"That you know of!" She stops abruptly in front of me, her face getting red. "I had a man tell me I had potential once and—"
"And what?"
She takes a big breath and lets it out. "Nothing."
"Who were you talking about? What man?"
"Nobody. Let's get back to you. If Mr. Walcott offers you anything else, I don't want you to take it. I want you to tell him no."
"Fine. Whatever."
"Kate, I mean it. I don't like people like him. I don't trust him, and neither should you."
"What do you mean 'people like him'? Rich people?"
"Not just rich, but rich and powerful. People with that kind of money and power can't be trusted."
"Gavin's family is rich."
"Which is why he's not the boy I would've chosen for you."
"You don't like Gavin?"
"He's a nice young man but he was raised with money. In a mansion. That had to have affected him."
"Affected him how?"
"By making him spoiled."
"Gavin's not spoiled. You've seen where we live. It's nothing fancy."
"I don't mean that kind of spoiled. I mean the kind where he does what he wants. If people tell him no, he does it anyway. Or he doesn't tell them at all so he can do what he wants without any consequences."
"That's not Gavin. You barely know him. You just met him."
"I know enough about rich people to know what they're like. After catering parties with Carol all those years, I saw how these people act. They aren't good people, Kate."
"Gavin is. He's not anything like you described. He's not selfish or spoiled. He's always trying to help people. That's why he's working at a job that helps people have access to better housing."
"You said he's working for a politician."
"Only a couple days a week. Mom, I don't want to get into this. I thought you liked Gavin, but if you don't then—"
"I like him. I just wish he hadn't grown up in that environment."
The door opens and Carol walks in. She looks around as she comes up to my mom and me. "Kate, the place looks wonderful. I really like the design."
"Thanks." I glance at my mom. She gives me the look that says she's calling a truce. I smile to let her know I'm not mad. My mom and I rarely fight, and when we do, we end it quickly.
"So Angie," Carol says, "everything go okay last night?"
"We can talk about it at lunch."
Carol winks and nudges her arm. "It must've gone better than okay."
"Stop it." My mom smiles. "It was nothing like that."
"But it could be," Carol says. "I bet Kate would like that. Seeing her parents back together?" She glances at me.
"I'm not offering up an opinion," I say, although truthfully, I think it'd be weird if they got back together. "Whatever they want to do is fine with me."
"I'm voting you two at least go on a date," Carol says to my mom. "Test the waters. See if there's anything still there."
It's definitely there. I saw it last night, but that doesn't mean my parents should get back together.
"Even if I wanted that," my mom says, "it wouldn't be right."
"Why wouldn't it be right?" I ask.
"It just wouldn't," she says abruptly.
She's acting strange, her eyes darting around, her hand rubbing the back of her neck.
Carol pretends not to notice and says to me, "Has your father been by to see the restaurant?"
"He was here last week. He stops by once or twice a week."
"What about your investors?" Carol asks. "Have they been by?"
"A few times." I glance at my mom, who's now digging through her purse for something.
"How many?"
I look back at Carol. "What?"
"How many have been by?"
"Um, I don't know. I haven't kept track. Why?"
"I was just curious how this works. I assumed the investors wouldn't be that involved, at least not involved enough to make in-person visits."
"I'm not sure how it normally works but as for Mr. Walcott, he's very involved. Personally, he's only shown up here a few times but he sends his employees here at least once a week to check out the progress. But I think that's because I'm so new at this. He wants to make sure everything's getting done."
"Which it is," my mom says, smiling at me. "Because my daughter is smart and hard-working and sure to be a success."
I smile back. "Words only a mother would say."
"You're basically working for them," Carol says.
"What do you mean?"
"You're working for the investors until you've paid them off. And given how hard it is to make a restaurant profitable, you may not pay them off for years."
"I realize that but I'm going to do everything I can to pay them off as soon as possible, even if it means taking out a loan."
"You weren't able to get a loan before."
"Well, yeah, but once the restaurant is up and running, I'll go back to the bank and try again."
Why is Carol being so negative? She's never been a very positive person but I thought she'd at least be supportive of me. When I worked for her, she used to encourage me to open my own restaurant but now she's acting like she doesn't want me to do well.
"Carol, we should get going," my mom says, sensing my annoyance with Carol's comments.
"I need to use the restroom first," she says.
"It's back there," I tell her, pointing to the sign. She leaves and I say to my mom, "What's the deal with Carol? Why was she saying all that?"
"She's just worried about you. She knows how hard it is to open a restaurant."
"But she wasn't talking about how hard it is. She was lecturing me about having investors. Acting like I was stupid for accepting their money."
"Honey, you're reading too much into it. Carol doesn't think you're stupid and neither do I. We both just have concerns that those men will take advantage of your lack of experience."
"Meaning what? What do you think would happen?"
"They might start treating you more like their employee than their partner. They might try making decisions without your consent or without even telling you. Or if the restaurant turns out to be a success, they could try to take it from you."
"They can't do that. I own half."
"Mr. Walcott is a very wealthy and powerful man. He didn't get that way from playing fair. That's why I didn't want you involved with someone like him."
"He's not trying to take over. Every time I meet with him, he's always asking my opinion and he only offers advice if I ask."
"I still want you to be careful, and not just with him, but whoever he sends over here. Be careful what you say around them and don't offer up information unless you have to as part of your contract with Mr. Walcott."
"Yeah, I'll be careful." I glance behind me at the restroom. "I still don't understand why Carol was acting that way. It was more than her being concerned. She almost seemed mad at me."
My mom sighs. "She's not mad. I think she's just envious that you're doing this and she's not."
"But she has a successful catering company. Why would she be jealous of me having a restaurant?"
"She talked about having her own restaurant for years. It was her dream."
"Then why didn't she do it?"
"I'm not sure. When I've asked, she doesn't really answer, but personally, I think once her catering company took off she stopped even considering opening a restaurant. It's hard to give up a successful business for one that has a high risk for failure."
I roll my eyes. "Great. Thanks, Mom."
"Honey, I didn't mean it like that. You're going to do great." She glances around. "A modern twist on a diner? People are going to love it. This place will be a huge hit."
"I'm ready," Carol says, rushing up to us. "Sorry it took so long. I had to call my seafood supplier. He was late with a delivery."
My mom starts walking to the door. "We'll see you later, Kate."
Carol follows, b
ut turns back to me. "The place looks great!"
"Thanks."
The two of them leave and my mind wanders back to what my mom said about how it wouldn't be right for her to get back with my dad. Why wouldn't it be right? Because she just broke up with Allen? Or because my dad is dating Celeste?
In the afternoon, I'm testing recipes when Gavin calls.
"I'll start by saying I'm sorry," he says.
I sigh. "You're working late again."
"Yeah. I'm really sorry. I just have so much to do I can't get it all done during the day."
"Okay, well, don't worry about it. I'm going to be staying late here at the restaurant so I guess I'll just see you in bed tonight."
"If you're still awake when I get home."
"You're going to be that late?"
"Maybe. I don't know. Depends on how much I get done. How's your day going?"
"Good. My mom stopped by. And Carol. They were going to lunch."
"That's good. Hey, I gotta go. I love you."
"Love you too. Bye."
That's it. That's all the conversation we'll get today and it sounds like I won't see him at all tonight. I'll be asleep when he gets home.
Our situation is getting worse, not better, and I don't know how to fix it.
Chapter Nineteen
Gavin
I didn't get home until midnight last night. Kate was asleep and was still asleep when I left for work at six this morning. I didn't want to wake her because I know she's tired and needs to sleep, but I miss talking to her. It seems like the only time we talk now is on a quick phone call during the day. But if we did talk, I don't know what I'd say. I can't talk about work because then I'd have to tell her about my job, which I know I need to do but not if telling her will stress her out. With the restaurant about to open, the last thing she needs is more stress.
"Late night?" Jett asks as he walks in my office, a big smile on his face, showing off his shiny white teeth. Sometimes I wonder if he's purposely making me work here because he knows it's not what I want to do. Guys like him love exerting their power and he knows he holds the power in this situation.
I stand up so I'm at his level. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that."
He checks his watch; a designer watch worth at least fifty thousand. "I have a meeting in a few minutes. You'll have to make it quick." He gets his phone out and swipes through his messages. "I saw your email last night. That's why I stopped by. You said something wasn't working on the website?"
"Um, no. I got that fixed. That's why I was here so late. Jess was here too. She's actually the one who fixed it."
I always give credit where credit is due. I can't stand people who take credit for work they didn't do in order to get ahead.
"But you identified the problem," Jett says.
"Well, yeah, but anyone could've done that."
"Don't be so modest, Gavin." He grins as he puts his phone away. "Nobody got anywhere by being modest. You have to sell yourself. Let others know how great you are. You have to be your biggest fan. Inspire others to follow you. That's how to be a leader."
I don't believe that's what makes a good leader but I'm not going to argue with him. I have a feeling nobody could win an argument with Jett.
"So anyway," I say, hurrying to tell him this before he leaves, "I can't keep working this many hours. A few extra hours now and then is fine but working until midnight every day is too much. I was wondering if I could have help on some of the things you gave me to do so I wouldn't have to be here so late."
He chuckles as he walks over to the window, looking out at the city skyline. "This is about Kate."
How does he know about Kate? I've never even mentioned her to him.
"She's your girlfriend, right?" he asks.
"Yeah. Did Peter tell you about her?"
"A little." He turns to face me. "But I did my own research as well. I like to know all I can about my employees." His eyes fix on mine. "This is politics after all. You never know who might betray you. You have to know who you can trust."
Why wouldn't he trust me? I have no reason to turn against him. If anything, I'm the one who should be distrustful. I don't know that much about Jett and the more I learn about him, the less I like him. For instance, I don't like the fact that he's done research on me. He doesn't need to know everything about me. My private life should be private.
"It's not just about Kate," I say. "It's about my job taking over my life. I saw that happen with my dad and I don't want the same thing happening to me."
"Your father wasn't working at a job. He was working toward a dream. A dream to help ordinary people have better lives. Better places to live. Better jobs. The hours he put in had meaning. Purpose. Just like the hours you put in here. This isn't just a job, Gavin. We're here making a difference."
He says that, and maybe he truly believes it, but working late to fix the website doesn't seem like making a difference. It just seems like work, with the goal being to get Jett elected.
He walks around me, making me turn back to see him. "You know why I gave you this office instead of a cubicle?"
"No. Why?"
"Because you have potential. I saw it the moment I met you. In fact, everyone sees it but you."
"Potential for what?"
"For things greater than writing contracts. You're smart, good-looking, likable, and a born leader. People want to listen to you and be around you. You may not realize it but you're an influencer. And influencers can't hide in a cubicle all day typing away at a computer. You need to be out there, talking to people, changing minds." He gives me a toothy grin. "The political circles are already buzzing about you. They see a future with you, Gavin. You have what it takes, just like your father did."
"I appreciate the compliments but I'm not interested in being a politician. I told you that when we first met. I didn't even plan to work on a campaign ever again but you and Peter were so insistent that I—"
"Do you want to make a difference? Improve the lives of people less fortunate than you?"
"Well, yeah, of course, but I can do that by educating policy makers on the issues and convincing them to make changes."
"Politicians are swayed by money and favors, not charts and graphs."
"Which is why I don't want a career in politics. I don't want to be part of that world."
"You're already in it. Writing proposals to influence policymakers and local politicians is politics, whether you like it or not."
"But I'm not directly part of it. I'm working behind the scenes."
"Which will do nothing for anyone. You're not making a difference sitting at a desk writing proposals. Hopefully working here will show you how much more you could do and how much influence you could have."
"You're the one influencing people. I'm just helping you get your ideas out there."
"You're learning from me. Observing what your future could be like. Think about it, Gavin. Think about following in your father's footsteps. Think about how proud he would be, seeing you carry out his ideas and truly make a difference in people's lives."
His words conjure up images of my dad and me having late-night talks around the kitchen table. We'd talk for hours about all that could be done to make the world a better place. How just a simple change in policy could make a huge difference or how a new program could change people's lives. Sometimes we'd disagree but our disagreements would often lead to a better solution.
God, I miss those times. I miss my dad.
"If you could truly make a difference," Jett says, "would you really pass up that opportunity?"
My mind snaps back to the present and the reason I wanted to talk to Jett. "It's just not the type of life I want. I'm sorry if that makes you think less of me but I have to do what's right for me, and being a politician just isn't it."
He chuckles. "Give it some time. You're young. You haven't been in the real world long enough to see how it works. Once you do, your attitude might change." He walks to the
door. "Have a good day."
"Wait." I race to the door. "About my workload...can you take anything off my plate so I could get home at a more reasonable hour?"
"If you want to work fewer hours, find a way to do it. I don't care when my employees come and go as long as the work gets done. Find a way to work smarter and you could leave at noon."
"I don't know how to do that."
He smiles. "I just told you how. You're a born leader, Gavin. People listen to you. They'll do what you tell them to, so get them to help you out. Delegate. And don't take no for an answer." His phone rings and he answers it as he walks off.
I return to my desk and review my never ending list of projects. Maybe Jett's right. Maybe I could convince some people to help me out. Testing that theory, I approach some of my co-workers to see if they'd take on some of my projects. Surprisingly they all agree to it, but to be fair, they didn't have much to do. One girl was just sitting at her desk, surfing the Internet.
Maybe Jett purposely gave me all this work to see if I'd take the leadership role he seems to want me to have here at the office. I get the feeling everything he does has a purpose. I don't like being manipulated that way but in this case, it worked in my favor. If he hadn't given me that lecture earlier, I'd still be trying to do everything myself and be here until midnight. But instead I'm leaving at four-thirty.
Rather than go home right away, I decide to go to one of the Kendal Properties to check it out. I can't stop thinking about that key I found. I want to know what it's for.
One of the Kendal apartment buildings is close to the office so I stop there but have no idea what to do next. As I approach the elevator, I notice it can't be used without an access code.
"Are you visiting?" the doorman asks when he sees me staring at the elevator. He's an older man with gray hair and a thick gray mustache.
"I was just checking out the building, seeing if I'd want to live here."
He chuckles. "You know what these run?"
"Um, yes. I do."
His eyes narrow and he cocks his head. "You one of those Internet kids?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Those kids who spend all their time making videos and end up making millions."
Secrets Told Page 18