She was keeping her identity change simple, dropping her paternal last name and replacing it with her mother’s. Since both of her surnames were printed on her actual birth certificate and social security card, the condensed version on her shiny new license shouldn’t raise many eyebrows. Her friends from Maryland knew her as Veronica Ramirez, so she would simply disappear in Virginia as Vero Ruiz, a diminutive name only her family had ever used. Hopefully, no one would come looking for her here.
She had proof of residence—the electric bill she’d taken from her cousin’s apartment that morning, then doctored at the office supply store and photocopied to reflect her new name. It wasn’t a lie… she really did plan to live there for a while, just until she could find her own place. Meanwhile, if anyonedidcome looking for her, living under Ramón’s address would make her harder to find. So would the set of Virginia license tags she’d swiped from a totaled car in her cousin’s salvage yard—a white Honda Civic, similar to her own, that she hoped no one would ever come looking for.
She scrolled through her phone as she waited for the manager, only half listening to the middle-aged couple talking with an account rep in the open cubicle beside her.
“I think Darren’s right,” the woman said. “I’m self-employed, Greg. At some point, we have to start planning for our retirement.”
“The Deluxe Savings plan is an excellent choice,” the account rep agreed.
Terrible choice,Vero thought to herself as she scrolled.
“That savings account you’re recommending pays, what… less than a percent?”
You tell him, Greg. That savings plan is bullshit.
“Maybe we should be investing that money instead, Linda. Marty and Rebecca made a killing in tech stocks.”
“That was ten years ago, Greg. I’m fifty-two. We don’t have time for high-risk investments.”
That’s very sensible, Linda. A balanced portfolio is definitely the way to go.
The customer service rep cleared his throat. “Based on what I’m hearing, the Deluxe Savings plan is the best solution for—”
Is he serious? Who gave this guy a job? Did he even pass basic finance? He’s nothing more than a glorified bank teller.
“Excuse me. I don’t mean to butt in,” Vero said, poking her head inside the cubicle. The couple glanced up with bemused expressions. The customer service rep, who might have been cute if he’d never opened his mouth, seemed to have lost his thoughts somewhere in the vicinity of Vero’s chest. If he searched any harder for them, maybe he’d find his missing brain cells, too. “That Deluxe Savings plan you’re pitching wouldn’t save them enough to live on ramen noodles in a trailer park in Manassas. They’ll be working until they’re a hundred and twelve. And I’m guessing Greg and Linda here would much prefer caviar and champagne in the BVIs before they turn sixty. Am I right?”
Greg nodded vigorously. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
“Have you considered opening a SEP IRA?” Vero suggested to Linda. “It would shield more of your income from the IRS while building your assets for retirement.”
The couple blinked at her, then up at the wide-eyed bank representative. Darren blanched as he straightened his tie. Someone called Vero’s name from the next cubicle. “Good luck,” she told the couple, side-eying their representative as she left. She might be a college dropout, but she was sure she could give better banking advice than this guy.
Vero entered the small corner office with glass walls overlooking the bank floor. The nameplate on the desk saidJAY SINGH. A young man in a suit greeted her, holding back his tie as he reached over his desk to shake her hand. “Have a seat, Miss…?”
“Ruiz,” Vero supplied as she passed him her clipboard and documents.
“And what brings you in today?”
An arrest warrant in Marylandwas probably not the answer this man was looking for. “I’m applying for a job.”
“Great, I was beginning to worry we wouldn’t find someone.” Mr. Singh’s eyes made a quick pass over her as he skimmed her application.
“I’ve taken a lot of higher-level money and banking classes, I’m excellent with numbers and investment strategies, and I’m really great with people—”
“Are you good with a mop?”
“Excuse me?” She shook her head, assuming she must have misheard.
“I’m looking for a janitor.” At her stupefied look, he clarified. “You know, dusting, restocking restrooms, vacuuming after hours, that sort of thing…”
“But I’m…” But she waswhat? Shehadbeen on track to graduate cum laude from the University of Maryland School of Business. Shehadbeen poised to wear honors tassels at graduation in May. Shehadbeen ready to conquer the world. But who was she now? She bit her tongue. “I’ll think about it,” she said as she got up to leave his office.
A security guard in a uniform stepped in her path. She froze, staring at the badge pinned to the front of his shirt.Oh god.Was this it? How had the cops tracked her here so fast? Was it facial recognition? An E-ZPass camera? Had someone spotted her on the closed-circuit TVs when she’d snuck into Costco that morning for free breakfast samples? (Those tiny bagel dogs were totally worth it.)
Vero forced herself to smile at the security guard, nearly crumbling with relief when he stepped aside to let her pass. She stood outside the manager’s door, contemplating her options. No one knew who she was… yet. And she had accomplished part of what she’d come for; she had a bank account, now all she needed was a job. It didn’t have to be this one. She could go someplace else. A restaurant. A movie theater. A retail store. She didn’t want to work in a bank if the only way she’d see the inside of it was with a rag and a bottle of Windex. Just because she’d had to start her life over didn’t mean she had to forget who she was. She was a numbers goddess, a financial wizard, a future star accountant. She was…
Vero listened, leaning closer to the door as she caught bits and pieces of Mr. Singh’s conversation with the bank’s security guard.
