She grabbed the cloth and started wiping down surfaces while also taking used plates and trays back into the kitchen. The other two waitresses were giggling over a story in the newspaper. A quick glance at the paper and she saw Kent’s face on the front cover. He’d warned her of another story coming out about his exploits in the bedroom.
Shaking her head, she grabbed the pot and coffee and made her rounds. She filled cups and took extra orders while also thinking about the weekend ahead. Christmas was fast approaching, and Penny had phoned her inviting her to their house for Christmas.
Declining the offer had been difficult, and Kent had eventually persuaded her to go with him. They were Christmas shopping together at the weekend. He was spending the weekend at her house, and she was baking him a cake to take into work.
She didn’t understand why he enjoyed spending time with her. He’d also invited her to his friend’s house one night. All the guys who’d been present at the art exhibition were there. She’d played cards and watched Kent get thrashed at pool.
When it was time for her to leave, she changed into her other uniform and headed out the door. She was rounding a corner when a hard chest stopped her.
Falling to the floor, she looked up to see Frank standing over her. Lana tensed. She’d not seen her ex in months.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
He reached down, taking her hand. “Is that any way to talk to a friend?” He helped her up. She closed her coat, covering her uniform.
“Sorry, if you’ll excuse me,” she said, heading around him.
“I came to see you, Lana.”
“What happened to the blonde woman with all the money?” she asked, recalling his disdain towards her with her lack of funds. She couldn’t believe she lost sleep over him leaving her. He’d been abusive and downright cruel to her.
“Michelle is out of the picture. I could never handle her. I wanted to see you, Lana.”
His words stopped her in her tracks. What could he possibly have to say to her? Lana turned to him. There was once a time when she would have fallen for his routine, but staring at him after all the time she’d spent with Kent, she saw the true man beneath Frank’s surface, and she didn’t like what she saw.
“What do you want?”
“I miss you,” he said. Rolling her eyes, Lana continued walking away. Her other job started in an hour, and she enjoyed walking the distance to get to Kent’s building. Frank’s words sent shivers down her spine. She didn’t want him anywhere near her.
“Will you slow down?”
“No, I’ve got another job to do.”
“Really? I thought you’d have that rich guy paying for you,” Frank said. His words made her stop. She frowned and turned toward him. “That got your attention?”
“What are you doing, Frank? How do you know about Kent?”
“I bet you’re like your mother, spreading your legs for whatever a man can give you.” She reached up and slapped Frank around the face. It was the first time she’d ever struck him. He looked surprised. She noted his fisted hand and took a step back. All of her warning bells were going off. Every second she stood with him, Lana felt like a fool for sticking around with him. There was nothing good about him or the past she’d shared with him. Two years had been a long time to waste, but at least there wasn’t any chance of her letting him back. Frank was over.
“You deserve that. Kent and I are friends. There is nothing going on between us.” She started walking again. Tears filled her eyes at Frank’s vile words.
“Does he even know about your past? Does he know about your mother?”
“I told you those things about me because I thought you loved me, Frank. I thought I loved you.”
“It’s amazing what you can get a woman to do with a few kind words,” Frank said.
“You’re a sick bastard. If you think you can use me in some way then you’re mistaken. I’m Kent’s friend, nothing else.”
They were approached by a large guy wearing a suit. “Sir, I’ve got to ask you to leave Miss Hawkins alone, now.”
“Who the f**k are you?” Frank asked.
She’d never heard him talk like that to anyone else but her before.
“My employer would like for you to step away from the lady. Lana, Kent would like you to get into the car.”
Lana shook her head. “I don’t know you. There is no way I’m getting in a car.”
Spinning on her heel she walked faster toward the Kent’s building. Frank’s arrival unnerved her. She’d bared her soul to him, and now it sounded like he wanted to use her for money. Did he really think she had some kind of hold on Kent?
My life is turning into a soap opera.
She glanced behind her to see the black car following her. After twenty more minutes of walking she got to the entrance of Kent’s building. She pressed in the code taking her up to the top floor.
Without waiting to calm down, Lana went straight to his office. He was closing his cell phone as she entered.
“You had me followed?” she asked.
“For good reason. It was getting darker, and I didn’t like the thought of you being alone. I hired a guy I trust to follow you. It’s for your own safety.”
Lana frowned, and then she recognised the guy. She’d served him numerous times at the diner. “Why? I’m perfectly safe,” she said.
“You’re a beautiful woman, Lana. You’re my friend. I’m looking out for your safety, and tonight I’m pleased I did. Frank came to visit you,” Kent said.
He seemed to know a hell of a lot. Her anger grew as he threw down a small brown file. “I’ve been getting harassing phone calls from this man.”
The picture was of Frank holding up a black sign. Her stomach took a dive as she looked at the photo.
****
“What is this?” she asked.
Kent had been getting the calls offering information on Lana in exchange for money for some time. The man in question had even been to his office trying to cause a fuss. The police officer who’d escorted him off the premises was a friend and had warned him about a history of violence.
He didn’t know how Lana had gotten away from Frank without some kind of violent outburst. Then he’d discovered Frank took his aggression out on all of his women in different ways. Her ex had been cheating on her throughout their relationship. For all Kent knew, Frank was hurting Lana in some way.
“This man offered me information on you in exchange for money. This is your ex-boyfriend? The one who dumped you and left?” he asked.