Page 12 of The Stranger
“I don’t have a choice. What little savings I had wenttowards the wedding. I’m broke and jobless. It may not be ideal, but it’s better than the streets … or living out of my car.”
“Do you need a job?”
“Desperately. I’ve applied for ten in the last week alone, but the only work experience I have is at the dental clinic. I started there as soon as I graduated high school. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kayne’s family is giving me a bad reference.”
Against my better judgement—which I seem to be doing a lot of lately—I pull out my wallet and hand her a business card. “Drop by my office on Monday and I’ll see what I can do.”
“That’s sweet of you, but I couldn’t ask you to do that,” she says, pushing the card back into my hand. “You’ve already done so much for me.”
“Good thing you didn’t ask then, isn’t it?”
“Ugh. I’m pretty sure your mother said that exact thing to me earlier.” I chuckle because she is probably right … my mother has said those same words to me many times. “Do you even have an opening for a receptionist? Because that is the only work experience I have.”
“I’m the CEO, Delilah. I can create a position if necessary.”
Chapter 5
Delilah
“You look pretty, Lilah,” my mum says when I enter the kitchen. “Where are you off to all dolled up?”
It’s Monday morning, and I’m dressed in a tight black pencil skirt and the matching blazer I wore to my grandmother’s funeral last year. It’s nothing flashy but it is the fanciest thing I own. My uniform at the dental clinic comprised of pale blue scrubs with a small embroidered logo on the right-hand corner of the top, declaringAbout Smiles Dentistry.
“I have a second interview at Prescott Enterprises,” I lie. Technically, it’s my first, but I had to keep up the pretences.
“Your second interview? He’s your boyfriend, why wouldn’t he just give you the job?”
“I want to do it the right way, Mum … get the position fair and square, on my own merit.” Which was my second fib for the day, and it was only 7:30 am.
I do, however, have my resume ready to take with me. I’m aware Kayne’s father hired me to work at About Smiles because I was dating his son. That doesn’t mean Iwasn’t good at what I did. I was meticulous at my job and had that place running like clockwork.
The patients there loved me.
When my sister enters the kitchen, I give her my back as I pour myself a glass of water. I don’t miss the grunting sound she makes when she sees me.Bitch.I’d spent most of the weekend in my room, avoiding my family—namely her—like the plague.
I lost my bravado once Spencer left and immediately went back to feeling outnumbered. The dinner was a disaster for all … me, not so much. It’s a night I won’t forget in a hurry, because I didn’t feel so ganged up on.
Once we rejoined my family at the dining table, the air was so thick you could’ve cut it with a knife. My sister sat with her arms crossed over her chest, sporting the longest face I’d ever seen on her. It was very unbecoming. All I could think was,you’re not so smug now.
Kayne looked absolutely murderous, and my father wasn’t far behind him. My mother was busy clearing the plates with a fake smile on her face … it’s what she does. She has spent her life with her head in the sand, refusing to admit to reality.
That’s when Spencer asked her if it was okay if he cracked open the bottle of champagne he’d bought with him, saying he’d like to make a toast. I didn’t know what he was going to toast about, and I almost choked on my tongue when he spoke.
“I want to make a toast to the happy couple. I hope you two find a lifetime of contentment together.”At first, his words confused me. I think we all were a little stunned at that, but then he continued.“I’m so grateful that you both found your way to each other because if you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have ended up with the ultimate prize.”He then turned his attention to me. “The woman who has capturedmy heart. Delilah St. James, you are the sweetest, kindest and most loyal partner. Any man would be lucky to have you by his side. I adore you, sweetheart,”he had added with another one of those cheeky winks as he clinked his glass with mine.
This man had charisma and charm in spades.
Everything he said was fake, I knew it and so did he, but I’ll admit I swooned. Who wouldn’t? If this is what the real Spencer Prescott was like, he was going to make some woman very happy one day.
His speech had my sister running from the room in tears and Kayne getting up and leaving abruptly through the front door, slamming it behind him as he left.
“I think it’s time you left,”my father spat.
Spencer calmly downed the rest of his drink, placed the champagne flute on the table, and stood.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs St. James,”he said to my mother with a curt nod.“I’d like to say it was a pleasant evening, but we both know I’d be lying.”He then reached for my hand.“Walk me out, sweetheart.”
I step off the bus and walk the short distance to Prescott Enterprises. Standing on the sidewalk, I tilt my head back and gaze up at the enormous building that stands before me. It’s modern, sleek, and a little imposing in real life.
