Yes, Chef

by Linda Verji

  “What?” Worth’s mood immediately plunged. “She’s been so quiet that I thought we were done with her.”

  “She was regrouping.”

  “Ugh!” Worth pinched the bridge of his nose. He was so tired of dealing with his sister-in-law. “What’s she up to these days?”

  “She heard that you were looking for an Executive Assistant,” Joel explained, “and she wants me to put in a good word for one of the interviewees.”

  Worth’s eyebrows shot upwards. “Another mole?”

  “Seems so.” Joel gestured towards Worth’s computer. “Check your email. I just sent you the interviewee’s résumé and details.”

  It took Worth a few minutes to turn on his computer and get to his mail. He clicked on the email from Joel then opened the attachment. As soon as he opened it, a woman’s face met him.

  Pretty. That was the first thought that crossed Worth’s mind when he saw her. The woman in the picture was attractive but in an exotic way. Her honey-toned skin loudly proclaimed her as biracial and her dusty brown hair tumbled to her shoulders in an interesting mess of cock-screw curls. But it was her eyes that held his attention. Even though her lips were drawn in a straight, thin line, her eyes were smiling, almost as if there was something funny behind the camera.

  “Sinclair Johnson,” Worth read aloud as he scanned the rest of her résumé.

  According to the documents, she was twenty-eight years old, a graduate of the University of Virginia with extensive experience working as an Executive Assistant.

  Worth looked up from the screen to meet Joel’s eyes. “Is any of this true?”

  “As far as I can tell,” said Joel. “I called UVA and their records say she was a student there. The company she says she worked at – Yeomin Technologies – had only good things to say about her. She looks clean.”

  “Looks is the keyword there.” Worth reread the woman’s resume again then said, “There’s no way she’s clean. Not if Claire is behind her. I bet there’s something we’re missing.”

  “Do you want me to tell Claire that I can’t get her in?” Joel asked.

  “Hmm.” Worth thought over it then decided, “No, let her in for the interviews. You haven’t given Claire anything good in a while and she might start to think that you’re useless and get a new spy. Let’s use this opportunity to make Claire trust you more.”

  A few years ago, Claire had found out that Joel had embezzled money from W Sport. She’d blackmailed him into being her spy in exchange for her not outing him to Worth. Fortunately, Joel had decided to confess to Worth rather than cross over to the dark side. Worth, however, wasn’t one to waste a good opportunity. His sister-in-law was so desperate to keep tabs on him that if she didn’t turn Joel then she’d find someone else. So why not give her Joel?

  Worth had convinced Joel to fall into Claire’s trap and become her mole. Now, Worth could feed her information he didn’t mind her knowing while keeping his own tabs on her and making sure she didn’t ruin his business with her shenanigans. With Joel’s help he’d avoided several of Claire’s traps.

  “Let’s let this Sinclair in.” Worth tapped his finger against his chin as he stared at the woman on his screen. “We can always drop her at any stage of the interview process then it won’t be your fault. You can say that the woman didn’t impress the panelists enough.”

  “All right.” Joel nodded. “Your call.”

  “We should also investigate her more thoroughly.”

  Joel frowned. “Do you think her information is fake?”

  “She’s Claire’s mole. Something will be fake.” Worth suggested, “Get Masterson on it.”

  “Masterson?” Joel’s eyes shot up. “Are you sure about that? She’s overpriced for this kind of job.”

  Masterson was an ex-FBI agent now turned private investigator. Though the woman was excellent at her job, her rates were so high that they only brought her in when the information they needed was worth a lot of money.

  “I’m sure.” Worth stared at the image of the woman on screen. “I have a feeling that we’ll need a pro to unmask this Sinclair.”

  Long after Joel left his office, Worth kept staring at the woman. For some reason, he couldn’t look away from her.

  “Sinclair Johnson,” he mumbled under his breath as his gaze lingered on her smiling eyes. How was she connected to Claire and what did she want in his company? It would be interesting to find out.

  CHAPTER 3

  “Can’t you be neater?” A.J, Sin’s best-friend and Ten’s sister, clucked disapprovingly as she stared at the red suitcase that was filled to the brim with Sin’s clothes. “This is not how a woman packs.”

  “That is how I pack,” Sin retorted from her position at the head of the bed where she was busy playing with her phone.

  “Look at this mess,” A.J scolded under her breath. She upended the whole suitcase then began to fold and pack the clothes again.

  “Get away from my clothes, woman,” Sin said, but she didn’t even move an inch to stop her friend. Why? Because she liked having a neat suitcase too; she just didn’t have the energy to do it herself. And if A.J wanted to pack for her then who was she to complain?

  “Are you sure you should be doing that?” Kelly, who was seated beside Sin, watched A.J in concern. “You’re pregnant, you know.”

  “Pregnant, not sick.” A.J shot Kelly a grin. “And it’s funny you think that packing is the most strenuous thing I’ve been up to lately.”

  This time even Sin sat up. Concerned, she asked, “Please don’t tell me you’ve been jumping up and down buildings again.”

  A.J just grinned earning herself a round of concerned gasps. Before they could question her further, she asked Sin, “Do you have to be gone for that long? Six months is a long time.”

  On hearing that this was the day Sin was leaving for Portland, the other two women had appeared at Sin’s doorstep early in the morning to say their goodbyes

  “Six months is on the higher side,” Sin reassured them. “It could be less time –maybe four months or so. It just depends on how fast I – um-” She quickly corrected herself. “- depends on how fast Claire gets her treatment.”

  Since Sin couldn’t tell her now annoyingly law-abiding friends that she was on her way to con someone in Portland, she’d come up with a cover story; Claire, a friend she’d been close to before her incarceration, needed her to mind her store while she underwent treatment for breast cancer.

  “And yes, I have to go,” Sin continued, “Claire needs my help. If I don’t go, she might have to close her store.”

  “Humph!” Ten snorted from across the room. Though she was pretending to watch the movie playing on the TV, it was obvious she was eavesdropping on the conversation.

  Though Sin was afraid the younger woman might out her any time, it hadn’t happened yet, so she ignored the sarcastic harrumph and doggedly went on, “The shop is Claire’s only source of income. She can’t afford to close it, especially with how expensive cancer treatment is.”

  “Doesn’t she have any relatives to watch the store for her?” Kelly asked.

  “Nope.” Sin shook her head. “She’s all alone.”

  “Wouldn’t it make more sense to hire a qualified manager?” A.J asked.

  “Are you trying to imply that I’m not qualified?” Sin gave her friend a narrow-eyed look.

  A.J smirked. “Caught that, did you?”

  “Bitch!” Sin cussed, but her mouth crooked in a reluctant smile.

  “Whore!” A.J countered with a wider smile before asking, “So, why can’t Claire hire someone instead of dragging you all the way to Portland.”

  “She can’t afford it,” Sin said. Before her friends could ask more questions, she added, “Besides she needs someone she trusts to watch the shop.”

  “And she trusts you?” Kelly eyed Sin skeptically. “With her money? Wow!”

  “Yes, she trusts me with her money,” Sin insisted. When her friends gave her amused looks, s
he protested, “You know, you two are the only ones who don’t think I’ve changed. Everyone else trusts me.”

  Though Sin was indeed preparing herself for another illegal adventure, she didn’t like it when people assumed that she was still a crook. Even the courts insisted on evidence before deciding on guilt.

  “That’s because everyone else doesn’t know you like we do,” A.J teased, earning herself a round of laughs from everyone but Sin who cut her eyes at her.

  “Don’t worry, Sin.” Kelly reached over to pat Sin’s back. “We’re just teasing. We know you’ve gone straight.”

  This time Ten’s snort was loud enough to attract everyone’s attention.

  “What’s with the humph?” A.J turned to her sister. “Do you know something we don’t know?”

  “A.J,” Sin quickly cut in before Ten could out her. “Do you think I could borrow some spending money?”

  Frowning, A.J turned back to Sin. “What did you do with all the money you earned as a fake girlfriend?”

  “It bought all those clothes.” Sin pointed to the now neatly packed suitcase.

  Both her friends gave her exasperated looks. “What will we do with you?”

  Sin gave them her best puppy-eyes. “Lend me money?”

  “You’re a disaster,” Kelly complained. She reached for her purse and pulled out a card. “Here. A.J and I got you a card.”

  “Aw, you wonderful, wonderful women.” Sin snatched the card then lifted on her knees to give Kelly a bear hug. “I knew you loved me.”

  However, when she started towards A.J to give her a hug, A.J immediately backed away then informed her, “The card has a two thousand dollars limit.”

  “What? Only two thousand?” Sin glared at her friends. “You. Mean. Bitches!”

  “You can always return the card,” Kelly dared her.

  “Nice try!” Sin clasped the card to her bosom protectively, drawing laughs from the other women in the room.

  When the laughter died down, Kelly said, “I just hate the thought of you being all alone up there, or of you missing my wedding.”

  Kelly was due to marry her fiancé, Spencer, in seven months. Frankly, Sin was surprised that the two had even gotten this far. Spencer was the prosecutor who’d sent Kelly to jail for a murder she didn’t commit. How they’d been able to get over that was anyone’s guess. Sin wasn’t sure she could be that forgiving. Heck, she still regularly dreamt of stabbing the judge who’d sent her to prison.

  “Don’t worry, Kelly. I’ll be there for your wedding,” Sin assured her friend. “And I won’t be alone in Portland. Ten is coming with me.”

  “She is?” A.J turned surprised eyes to her sister. “I didn’t know you were leaving with Sin.”

  “I am,” Ten said simply with a shrug.

  Anyone watching the two sisters’ cold interaction would’ve been surprised. Sin wasn’t. The two sisters had a strange relationship; they weren’t estranged but they weren’t close either. They weren’t enemies, but you couldn’t call them friends either. They were just strange. But it worked for them.

  “You’re going to help out with the store too?” Kelly asked Ten.

  “Something like that,” Ten retorted without looking away from the TV.

  “You?” A.J’s tone held a healthy dose of skepticism. “You’re going to help out at a clothing store?”

  “She’s helped out in stores before,” Sin rushed to Ten’s defense. “If you remember, she used to help out at your store.”

  “Hmph.” A.J remained unconvinced. A second later, she narrowed her eyes. “Ten, are you sure you’re not running away?”

  “What?” Ten turned swiftly to face her.

  “Are you sure you’re not running away?” A.J folded her arms over her chest. “I heard you owe Casper and his crew some money.”

  “You heard?” Ten’s wide-eyed expression perfectly mimicked Sin’s own surprise. “How did you hear about that?”

  A.J ignored her sister’s question and instead said, “If that’s what you’re running away from, then you don’t need to. I already talked to Casper.”

  “You talked to Casper?” All three women exclaimed at the same time.

  A.J and her father were like water and oil. They did not mix well. Heck, the last time the two had met in person, A.J had held a gun to Casper head all while forcing him to give her his money.

  “Yes, I talked to Casper,” A.J said. A second later, she corrected herself, “Well, it was more like I threatened him. But the end result is that you’re off the hook. You don’t have to be worried about him or one of his guys coming after you.”

  “You didn’t have to do that,” Ten protested.

  A.J rolled her eyes. “Just say thank you.”

  “Whatever!” Ten sniffed before turning back to her movie.

  A.J shook her head before turning back to the conversation with Kelly and Sin.

  Hours later, both A.J and Kelly left for their respective homes. Ten stayed behind with Sin.

  Trying to affect a nonchalant tone, Sin commented, “You must be happy.”

  “Happy about what?” Ten asked.

  “Now, you don’t have to do the job with me.” Even though there was a tight knot of anxiety in the pit of her belly, Sin pretended to be engrossed with her phone. “A.J already paid your debt.”

  “You expect me to let you go to Portland alone?” Ten guffawed. “Your crazy ass will get arrested within a day if I’m not there to keep an eye on you.”

  “Hey, I’m perfectly fine on my own,” Sin insisted even as relief pulsed through her. Though she’d done a lot of jobs in the past alone, she didn’t want to be alone this time. Not when she’d discovered how great it felt to have someone watching your back.

  “Whatever, Miss Perfectly Fine!” Ten snorted. “I’m still coming with you though.” A moment later, she reached for her jacket and pulled out a card. “Forgot to tell you that these were out.”

  “Wow!” Sin gaped as she reached for her new driver’s license. “This looks so real.”

  “As far as the government and Wentworth Ransom is concerned it is real.” Ten waved her own license. “Keyboard is a pro at these things.”

  “What identity did he give you?” Sin arched her neck to see Ten’s license.

  With a grin, Ten turned then held up her license. “Say hello to Eight Adams.”

  “Eight Adams?” Sin laughed, the sound ringing loud in the room. “That’s the best you could do?”

  “Hey, I could’ve gone with One but I decided to be humble,” Ten said with a smile. A moment later, that smile dropped and her expression became graver. “Are you sure we can do this? Have you ever played an Executive Assistant?”

  “No, I haven’t.” Sin rushed on to reassure her, “But I have been studying how to be one. I know some things now.”

  “Pease tell me you don’t mean the things you learnt while watching all those movies starring secretaries.”

  “Of course that’s what I mean.” Sin raised her eyebrows. “Is there any other way to learn?”

  Ten flopped back into the seat with a heavy sigh. “We’re so screwed.”

  Sin laughed. It was true that her entire knowledge of ‘how to be an executive assistant’ came from Google and The Devil Wears Prada, but she was confident that she could pull this off. Even before she’d decided to be a con-artist, she’d always been pretty good at transforming into whoever she wanted to be. Nerd, socialite, shrew, emo-chick… even her mother had jokingly nicknamed her Chameleon. This job was right up her alley.

  “Don’t worry, Eight!” Sin scooted closer to her friend on the couch and slung her arm across her shoulder. “I can do this. Within six months, we’ll be smiling all the way from the bank with Worth’s money.”

  Almost as if on cue, Sin’s phone rang. The caller-ID loudly blinked Claire’s name.

  “Hi, Claire,” Sin answered. “How are you doing?”

  “Fine. Fine.” Claire rushed on, “Are you in Portland yet?”
<
br />   “No, I’m still in New York.”

  “What?” The woman’s voice rose to a high-pitched whine. “You promised that you’d be here in time for the interviews.”

  “I know what I promised,” Sin countered calmly. “The interviews start in three days, don’t they? I still have time.”

  “Yeah, but you shouldn’t wait until the last minute,” Claire whined. “The person I hired to prep you will-”

  “Claire, Claire, Claire!” Sin cut her off. “Chill. Relax. You don’t need to worry. I’ll be there by tomorrow, and I’ve already done my own prep work.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “You can’t fail these interviews.” Claire sighed. “Ever since I’ve been back, Worth has upped the harassment. I’m afraid that he might do something soon.”

  Instant anger shot through Sin. Her lip lifted in a sneer, she promised, “Don’t worry we’ll cut him off at the knees.”

  “I hope so. I hope so. I really need you, Sin.” Claire’s voice took on a pleading note. “You’re my last hope so please don’t let me down.”

  “I won’t,” Sin assured her. “I got this.”

  “When’s your flight?”

  “I’ll let you know as soon as I get to Portland.”

  “Please hurry here,” Claire said.

  As soon as Sin ended the call, Ten said, “Well, she’s desperate.”

  “You’d be too if you were in her position.”

  “If I were in her position, I would’ve already cut off Worth’s balls,”

  Sin chuckled. “That’s because you’re crazy.”

  Ten grinned. “True.”

  “Alright Eight.” With a grin, Sin stood up. “Let’s go steal Worth’s family jewels.”

  * * *

  THREE WEEKS LATER, Sin found herself at the headquarters of W Sport. This wasn’t her first time in the building; she’d already been here twice for the preliminary interviews. Sin had practically skated past those two interviews. Thanks to her own research into the company and the interview panelists, the coaching she’d received from Claire’s guy, and her innate ability to charm people, the process had been as successful as expected.