Chapter 13
VICTOR
Josie walks toward me in Crystal River’s park opposite The Oak looking completely and utterly confused.
Yeah, I bet she’s confused. I guess I would be as well if I were her and some asshole actor walked into the coffee shop wearing a ridiculous disguise.
But despite that expression on her face, I gotta admit the girl is incredibly pretty, even if she’s in serious work mode in her barista uniform. I mean, I do like a uniform on a woman. Her curly hair is tied up in a messy work bun. She’s barely wearing any makeup. Knowing her, I bet she’d squawk in humble stubbornness at my description of her as pretty. But she truly is – in a natural, beautiful way. Her brown eyes, however, are currently about to shoot laser beams at me.
Oh, I really do know she is confused, and she’s probably a tiny bit pissed off. Appropriately so.
I’m not wearing my fun disguise anymore. I took it off in the anonymous safety of the park away from the coffee shop and any potential crowds. Sure, I can appreciate that it was on the more wacky side of disguises. I did want to hide myself, though. There is absolutely no need for a repeat riot like the other day outside The Oak – being recognized and all. But I also want the opportunity to tease – annoy – Josie. I just wanted to play with her when I walked into the barista’s coffee shop dressed as some crazy old man.
“You’re an excellent actor for masquerading yourself like that,” the barista announces when she’s finally a few yards away from me. “You should consider getting into movies, you know.”
I fake a dramatic laugh.
“That’s hilarious.”
Josie crosses her arms and stares me down.
Oh, she is definitely not playing.
“What are you here for, Victor Penmayne?” she questions. “Why did you make your way down from your mansion to come to some coffee shop dressed as a hobo?”
“Sit with me,” I reply, gesturing at the bench behind my ass.
Josie continues to glare at me.
Then she’s uncrossing her arms as I sit down on the bench and pat the space beside me.
“I really want to know why you’ve dragged me out here,” she says quietly, still not moving. “I don’t want to be messed around with, understood?”
“Understood. Crystal clear. Now take a seat.”
The barista slowly and cautiously makes her way over. She sits, continuing to watch me like a zookeeper would watch a hungry lion.
“What is it, Victor? What’s with all the dramatic flair? What’s with surprising me at work? I thought we never were going to see each other again.”
“I guess that changed,” I say.
“Yeah, it did. Evidently. Now, what do you want to see me for?”
“I’ve got a proposal for you, Josie,” I say quietly.
“What?”
“And,” I continue, “as part of this proposal, I can get you the best divorce lawyer in the country. As part of your payment. He’s on my family’s books. I can get you the lawyer completely free until you divorce your husband. That’s what you told me you wanted the other day, right? Divorce?”
“I did.”
“You want one? Well, I can get you one. And, with the best lawyer in the country, you won’t have to worry about a thing.”
Josie takes in a deep breath and continues her unblinking stare aimed in my direction.
“Okay, this is going to come at a price,” she says. “So what is it? What do you want exactly, Victor Penmayne? Tell me.”