Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Riley
Zeke told me to wait for him in his office, but I’m too nervous to sit in one place and do nothing. I can’t stop thinking about Diana and the other girls that went missing. It’s terrifying to realize that someone who’s worked as close to them as Michael, would do something to hurt them.
“Hey,” I find Mia seating in one of the booths, having an iced coffee. “You’re here early.”
“So are you,” I sit on the other side of the table, across from her. “I thought you were going to spend the day with Cohen until it was time for your shift.”
“We were, but he received a call and had to come in early,” She takes a sip of her coffee. “Something about the inventory, I didn’t pay attention to the details.”
“Oh, that makes sense,” I nod.
“Why did you come early, though?”
“Honestly,” I lean forward and lower my voice to make sure no one can overhear us. “I wanted to see Zeke.”
“Wait,” Mia’s face lights up. “Are you two a thing?”
I can’t help but laugh at my friend’s comment. “I don’t know, Mia. Something like that.”
“Oh my God!”
“Shh!” I have to remind her to keep her voice quiet. “Someone might hear you.”
“Sorry, sorry,” she reaches her hand over the table and places it over mine. “I’m just so happy for you.”
“Thank you,” I smile.
“Now, speaking of relationships,” She grins as she continues. “Cohen and I may be officially together.”
A wave of sadness washes over me for not being able to react with the same enthusiasm to her news like she did. For a brief moment, I remain quiet, trying to find the best words to say.
“You seem to be really happy,” the words spill from my lips, the only truth that I can bring myself to say at loud.
“I am,” she nods enthusiastically and then leans over, lowering her voice again.
“I know you just told me about you and Zeke, but please don’t tell him what I’m about to say.
” My heart starts racing, expecting her to tell me some terrible secret that Cohen has confided in her.
“Cohen offered me another job for way more money if I don’t want to keep working nights at the Eden. ”
“He what?” I raise my eyebrow, pulling back in surprise.
“Yeah,” she continues. “It’s this great place, he says he knows the owner. It’s basically like the Eden but with day shifts, because they’re always open, not only at night.”
“And you’re sure this is legit?”
“Well, I don’t see why Cohen would lie to me if it weren’t,” she smiles. “I think he just doesn’t like the idea of having his girlfriend being a stripper, I guess.”
“But didn’t you just say it’s the same job but during the day?” This keeps getting stranger by the minute.
“Technically, I’d only be a dancer, without stripping.”
“Ah,” I’m not sure what to say at this point.
“Would you come with me?” She gives me a hopeful look and my heart breaks a little. I remember the conversation Zeke and I overheard earlier and I wonder if he has managed to get information from Michael. I wonder if Michael will mention Cohen’s name.
Stop it, Riley!
“You know I love you, Mia,” I lean closer to her. “But I’m really not interested in leaving the Eden.”
I wish I could tell Zeke about this, but after seeing the way he reacted with Michael, I don’t want to put Cohen on the spot if he’s really not hiding anything.
He could genuinely not want the girl he’s interested in to be stripping and that’s a normal human reaction.
It doesn’t necessarily turn him into a traitor.
And if I tell Zeke and Cohen is innocent, I would have to carry that on my conscious for the rest of my life.
“Okay,” Mia shrugs. “I get you don’t want to leave your man now that you’re getting closer and all.”
“It’s not just that,” I admit. “I’m genuinely enjoying working here. I feel safe.”
“That’s sweet,” Mia pouts. “But if you change your mind, you can come with me in two days to meet my new potential boss. We’re meeting in a coffee shop in your neighborhood so you can literally just drop by from your own place.”
“You’re meeting him in my neighborhood?” I raise an eyebrow. My neighborhood is the last place any normal person would set an important meeting at. The place is dangerous even for those who live there, no one in their sane mind comes there willingly.
“Yup,” she nods.
“And you don’t find that weird?” The words slip out of my mind before I can stop it and I watch Mia’s face frown.
“Can’t you for once just be happy for me instead of questioning and judging everything?” She snaps.
“Sorry, Mia,” I sigh. “I didn’t mean it like that. You know how dangerous my neighborhood is, that’s why I asked.”
“Well, I guess I’m stupid and can’t think for myself,” Mia jumps to her feet, taking her ice coffee in one hand. A part of me expects her to throw the drink in my face. “I wish I could stay around and continue this conversation, but it’s late and I need to get ready.”
“Mia, wait…” I get up and follow her.
“No, Riley,” She shakes her head. “I’m sick of how little support you’ve been showing me.”
I get in front of her and force her to stop. “You mean the same way you ditched our plans to hang with a man you barely know? Is that the kind of support you want me to show?”
“Wow, so that’s what this is all about!” Mia laughs. “You’re mad because I canceled on you last minute.”
“No, I’m not mad,” I shake my head. “But it did hurt having my best friend skip on a celebration because she chose some guy she’s only known for days.”
“You’ve also known Ezekiel for days and you’re all enthusiastic about him!”
“But I never ditched you to be with him, especially not for something big,” I remain composed even though everything inside of me is screaming. I wasn’t going to confront her for ditching me, it just came out.
“I see,” she sighs. “Okay, what about this, what if we meet after my meeting with this guy so you can see how legit everything is, and to make up for canceling on our plans today?”
“So I should just be happy because you’re pitying me and giving me crumbs of your time?”
“You can look at it that way,” she sighs, now a lot calmer than earlier. “Or you can see it as an actual plan to reschedule, and for you to make sure this guy is not some scammer.”
I’m afraid of much more than a scam.
“Okay,” I nod. “Let’s grab dinner after you see him.”
With that we say our goodbyes and I return to Zeke’s office to see if he’s finished with whatever he’s doing. It’s better that I don’t know exactly, now that I think about it, although I can imagine it clearly anyways.
I genuinely hope that Cohen isn’t playing dirty and that this will be a legit job interview, because I’m terrified of something happening to Mia.