When we neared the café, I stepped out and returned inside.
There were only a few customers this time, and she was long gone.
“Back so soon, sir?” The barista blushed as I neared the counter. “Do I need to make you another order?”
“No, I need the name of the woman who was getting mad about me skipping the line earlier.”
“What do you need that for?”
I really have no idea.“She seemed like a regular, so if you know it, can you give it to me?”
“I have a name.” She batted her eyes. “Do you want mine?”
“I can see yours quite clearly.” I glanced at her name tag. “Raina.”
Her cheeks flushed even redder.
“Can I have the woman’s name now?”
“No, sorry,” she said. “It’s against company policy to give out information on our customers. It’s a violation of their privacy, you know?”
No…“Let’s pretend that policy will be changed in the coming days,” I said, pulling out the gift card. “I need to give this back to her.”
“Oh! Well, I can do that whenever I see her again.” She snatched it from my hand. “Now that she’s out of our picture, though… What’s your name?”
“It’s Mr. Cross.” I didn’t bother giving her my first. “I appreciate your terrible attempt at help.”
“Anytime.” She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “I work here six days a week, morning shift.”
I turned around and returned outside, glancing up and down the block before getting back into the town car.
“Well?” Aaron asked.
“Well, what?”
“Did you find whatever it is that you left?”
“No,” I said, looking out the window. “Unfortunately not.”
“If you tell me what it is, I can put someone on it.”
There was no way I could tell him—or anyone on my staff—to pull security footage from the café and hunt down the sexiest woman they’d ever see, so I shook my head.
“No, that’s okay,” I said. “Let’s focus on what we came here for. Business.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” He patted my shoulder, and the driver coasted onto the streets once more.
I pretended to listen to his words as we drove, still looking out the windows for the woman in gray, until reality set in.
If one glance was enough to derail my entire morning, it was probably for the best that I never saw that woman again.
FOUR
ANDREA
The top floor of headquarters looked like a crime scene.
Dust swirled around toppled furniture, and framed photos that once lined the walls were packed into large boxes across the floor.
