I didn’t want to hear anymore, so I walked away.
What would Donut Girl think of me when she found this out? Would she agree to spy for my father? I shook my head. If she said yes, any positive feelings I’d had toward her would be gone.
She’d be just as dead to me as my own father was.
Stone cold.
CHAPTER 9
FAITH
It was another glorious Monday. And it was almost perfect—I had a job, a phone that worked, and dry socks. The only exception—Destiny wasn’t here, and I was braving the break room for the first time since the “incident.” Not wanting a repeat of last time, I was getting in and out early and quickly, some would say almost furtively, like a squirrel looking to raid an off-limits bird feeder.
Madelaine from the kitchen—yes, the executives had chef-cooked meals on call—had barely placed the two large boxes on the counter when I was on them. The thirtysomething, slim kitchenhand peered at me and smirked. “Donut Girl’s hungry today. You’re here early.”
Already holding my coffee, I glanced at the door, making sure the coast was still clear. How the heck did the chef know what happened with me and too-hot-to-be-fair Curtis? Looked like my new moniker had reached the upper echelons of the employmentpool. Was everyone privy to my shortfalls, or short fall as the case may be? I mumbled, “I missed breakfast,” grabbed a chocolate-glazed donut from the packet, and headed for the exit.
This time, I stopped just before crashing into the person coming the other way. What was it with me and doorways? They were my own person portals to embarrassment.
Stephanie stopped and smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. It was the kind of smile one did in the hopes of buttering someone up when you knew they weren’t going to like the news. Like when Amy told me about the job she wanted to foist on me. It was the kind of smile a stranger gave you before they told you there was toilet paper sticking out of the back of your jeans. Ask me how I knew. “Just the person I wanted to see. Can you come to my office now? I’ve cleared it with Victoria.”
“Ah, of course.” Well, this didn’t bode well. Was I getting fired? Victoria said I’d get three warnings, and I’d only had one… that I was aware of. Had she whispered two others when I wasn’t paying attention? I tried not to think that Mom was right—that great things didn’t work out for us.
By the time we reached her office, the suspense was almost enough to make me preemptively quit. Yes, I was crazy, but I didn’t want to sit through the whole “it’s not personal, but…” lecture.
“Please sit.”
I sat, cradling my coffee and donut. It was probably rude, but I needed carbs to deal with this, so I bit into my donut. It wasn’t like it would make things worse.
This time, her smile was more genuine. “Sorry for interrupting your break. Feel free to keep eating.”
“Thanks,” I said through a mouthful of donut, a large crumb falling out and landing on my skirt. I pretended it wasn’t there. Donut Girl might as well live up to her name.
If my uncouth behavior bothered Stephanie, she didn’t show it. “So, I called you in here to ask a favor.”
I swallowed the food, both in shock and in an attempt to be more professional. My traitorous cheeks warmed, flashing my discomfort—I’d gotten it wrong again. Who needed enemies when you had yourself? “Of course. What can I do for you?”
“Before I explain, I want to remind you that the NDA you signed covers this, and that if any of what I’m about to tell you gets out, not only will you lose your job, but we’ll have grounds to recoup all the money we’ve paid you to date.”
I took a deep breath. Did I want to know what she was about to tell me? What if it was something illegal or something my conscience couldn’t get on board with, and I wanted to tell the police or FBI? Was she about to tell me where the bodies were buried? “It’s nothing illegal, is it? Because in that case, I can’t promise, and I don’t want to know.”
This time her smile was wholeheartedly genuine. She even chuckled. “And this is why I’m asking you for this favor. I… or rather the company needs someone with your honesty and ethics. The job would be in a different capacity, though. Would you be prepared to change roles for six weeks?”
“Ah… it depends what it is. I’m not very good at anything else. I could possibly answer phones at reception. I’m proficient at greeting people and taking messages.” It would be a step down, but I wasn’t losing my two-week’s pay packet over a demotion. I’d be willing to lie on the floor right now wearing a T-shirt saying, “I’m a doormat; use me.”
“Based on your skills, I’m sure you’ll be fine at this role. And if you get stuck, you can contact me. I’d be happy to answer any questions. It’s urgent that we find someone today because the other person in the job has to leave and is doing handover today. It’s sudden. We haven’t had time to advertise and interview. But I think you’ll be perfect for what we need.”
The question remained: Perfect for what?
“If you accept the job, there will be a ten-thousand-dollar bonus on completion of the six weeks.”
I gasped, happy that I’d given up eating the donut. I surely would’ve choked. “Ten thousand?” What was the job? Bathing the executives’ feet? Picking up after Victoria’s pet alligator? I didn’t even know if she had one, but if there was a pet that suited her, that was it. When it died, she could have it made into a designer handbag.
“Yes. I know this is unusual. It is for us too; I can assure you. So, are you at least open to hearing what it is?”
“Are there consequences if I don’t take it?” So many things weren’t being said, and I wanted clarity.
She licked her lips. Argh. Bad sign in any circumstance that wasn’t flirting. And even then, it was hard to pull off. Tommy Babuto came to mind. A kid in my class in junior high asked me on a date. I had images of him imprinted on my brain that no amount of drinking could wipe away. His monobrow waggling in a way he thought was seductive as his long tongue came out to swipe across his top lip and pubescent fuzz as if he were a giraffe trying to pick its own nose.
