Breaking Out (The Surrender Trilogy 2)

You aren’t kidding. “I was in housekeeping.”

“And why did you leave your last job?”

Fuck. “I, um, I could still go back there. I left on okay terms. I just . . . it wasn’t for me.”

He looked at her then, his plain eyes swimming behind the augmented lenses of his glasses. “Being a floor clerk is no easy job, Evelyn. I wouldn’t want you to assume this job will be any easier.”

She held back an eye roll. “I’m sure it isn’t. I’m a hard worker, Mr. Gerhard. I just didn’t fit in so well with the people at Patras. I wanted a change of setting. That’s all.”

He smiled softly as if he had a secret. His smile didn’t show teeth. It was really just a curve of his hairy lip. She smiled back nervously.

“Call me Travis.” Leaning forward he placed the application on the desk. When he spoke, the scent of spearmint laced coffee wafted at her, but she remained still, plastering a serene expression on her face.

“Evelyn, I think you might be a good addition to our team here.”

Relief rose within her like a swarm of butterflies, but she held her breath as she noticed the manager’s reluctant expression. She waited, foot tapping incessantly, as he went on.

“You’ll be under a trial period for the first ninety days, in which you’ll report to me and I’ll be keeping a close eye on your performance. Clemons is a family name, and our customers depend on the community feel they get here that they don’t necessarily find at the more corporate grocers. It’s important that you always smile and make the customer feel as though they’re important. That’s the Clemons way.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Dress code is gray slacks and Clemons pink-issue dress shirt with a Clemons apron. Your appearance matters. If you’re ever working around the deli or fish department, you’re expected to wear a hairnet and gloves. You’ll likely be at the register for now, although you will have to stock from time to time.”

He stood and went to the dented filing cabinet. The drawer made an obnoxious scrape as it slid opened and rattled closed. When he returned to the desk, he was holding another form.

“You’ll need to fill out the proper tax forms and return with them before you start. Payday is the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Lateness is docked, and days off must be cleared ten days in advance.”

He slid the tax paperwork across the desk. She’d have Parker help with that. When he leaned back, he examined her. There was something very artificial about him, like his skin was made of wax. His eyes creased the way eyes did with a smirk, but he wasn’t smiling under that mustache, from what she could tell.

“I want you to know that I’m the type of manager who cares very much for my employees, Evelyn. If you have any problems I want you to come to me with them.”

“Uh, okay, Mr. Gerhard.”

His mustache curved. “Travis.”

She nodded. “Travis.”

“Good. How does Monday sound?”

After a sharp and fleeting thought of Tamara Jones, her GM at Patras who was so normal and sweet, Scout plastered on a smile. “Monday sounds great.”

“Great! Welcome to Clemons.”

She took his extended hand. It was dry and chafed her palm. She breathed in the unwelcome scent of spearmint and coffee.

Parker waited on a bench around the corner from the store entrance. He was reading a tattered paperback. As she approached he looked up. “Hey, how’d it go?”

“I got it!”

He smiled and stood, pulling her into a brief hug. “That’s great! When do you start?”

They began walking in the direction of her apartment. “Monday.”

“Good. How was the interview?”

She burrowed her hands into the pockets of her corduroy jacket as they strode briskly along the walk. “Fine. My boss is sort of weird.”

“Well, you like weird bosses, no?”

Her face tightened at his joke. “Lucian wasn’t weird. He was . . . unconventional.”

“Pretentious.”

She frowned and nudged him with her shoulder. “No, I mean he was unexpected. He isn’t the way people see him.”

They crossed the street in silence. “I think you glorify him for reasons he doesn’t deserve.”

Keeping her gaze down, she shrugged. “Maybe, but I can’t see him as the untouchable man the rest of the world sees him as. He isn’t like that. He’s caring and loving and—”

“I don’t need to hear anymore. Tell me why your new boss is weird.”

They turned onto her block. “I don’t know. I think he’s around our age, but he acts older. He’s serious in a way I just don’t get. How intense could the world of groceries be?”

“Maybe it’s been a rough berry season?”

She laughed as they entered her building. “I have paperwork I need to fill out.”

“I’ll help you with it.” They took the elevator in silence.

Parker casually removed her coat after unlocking the door. She stilled, not expecting him to do such a thing.