Cold Deception (His Agenda 4): Prequel to the His Agenda Series (12 page)

When Lacey thanked her later, Florene brushed it off.

“You weren’t all that bad. Seriously, you should have seen me the first time I waited on a table. I was a total disaster.”

Lacey found herself laughing as Florene recalled her own blunders. She also told Lacey a little about herself. She was born in Ireland, and came to the U.S. with her parents when she was two years old. Her father used to be a singer in a small band, and her mother was a nurse. She was single, with only Darla, her cat, to keep her company.

When it came Lacey’s turn to reveal more about her own life, she held nothing back about her childhood. Florene was so easy to talk to, and Lacey felt as though she had known her for a long time. She could see them becoming fast friends.

She wanted to stay longer and talk more, but the clock had struck 4 p.m.; she had to rush home now in case Terence came home early.

She hugged Florence goodbye and walked out of her secret life, into her married one.

Terence wasn’t home yet, so she took a long bath and made dinner. When he came home at eight he told her he’d been trying to call her all afternoon and couldn’t reach her. The lie made her feel uncomfortable, but it slipped out of her mouth because it had to. She had been grocery shopping and had forgotten her phone. The answer satisfied him.

With a lot of lying, which she seemed to be getting good at, she was able to hide her new job from Terence until two days before Christmas, when she woke up with the strong urge to come clean, no matter the consequences. He might be hurt, but he would have to get over it.

To put him in a good mood and make him more receptive, she accepted Florene’s offer of a makeover. After work, Florene brought Lacey to her apartment, which was walking distance from Classico, and transformed Lacey into someone she hardly recognized. Her hair was glossy and tied in a casual side bun, the eye makeup made her eyes sparkle, and her lips were plump and fuller than she had ever seen them look before.

Florene observed her handiwork. “You look amazing.”

“I can’t believe it’s me.” Lacey stared at her reflection in the mirror. “I’m never going back to my boring old looks. Tomorrow you have to tell me everything you did.”

“Whatever you want.” Florene pulled her out of the chair. “Now go and surprise your husband.”

Lacey smiled, but she was freaked out inside. She hadn’t told Florene about Terence not wanting her to work. The only thing Florene knew about her marriage was that they had met at Oasis and that it was pretty much love at first sight.

Hopefully he would accept the new person Lacey wanted to become.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“Who’s this woman inside my house?” Terence kissed Lacey, then held her at arm’s length. He spun her around.

“Your one and only.” Lacey toyed with her infinity necklace. “The time had come for a makeover, I thought.”

“I’ve always loved you without makeup, but I have to admit you look incredible. To think you’re all mine feels damn great.” Terence reached into his bag, on the floor next to his feet, and removed his camera. Lacey flashed a smile so he could take a photo.

“I’ll print this out tomorrow and hang it up,” he said, taking a seat at the kitchen table.

“I have a surprise for you…some news.” She sat down across from him. “Please try to understand, to be excited for me.” She reached for both his hands. She’d wanted to wait until after dinner, but she was bursting to get the truth out. “I found a job. I’m a waitress at Classico. I know you—”

“You’re what? You did what?” Terence shot out of his chair. “How dare you go behind my back? How long have you been working there?” His hands clenched the edge of the table, making it shake with each word.

Lacey lifted her chin. “A couple of days. It’s a great start for me. I was lucky to get the job without experience.”

“I’m your husband. I specifically told you not to work. How dare you disobey me!” Terence’s face had contorted into a mask of rage.

Lacey’s own anger rose to the surface. She stood up from the table and went to lean against the wall nearest to the door. She needed the support. “Yes, you’re my husband, Terence. But you don’t own me. I want to do what I love, and you don’t have the right to stop me.”

In a flash, Terence charged toward her and punched the wall next to her head. “Listen to me, and listen carefully. Tomorrow, you will call your boss and quit.”

“No. No, I will not.” She jabbed a finger into his chest, tears of disappointment spilling out of her eyes. “This is my life. I want to work. I have a job I love and I will not give it up, not even for you. If you love me, you’ll accept it.” She gulped down tears. “Terence, I want to grow, I want to feel alive. You are preventing me from doing that. I will not let you stand in my way.”

“How dare you. Do you know how ungrateful you sound right now? I’ve loved and supported you all these years and this is what I get? We made promises to each other. I made sacrifices for you. Now you’re telling me you want out?”

“That’s not what I’m saying, Terence. I just want to breathe… I want to learn to breathe again. After the baby died, I felt lost. I was dead inside for a long time. With this job, I feel like I’m becoming a better version of myself. For the first time in my life, I actually like myself.” She wiped tears off her face and took a deep breath. “I know you think all we need is each other, but I disagree. I can love you and still be independent. We can both be individuals and still have a great marriage.”

“Let me get this straight.” Terence moved closer, his eyes hard flints. “Are you telling me that I’m suffocating you?”

Lacey wanted to take a step back, but she was already leaning against the wall. She pushed harder into it. The man standing before her looked suddenly different from the man she loved. It occurred to her that she had never really seen Terence angry before. Now she knew why. She had always done what he wanted, always been there when he expected. She’d never given him a reason to doubt her love. Until now.

“I’m not saying I want out. I don’t want to leave you. I’m asking you to allow me to do what makes me happy. It makes me happy to wake up and go to work a few days a week. I love my job, but that doesn’t in any way mean I love you less. I want to be with you. I promised myself to you.” She touched Terence’s cheek with the palm of her slightly trembling hand. “You have no reason to feel threatened.”

Terence retreated from her touch and took a step back, his back ramrod-straight, his jaw tight.

Lacey had already decided she would not let him intimidate her. He could be angry and sulk all he wanted. But she would not give up her newfound freedom. In time, he would have to learn to love the woman she was becoming. Or not.

She stepped closer to him and pressed her body against his, feeling his heat, the anger radiating off him. She leaned her head on his shoulder and kissed the side of his neck. “I love you, baby. I need you. I will always need you. A job will not change that.”

He stiffened and moved away from her, then left the kitchen without saying another word.

Chapter Thirty

When Lacey woke up the next morning, her heart felt both heavy and light. Keeping a secret from Terence had taken a toll on her. But now that it was out in the open, she had a different kind of burden to carry—guilt for doing something her husband was so strongly against. She left home without bothering to make breakfast for the man who didn’t even bother to wish her good morning. She felt saturated with a new don’t-care attitude.

By demanding that she stay home, he was thinking only of himself. It was time for Lacey to think of herself too.

Without needing to maintain the secret, she found her workday even more enjoyable. For a few hours she was able to forget the mess that was her marriage and focus on her freedom. She switched off her phone, trying not to worry about the accusations that would surely be awaiting her at home at the end of the day. This was her time.

After work, instead of rushing home as she normally did, she had a chat with some of her colleagues, and then joined Florene for a quick coffee at Mel’s Delights. But as soon as she walked out of the bakery—the scents of coffee and cupcakes trailing after her—her heart shriveled. By the time she made it home, she was finding it hard to breathe.

The lights were on and the front door was open. Terence sat on the couch with a bottle of gin in his hand. Lacey halted in the doorway, unable to believe she was looking at her husband. He hardly drank, and never hard liquor. But there he was, his blue eyes tinged red, his hair disheveled, his lips a tight line across his face.

“Where the fuck were you?”

Lacey dropped her handbag on a chair and slowly removed her coat. Her throat was constricted and blood pounded in her temples as she turned to face him. “I was at work. I did not quit my job as you told me to. You’re not the boss of me.” Fear knotted inside her, but she charged on. “By asking me not to work, you’re being selfish.”

As soon as the words had a chance to settle in the air between them, to tear apart the foundation of their marriage, Terence was off the couch and pressing her against the wall, his angry, alcohol-drenched voice filling her ears. “Listen to me carefully.” He moved his face so close to hers, it seemed as if he were about to kiss her, but his next words dispelled any romantic notions. “If you don’t quit your shitty job, you’ll regret it.”

Lacey blinked once and then dove into the depths of his gaze, trying to reach for the man she loved, but he wasn’t there. Still, she had to stand her ground. She shoved him away from her but held on to his gaze. “Don’t you dare threaten me. I will not give up my job. Learn to live with it.” She crossed her arms not only to create emotional distance, but to stop her hands from trembling. “So now that you know you won’t be getting what you want, what are you going to do, hit me? Go ahead. Hit me.”

Terence raised a hand, curling it into a tight fist that showed off white knuckles. Lacey backed away until she hit the wall and closed her eyes, waiting for the punch to land on her face, bracing herself for the pain. Instead, his punch landed on the wall inches from her head. She jerked at the sound of the impact, and her eyes flew open.

He was facing away from her now, his hands clutching his head, his shoulders rising and falling like waves.

A tear trickled down Lacey’s cheek. “You’re a coward,” she spat. “The fact that you’d even consider beating your wife shows me what a weak man you are.”

Chapter Thirty-One

“Mr. Big Tipper is back. Want to take his table?” Florene whispered to Lacey as they both filled their serving trays with drinks.

Lacey shook her head. “No, go ahead. I’ll take table six. I think he likes you. Look how he’s staring at you.”

The man they dubbed “Mr. Big Tipper” came to eat at the restaurant for the first time on Lacey’s first day. He had been the unfortunate customer whose jacket she had spilled beef and vegetable soup on. Thank God it hadn’t burned him too badly. Lacey had been horrified and attempted to wipe off the brown liquid with napkins, but he stopped her, assuring her it was not a big deal. He’d simply shrugged off the suit jacket and slung it on the back of an empty chair. When he paid for his meal, he shocked Lacey by giving her a huge tip—money that later allowed her to buy most of the makeup Florene had recommended.

“Wrong. It’s you he’s looking at.”

Lacey lifted her tray and balanced it on her hand. “I’m married, remember?”

“To a man who wants you to stay home and be his slave. You’re brave to stay with someone like that. Brave or crazy.” Florene rubbed a smudge off a wine glass. “Besides, Mr. Big Tipper has no idea you’re married, does he? I’m not taking the table. I have a lot of regulars tonight, and so does Keith.” Florene walked off, her slim hips swaying from side to side.

Yesterday morning, while they changed into their uniforms, Florene had noticed that Lacey looked sad and insisted on knowing what was wrong. Lacey had told her just enough, leaving out a few of the most important pieces of her home life. Florene had been shocked that her husband would demand Lacey stay home, and encouraged her to stand her ground. What Lacey didn’t tell Florene was that her husband was starting to scare her.

Lacey decided to be professional. After serving desserts and drinks to one of the corner tables, she walked over to Mr. Big Tipper.

“Good evening.” She pulled out a pen and notepad from her pocket. “What can I get you today?”

“Surprise me.” His deep and silky voice touched something inside her, something she forced herself to push down. He was a handsome man, his eyes the warmest shade of chocolate that complemented his tanned skin and black hair. She normally didn’t find beards attractive, but she couldn’t imagine Mr. Big Tipper without one. It was short, well-trimmed, and made him look mysterious.

She dipped her head so he wouldn’t see her flushed cheeks, focusing on her notepad. “How about today’s special? Spare ribs with baked potatoes and salad?” She looked up again.

“That sounds perfect.” His teeth looked as if they had been whitened and then polished one at a time.

When she served him his food, her heart raced like crazy. What was wrong with her? Terence was the man she loved, the only man who had ever knocked her off her feet. She wasn’t supposed to be attracted to other men. Yet here she was.

The tip he gave her after the meal was double the amount from last time.

“I’m sorry,” she said, shaking her head as he got up to leave. “This is too much. I can’t take it.”

“Why not? Fantastic work should be rewarded. Please have it.”

“Thank you.” Lacey wiped the sweat off the top of her lip and nodded. “But next time you come in, I won’t take a tip from you. You’ve given me more than enough already.”

“It’s my money and I can do what I like with it. If I want to give it to a beautiful, hardworking woman, I will.” He pulled a business card out of his pocket, followed by a silver pen. He jotted something on the back and stood. “Have a wonderful evening. I hope to see you again soon.” Then he pressed the card into her hand and walked out of the restaurant.