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Gianni is convinced something is amiss. I toy with the idea of speaking to Faith. Of everyone, she’s the most observant, but Gianni said he doesn’t trust anyone but me. I don’t want to immediately blow that trust by gossiping with Faith. I will have to do this on my own, and I’ll have to be smart.
ChapterTwelve
The morning rush diffuses quickly. Gianni has stowed himself away in the office, laden down with paperwork and phone calls. Lewis is seething, having been kicked out of what he sees as ‘his’ office, and he’s left to skulk around the shop. I keep tabs on him, now alert to his comings and goings, but he has little to do with the customers. His movements are erratic like he can’t quite make up his mind about what he’s doing.
His phone rang a couple of times, but when he’d looked at the screen, he’d apparently decided he didn’t want to talk to whoever was on the other end and stuffed the handset back into his pocket. He’d almost seemed fearful at the thought of talking. But other than his general lack of purpose, which I figure is due to Gianni’s presence, I notice nothing out of the ordinary.
I’m glad Gianni is keeping his distance. The sheer thought of him being a few feet away rattles me. I’m on pins and needles in case Gianni emerges from the office. I’m lost in such a daze I don’t notice the woman standing by the counter. As I stride to the front, smoothing my apron down, I clock the red hair. As the rest of her face comes into focus, I realize, to my horror, that Cora is standing in front of me, and her body language suggests she isn’t here for coffee.
I can’t breathe. I dare not move.
My heart is racing, and my back prickles with sweat. What the hell is she doing here? This isn’t a social call. She’s not here to apologize, kiss, and be best friends. No, she’s here for round two, but why? It has been months since I left her employment. So what’s she playing at?
“So, this is where you’re working?” Her eyebrows rise with every word, and I have to stop myself from giving a smart-assed answer. Something tells me I should keep my remarks to myself if I want to keep this confrontation under the radar. My thoughts suddenly leap to Gianni in the office. I don’t want him to come out and find my ex-boss in the shop. Gianni’s opinion of me seems to have thawed. I don’t want that to change.
“What do you want?” It comes out too harsh, and Cora launches at me.
“What the fuck do you think I want?” she shouts. Luckily, there are no customers in the shop, but this won’t last long. I need to get her out of the building before Gianni overhears.
I move away from the counter, weaving through the tables and chairs until I reach the door. I open it and step outside, the fresh air helping push away the nausea that arrived with Cora.
“Don’t you dare walk away from me,” Cora hollers as she follows me outside.
I keep walking until we’re at the edge of the parking lot. Then I face her.
“Okay, let’s hear it.” I fold my arms across my chest. The last thing I expect is the right hook she swings and plants straight on my cheek.
I stagger back, the shock sends me flying as I grab the side of my face. The sting from her fist burns.
“You fucking bitch.” Spit gathers at the side of her mouth as she screws up her face. “I told you what would happen if you came sniffing around my husband again.”
“What?” I’m still in shock over the punch. Her words mingle with the deafening sound in my ears.
“You heard. I know you’ve been with him. Do you think I’m stupid? Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I’m trying not to shout, but she’s screaming at me, her face ablaze with rage. I took her vengeance the first time around—I hadn’t had much choice. But I’ve not seen Carl since the bar.
“Fucking liar. You’re still screwing my husband, and I warned you last time if you came near him again, I would make sure you were left carrying your own legs.” Cora’s threat had been all too real, not simply hot air. I must convince her I’m telling the truth, and quickly.
“Cora, I swear I’ve not seen Richard since that night at the bar.” I hold my hands up, palms facing her to transmit the truth, but she’s rocking now from one foot to the other, resembling a boxer ready for the next blow.
“Fucking liar. I know you’ve been with him. You’re still messing with him. Why won’t you leave him alone?” Her eyes are wide, and mascara runs under her eyes as she screeches at me. I know what Carl is like—secretive, manipulative, sly. I can’t point this out to Cora, though, because I’m not supposed to know him. I’m genuinely afraid of what he’d do if he found out I’d told her, which is why I kept quiet in the first place. His warning had been enough.
“You have to believe me, Cora. I haven’t been anywhere near him.” I’m trying to keep my voice calm, but as she moves closer, I’m about to feel her wrath. She grabs my hair, and my hands instinctively reach out to scratch her face, but she’s strong and several inches taller than me, so my hands end up twined in her hair as she yanks my head back. My neck snaps as my hands lose their grip and my feet skid beneath me.
“You had this coming. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Her face is so close I can see the orange patches of badly applied foundation and smell the fried food on her clothing. That she had been in the café this morning, going about her daily routine before deciding to come and break the legs of a former employee, only highlights how disturbed Cora is.
I’m trying to shrink down, bending my knees to loosen the tension from the back of my head, waiting for the blow to my knees. I wonder if she’ll kick them or has some weapon stashed somewhere. The thought makes my stomach roll.
“What the hell is going on in my parking lot?” Cora and I freeze. The only person who has that power to command is Gianni. My stomach somersaults as he marches over to where we’re standing, and Cora’s grip tightens as she turns to face him.
“This has nothing to do with you, so fuck off.”
“I think you’ll find it has everything to do with me. This is my parking lot, my coffee shop, and my employee, so if you don’t get off my property, I’ll call the police.” His tone is feral, in complete contrast to his smart suit and business front. There’s a wildness in his eyes that makes me believe every word.
“You wanna learn to rein your staff in when they insist on fucking around with other people’s husbands,” Cora spits at Gianni, seemingly unaffected by his presence. She turns back to me as if Gianni isn’t even here. “You were with him on Friday night, don’t deny it. I know you were.” Before I can open my mouth, Gianni leaps in.
“Well, that’s where you’re wrong because she was with me on Friday night.” Cora gawks at Gianni, a slight waver in her stance as she regards what he’s said.
