Page 25 of King of Deception

“You remember.”

“How can anyone forget?” he chortled.

“Yeah,” I nodded, aware of the distressed expression on my face. “I would apologize for that, but it wasn’t even my fault.”

Slowly shaking his head, his eyes regarded me with an impressed look. “I am so proud of you for saying that.”

“Now, who’s patronizing who?”

“C’mon, don’t be like that.”

I couldn’t explain it, but in spite of all the wealthy men swarming all around, I wanted to keep talking to Abel, the waiter. A mysterious pull kept me gravitating toward him like a planet orbiting the sun, although if anyone asked me to pinpoint the reason, I couldn’t.

“So, when was your first waiter gig?”

“Gig?” he tittered. “Uh—I’ll have to say college. One summer, I trained at a restaurant. And then I kept returning every break.”

“Always as a waiter?”

“No,” his eyes looked away as if he were trying to remember. “Once, I took phone reservations. Another time, I was the host.”

“Fancy!”

“Right?” His smile was beautiful. “Another time, I was actually in the back keeping the books.”

“You mean,” I dipped my head, “Like… an accountant?”

“That’s right.”

“And you found this to be your favorite?”

Drawing a deep breath, he had a slightly uncomfortable look on his face. It was fleeting for only a moment. “Let’s just say it found me.”

I didn’t know what made me look over his shoulder and into the background, but I did. At first, I thought that the colored lights were playing tricks on my vision, but then I squinted and was sure… Jude was here.

“Oh, fuck me!”

Abel chortled, “It’s not that bad.”

“No, no.” I quickly shifted to hide behind him. “It’s Jude. My ex. He’s here.”

“What?” he was about to turn around and look.

“Don’t!” I grabbed his hand, and his fingers held onto mine, squeezing them gently.

“Okay?” He wrinkled his eyebrows. “Didn’t know he was invited.”

“Why would you?”

“Ah—You’re right.”

“Listen, he can’t see me, okay?” I pleaded. “Let’s just walk slowly together. Keep hiding me.”

“Okay. Where to?”

“I don’t know?” my tone grew nervous. “The bathroom, maybe?”

The look on his face told me that he wasn’t quite convinced, but he still played along, anyway. “Whatever you say.”

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