I was a professional. I couldn’t let her get to me. Stepping back, I waved the two women inside.
Clearing my throat, I started in on my usual tour speech as I had done years ago, when guests would come over to visit Eric. He always made me answer the door.
We headed back into the library, and that was when I realized this was Lola’s home. Why was I explaining it to her?
“Lola, I’m sure you’d like to tell Marika about the library.”
Her blue eyes widened.
“You’ve been here before?” Marika asked Lola.
Been here before...?
“She actually owns the property—” A loud yelp from Lola cut me off.
“Yes, Marika.” A cackle bubbled up from her throat. “It’s funny you should ask...”
Marika blinked, waiting for her to finish. I realized Lola hadn’t exactly been truthful with her. Had she told anyone about her family? Did she change her last name?
I knew nothing about her anymore.
“What’s so funny, Lola?” I folded my arms, daring her to lie to my face.
“Uh...” She glanced around the room, looking for something.
Maybe a hidden door so she could run away from her problems again.
Lola let out a breath, and my traitorous eyes stared longingly at her mouth as she slid her tongue over her bottom lip. I groaned and turned from her, trying to get my thoughts away from her mouth and back on the matter at hand.
“Yes, well... Marika, I might as well tell you the truth. It’s my name. As you may have noticed, I have the same last name as—”
Someone’s cell phone was going off. I knew it wasn’t me, since mine was in my pocket and only vibrated with a notification.
Both Marika and Lola reached into their pockets.
“It’s me.” Lola held up her phone with utter relief plastered on her face. “Sorry, but I have to take this.”
She lifted the phone to her ear and moved toward the door for privacy.
Once she left the room, I turned to Marika. “How long have you been working with Lola?”
“I hired her last week.” She nodded. “She’s only a barista, but she’s negotiated with some powerful business people in the past, so I figured she’d be perfect for our meeting.”
“Negotiated? Really?” I tilted my head.
So Lola was pretending to be something she wasn’t.
“Which makes me wonder, with that background, why would she want to work in a small-town coffee shop?”
I rubbed my chin. “Yes, why? Lola is a fascinating woman.”
I smirked as the door flew open and Lola stood there with terror in her eyes. She now had to come clean to her boss. Or was she going to keep lying, knowing that, at any moment, I could burst her hot-air-filled lie by just explaining the truth to her boss? Either way, I just wish I had some popcorn so I could enjoy the show.
While I didn’t enjoy watching Lola suffer, I got some satisfaction knowing her actions were catching up with her. She hurt so many without a care, and now was the time she owned up to it.
“It’s my daughter... She’s in the hospital. I have to go.” A tear slid down her face.
All that pompous satisfaction I felt just seconds ago melted away into shock.