“I’m sorry,” I said, dabbing at my eyes before lifting my head. I feigned a shudder and pretended to pull myself together. “My mom … you might’ve heard of her. Her name’s Monica Quinn?”
That got their attention because they looked at each other, and a smile passed between them.
“She’s…” I fumbled momentarily when I noticed movement on the bottom left monitor. It was Rule. He’d gotten inside the building and was weaving through the cars.
“How can we help?” the one who’d been at the counter asked as he stood up, prepared to save the damsel in distress.
I let the tears come again. “I wrecked her car. It’s not the first time. Maybe the ninth or tenth, I don’t know. She’s going to let them take my driver’s license away if she finds out. I just … I need to get the car out. I can get it towed to a shop. They can fix it. She never has to know.”
I purposely rambled on as fast as I could, making it impossible for them to interject or look away. I discreetly glanced at the monitor, watching Rule and trying to keep them occupied. When the guy who’d been watching the monitors started to turn, I went all in.
“I can pay whatever I have to. I just need someone to help me. Or if … you know … if you don’t want money, I’m sure I can make a deal some other way.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes when they both looked at my chest. My T-shirt revealed nothing, but I was pushing my bosom forward in an effort to distract them.
And into the perve box they went.
I licked my lips and glanced between them, giving them big doe eyes filled with hope.
“She just can’t find out. I’ll doanything,” I pleaded, glancing between them.
“I’m sure we can work out a trade,” the younger of them said. “Right, Paul?”
“Sure. What’d you have in mind?”
On the monitor, Rule was slipping back out the way he’d come. As soon as he was out of camera range, I gave my audience wide eyes.
I sniffled. “Don’t you want to look up the car first?”
“If that’ll make you feel better, sure.” The counter guy put his hands on the keyboard. “Do you have the VIN?”
My phone buzzed in my back pocket. I held up a finger as I pulled it from my pocket.
—All clear. Let’s go.
“Oh, my,” I said dramatically. “That was … the car’s not here.”
“Are you sure?” the camera watcher asked my boobs.
“I’m sure.” I pouted. “I’m so sorry to cause you trouble.”
“No trouble. Maybe you want to hang around for a bit.”
I smiled brightly. “Nah.” I clapped cheerfully. “My mom’s not gonna find out after all. Time to get to the next party.”
I added enough swagger to keep their attention as I strolled out of the building, pleased that I’d done my first job.
Not too shabby for an amateur.
* * *
Rule
“Did you get what you needed?” Laikynasked as soon as she was in the car.
“I did. You have any problems?”
“Nope. Distracting straight guys is easy.”
