Cold Deception (His Agenda 4): Prequel to the His Agenda Series (11 page)

“You have to lose the attitude if you want my help.”

“Got it,” Terence said. “What can you tell me about this business?”

“What do you want to know?”

Terence and Marion went to a nearby bistro to have lunch and talk some more. Marion gave Terence advice on how to get started, where to get clients online. Terence wanted to start working immediately, so Marion accompanied him to Jack’s Surveillance Shop, the only store in town that sold high-end surveillance equipment. They bought the necessities—binoculars, a small camera, a flashlight, and a few other bits and pieces. Marion gave him a cheap laptop he no longer used so Terence wouldn’t have to use their home computer for work.

The next day, Marion helped Terence create a simple website—built on lies, of course. The clients had to believe he knew what he was doing, that he had plenty of experience in the area. Marion also showed Terence some online forums where he could find both clients and cheating spouses. Terence soaked up all the information like a sponge.

Over the next few days, Marion helped him out with his first assignment. Together they visited the places a father of three said his wife might be. They watched her when she left work at Serendipity Memorial, and got some great shots of her entering another man’s house. The man turned out to be Terence’s client’s cousin. The paying client was furious, but glad to know the truth. Terence got his money, and the client was free to do whatever he chose with the evidence.

After a few days of exposing cheating spouses, even Marion agreed that maybe Terence had entered the right field after all. What he didn’t know was that every time Terence discovered a cheating wife, a dagger rammed itself into his stomach. A few times he got physically close enough to the women that his blood boiled, and he had to fight the urge not to strangle them with his bare hands.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Lacey

When Terence told Lacey over breakfast that he had quit his jobs and was now working as a private investigator, she was concerned. Until he showed her the money. He had earned more in two weeks than he’d earned in a month working his two old jobs. When he announced the news to her, he also presented her with a pair of beautiful gold earrings. She wanted to be happy for him, to celebrate with him. He had found a job he loved, and it was one that brought in more money. But her smile was forced, and her stomach had cramped at the news. He’d gotten a better paying job to dissuade her from wanting to work. Why didn’t he understand that for her, a job meant more than money?

After breakfast, Terence left the house to meet with clients. He also had an assignment later in the evening. He might not be home for dinner. Lacey welcomed his departure. She was afraid that now that he was his own boss, he would be working from home. Her fears thawed when he told her he had rented a small office space in town.

“Working from home would be a bad idea,” he’d said. “You are too much of a distraction.”

“I try to be,” she’d responded, trying not to show her relief on her face.

Today she was especially glad he would be out of the house because she was going job hunting. She would keep her mouth shut until she found a job.

She thought first of waitressing. Not only was she good with people, she loved feeding them. Her only problem was her lack of experience in a restaurant setting. Some restaurant managers didn’t consider dishing out meals to the homeless to be sufficient experience—she found that out quick enough. Three small restaurants turned her away, then a pizzeria, a steak bistro, and a fish restaurant. She stayed away from the medium to large restaurants. They would surely show her the door.

On the third day of finding nothing, she started to rethink her plan. Serendipity was a tiny town, and she had pretty much approached all the small restaurants. She had two choices. She could quit the search and resign herself to being a housewife, or be brave and walk into the big ones. She could end up failing, but at least she would have tried.

The fourth day, she woke up with a heart that wouldn’t stop racing, and a determined voice inside her head pleading with her not to approach any big restaurants, to save herself from humiliation. But determination trumped fear.

After Terence left the house, she put on a pair of black pants, a dark purple button-down sweater, and the only pair of pumps she had. They would have to do. She brushed her hair until it shone, and clipped on the earrings Terence had given her a few days ago. She completed the look with her mother-in-law’s infinity necklace. She didn’t look expensive, but she looked good, and that gave her confidence.

By midday, her confidence was fragile. One restaurant manager, a woman with a tight ponytail and fake eyelashes, told her they were not looking for a waitress. Two other restaurant managers listened to her, but decided she didn’t have any of the skills they were looking for.

Maybe Terence was right. Maybe she should remain a housewife, or take Lilliana’s offer and go back to Oasis.

She took a long walk in the bitter cold, then decided to stop at Mel’s Delights for coffee and a muffin. She would have asked them for a job as well, but she had never seen anyone but the owner, Melisa, working there.

Before she headed back home, she decided to try one more restaurant. Classico had a “Help Wanted” sign in the window. They were looking for a waitress. Lacey expected to be turned away again. Before entering, she paced outside for a few minutes, watching elegantly dressed people enter and leave. Finally, she pushed open the door.

The interior screamed luxury with its dark reds and creams, and the air smelled of expensive wines mixed with spices.

Trying not to feel out of place, she approached a tall, pretty brunette wearing a maroon and black uniform. She carried a leather-bound menu.

“Good evening,” the woman said in a smooth, kind voice. “Welcome to Classico. Do you have a reservation?”

Lacey stretched out her hand. “I’m Lacey Pirone. I saw in the window that you’re looking for a waitress. I’m interested. Who can I talk to?”

The woman moved the menu from her right hand to her left and squeezed Lacey’s hand with a warmth that went straight to Lacey’s heart. For the first time since she began looking for a job, she felt welcome.

“I’m Florene Rowser. You’re right, we are looking for someone. One of my colleagues went on maternity leave. You should talk to the restaurant manager. You’re in luck, she’s here tonight. Follow me.” They walked past the bar and Florene exchanged a few words with the bartender, who nodded and winked at her.

They continued past tables covered with cream damask covers, flaunting submerged flower centerpieces. Guests spoke in hushed voices as they ate their meals. The sounds of people talking and laughing, and of silverware clinking were muted and softened by the lush carpet and background music.

“We’ve arrived.” Florene knocked on a wooden door, then peeked inside. “Someone’s interested in Desiree’s job.”

“Good, show her in,” a husky voice replied.

Lacey had felt comfortable with Florene, but now that she was about to talk to the manager, her stomach twisted with familiar nervousness.

“Go right in,” Florene said, then added in a whisper, “Good luck.”

“Thank you,” Lacey said, the urge to bolt almost overwhelming her. If she didn’t get this job, she didn’t think she’d have the nerve to do this again.

Unlike the other parts of the restaurant, the office was simply furnished. No luxury in here—just a simple wooden desk, a matching shelf with folders tucked into it lining one wall, and two chairs. Lacey didn’t know why, but it somehow put her at ease. Behind the desk sat a woman wearing a beige and black business suit. Her hair was slicked back in a low bun and she wore simple diamond studs in her ears.

The woman rose from her chair and came over to Lacey’s side of the desk. She was much shorter than Lacey, but she had a strong presence that made her seem taller. She offered Lacey her hand. “Kellie Dant. Nice to meet you, Miss…”

“Lacey, Lacey Pirone. Nice to meet you as well.”

“I hear you’re interested in our job opening. Please have a seat.” Kellie went back to her chair and Lacey sat down. Although she wasn’t unkind, Kellie didn’t possess the warmth that Florene had exuded. But she was giving Lacey a chance to talk, and that was all she needed.

“Do you have any experience as a waitress?” The woman leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowed slightly.

Lacey suppressed the urge to bite her lip like she usually did when she was uncomfortable. She had come this far—too far to walk out without trying. She would give it her best, and this time she would not pretend. She would lay all her cards on the table.

“I worked for a few years at Oasis, a homeless shelter. I did prep and served food there.” She hadn’t served people dressed in designer clothes or expensive jewelry, but she had served real, hungry people. While she waited for Kellie to respond, she found herself crossing the fingers of the hand that was hidden under the table.

“Have you ever worked in an actual restaurant setting?” It was the question Lacey dreaded the most.

“No, but I’m a quick learner.”

“We are looking for somebody experienced in waitressing. Do you have any other experience apart from working at Oasis?”

“No… no, I do not. But I worked at Oasis for over two years, and I served meals every day. I believe the experience I gained there can be put to use here. I also dealt with difficult people often. And I carried out all kinds of tasks.” She stopped talking. She didn’t know what else to say.

“I see. I’m afraid we can’t hire you if you don’t have any experience in a restaurant setting. I’m sorry.”

“I understand.” Lacey’s voice was low and defeated. But then a new feeling surged through her. A drive to prove to this woman that her lack of experience didn’t make her incapable. People learned on the job all the time, without education or experience. She’d already been denied. She had nothing to lose by speaking her mind.

“Ms. Dant, you’re right. I do not have experience in a restaurant setting, but I’m confident that I have the same qualities many waitresses bring to the table. I’m a hard worker, I learn fast, and I genuinely care about people. It’s my passion to work with people, and I have great interpersonal skills. I’ve been to a number of restaurants, and I was told the same thing over and over. I need to start somewhere, and I was really hoping you would be the person to give me a chance and the experience I need. I promise you won’t regret it.”

Kellie raised her eyebrows slightly and nodded. After a few moments of observing Lacey, she said, “You’re right. Oasis is not a restaurant, but you were feeding people there.” She sighed. “I’ll give you a chance, an opportunity to gather some experience. I can’t offer you long-term employment, and you will only be working three shifts a week. But I would be happy to have you on board.”

When Lacey left Kellie’s office, she bumped into Florene, who was carrying a tray laden with wine glasses. Florene flashed her a smile and gave her a cocked eyebrow and a thumbs-up.

Lacey smiled and returned the thumbs-up. A moment later she walked out of the restaurant feeling as if she were walking on air. At the same time she was stricken with fear. She had done the exact thing her husband had told her not to do. She had proven to him and to herself that Terence did not own her. The consequences could be devastating.

Despite the cold, the sky was clear and the sun bright. A few days before Christmas and not a snowflake to be seen. She had a feeling it would be a warm Christmas, but her marriage was still in danger of freezing to death.

She got behind the wheel and drove home. For the first time since her baby died, she could breathe again. She loved the person she was about to become, the kind of person people like Kellie took a chance on. Good thing she had been brave enough to push aside her fears, walk into Classico, and refuse to be turned away.

She wouldn’t tell Terence about the job right away. It would be Christmas soon. Maybe some holiday cheer would rub off on him and he’d be more receptive to the change.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Lacey had just changed into her freshly pressed uniform when Florene walked in to the staff room carrying a sleek Armani handbag. Her chocolate hair was on top of her head in a messy but stylish bun, and she wore a tight blue sweater and slim black jeans, which were tucked into espresso riding boots. She looked like she’d stepped out of a glamour magazine.

Lacey felt like a frump. She’d never been one to chase fashion—not because of lack of interest, but because she’d never had the money. She bought clothes she could afford and never wore makeup. Maybe now that she would be earning her own money, she could spoil herself a little.

“Congratulations on getting the job.” Florene kissed Lacey on both cheeks as though the two were already close friends. “But girl, you need a makeover.” She touched a strand of Lacey’s hair and rubbed it between her fingers. “Your hair is a desert. It needs a shot of moisture.”

“I…” Lacey touched her hair, confused.

Florene dropped her bag on a bench and pulled off her sweater. A plum-colored Victoria’s Secret bra flashed at Lacey.

“Sorry.” She turned to face Lacey. “I tend to be forward. What I meant is, you’re pretty, but your looks are a little safe. You’d be a stunner with a bit of makeup.”

Lacey felt both offended and curious. She never thought much about looking better than she naturally did. The only thing she resented about her looks was the fact that she resembled her mother a little too much. If a little makeup could change that, she would be all for it. But her makeup skills were nonexistent. “I appreciate your honesty… and thanks for the compliment.”

“Anytime. I went to beauty school but since there are only a couple of beauty salons in Serendipity, I decided to keep the knowledge to myself. If you ever need makeup tips, don’t hesitate to ask.”

***

Lacey’s first day wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. She spilled soup on a customer, gave the wrong change, brought out the wrong orders, and on the whole, exposed her lack of waitressing experience. Luckily Kellie was on vacation and wasn’t there to watch Lacey blow it on her first day. When Lacey’s colleague Keith complained about her, Florene, who was in charge during Kellie’s absence, quickly put him in his place. He’d started somewhere too, she reminded him.