts.“And that will always come first.”A sharp tug on the cabinet drawer breaks the lock, giving me access.“Stop,” Janet murmurs, and I raise an eyebrow.“She won’t trust you if you steal it, and that won’t bode well for either of you.How about a compromise?”
“I’m listening.”
“Her phone number.She’s going to have a lot of time on her hands until she’s able to return to work.She will have plenty of time to talk with you.”
I think about it, then nod, countering with my own stipulation.“I’ll accept that.However, I need for you to keep the intensity of our interaction to yourself.”She hesitantly agrees.“And I need you to offer to continue to pay her while she’s off.Maybe rationalize it because she was on her way to work; I don’t care.The money will come from me, but I suspect she won’t accept it from anyone but you.”
Her eyes widen in shock.“I’m not sure she’d take it from me.Not without working.She’d never believe it to be true.”
“Ask her to make some of those stockings she enjoys so much as payback when she’s feeling better.Make it a seasonal thing, to decorate the shop.”
My suggestion gets her to waver a bit.
“Deal.”She reaches out a hand for us to shake.A minute later, I’m writing the check for Coco, annoyed at how little it is.Then, as an apology, I fill out another to the shop, buying into the business.
“My lawyer will be in touch soon with a contract and details.Think of me as a silent partner who excels at marketing.If, in six months, your profits haven’t doubled, granting you the ability to not only give everyone a raise but hire more staff, then our contract will be absolved, and you owe me nothing but a signature stating the business is yours once again.”
“My lawyer will need to look it over first,” she whispers, staring at the number of zeroes.
“Of course.”
Taking my leave after securing Coco’s number, I put off calling her because she’s likely sleeping.Preston waits for me with a pinched expression on his face, and I wonder if he sucks on lemons for fun.
