She takes off, and the table collectively sighs in relief.
“Seriously?” I grunt.
“Listen, you’re a scary dude, but she’s still at the top of my fears list and has been since like kindergarten,” Mark says, hands up in mock surrender.
“I always thought it was the money and power that made her scary, but nope. She’s still got it.” Billy peeks a look over his shoulder toward her, but quickly turns back around.
“Money and power?” I ask, hoping I sound less interestedthan I feel.
“Oh yeah, man. Uh, I mean, Captain,” Mark corrects himself, and I internally groan. Get on with it. “Tris’s family used to be like the DuPonces.”
“Only not as nice,” Billy adds.
“Yeah, definitely not as nice. Her family was loaded. I’m talking, mansions, private islands, and jets. The woman made those reality TV show stars look like a joke. Anything she wanted was at her fingertips.”
I glance over at the woman across the room who is now wiping the back of her hand across her brow, spreading powdery sugar across her face. When she realizes what she’s done, she huffs in frustration.
“So what the hell happened? Because other than the holier-than-thou attitude, that’s not the woman I’m looking at right now.”
“Be careful, she’s like Medusa,” Maria chimes in. “She’ll turn you to stone.”
“Her dad was arrested, and her family lost everything. He’s in jail now for a butt load of charges. I don’t know the details exactly, but it’s not good. His court date is coming up in the fall, I think. Ask Tom, he knows way more than I do. He helped the FBI with the case.”
“No thanks. I’m good,” I tell Billy, because I don’t need any more information on this woman than I’ve already got.
“Suit yourself, but could you do me a favor? Can you ask to get my order to go? I have work at the Turtle Bay Tavern tonight, and as previously stated,” he says, a smirk growing on his face as he peeks behind him again. “She scares me.”
I roll my eyes, now feeling like I’ve got the whole picture, and it all makes sense. It sounds like the Princess was knocked off her pedestal and lost her crown. I glance back over, hoping to further prove all the reasons I can’t stand this woman, but wind up cursingmyself for not being able to look away. I watch her fluid movements as she reloads the coffee machine, her hips moving as she walks back and forth, offering help to Ainsley. When a little kid presses up to the glass, eyes locked on a pastry, she glances around, slips it out, and hands it to him, pressing a finger to her lips in a quietshush.
Gaze still fixed on her, my chest loosens, warmth creeping through me, while my stomach clenches in sudden tension. I turn my attention back to the table and pretend to be listening while I silently fight to regain a semblance of control over the tumultuous emotions rioting inside of me.
Chapter Six
Tris
My father hasn’t stopped calling me since I accidentally answered his call four weeks ago. What a stupid move that was. If it hadn’t been for that jerk-face Levi distracting me, he wouldn’t have upped his phone calls to twice a week. I guess telling him I have nothing to say didn’t get through that stubborn skull of his. Why would it? He’s never thought much of my opinion or of others’ ability to deny him what he wants. In his mind, since I’ve answered once before, it’s only a matter of time before I do it again.
Along with my father harassing me, I also had an FBI agent show up at my door the other day, asking if I had any further information on my father’s case that I’d like to share, insinuating I might have something to hide. As if I want any involvement in this mess. I quickly put him in his place with a few choice words and smiled as he walked back to his car with his tail between his legs.
Damn right.
Apparently, the oldest daughter of the Arias Oil Corporation, the one that my father “allegedly” was working with and covering up dirty contracts for, is fully cooperating with the FBI and actively trying to take her father down. Good for her. I, however, will stick to reviewing the orders for inventory next week and not the details of a bunch of greedy men’s contracts.
“Hey, I need your help out here. Looks like the lunch rush has started early and we’re gettin’ busier than a rooster in a hen house,” Ainsley says, an airy laugh escaping her before disappearing back through the swinging doors.
I swear, I should start writing these sayings down. I half wonder if she makes them up sometimes to see my reaction. Something shifted after my little baking brigade, and since then, she and I have talked and laughed more than I thought was possible. I’m still not sure I’d call us friends just yet, but it feels like we’re getting there.
I hurry up and finish the order, making sure to add the ingredients for what Ainsley still refers to as myballsack biscuitsso that I can make Ellie some more, before following her to the front. As soon as I make it past the swinging doors, a loud group of customers thunder in, pulling my attention.
“Oh great,he’shere,” I mumble when I notice who’s trailing behind.
“You should cut him a little more slack. After everything he’s been through,” Ainsley whispers when she follows my line of sight to Levi.
“Why? The guy is a jerk every time I see him,” I huff.
“On account of what happened to him and his fiancée...” Her voice trails off like there’s something I should know. Except I have no idea what she’s talking about. When she sees my eyes widen, her chin drops, and her mouth gapes. “You don’t know?”
“Ainsley,” I sigh. “Other than Ellie, you’re the only one I talk to in this town, so no. Are you going to tell me?”
