Page 64 of The Uncomplicated Café
“Excuse me?” She blinked, her eyes wide and questioning, as if she’d misheard.
“Don’t look so surprised. You’ve done nothing but insult CeCe since the day you met. Which not only reveals your lack of character, but your lack of judgment, too. CeCe is the kindest, most incredible woman I’ve ever met, and if you can’t show her the respect she deserves, then I can’t work with you.”
There was no misunderstanding now. He’d made his stance abundantly clear. Gretchen glowered. “We have a contract.”
“Yes, we do. With a fairly detailed morality clause that I’m sure a few talented lawyers could prove you’ve violated. More than once.”
“Oh, please,” Gretchen scoffed. “You’re bluffing. You’re not going to fire me. You wouldn’t have an ounce of success without me.”
“Maybe not. But I’ve been thinking about a career change anyway.”
“To what? Don’t tell me it’s screenwriting.” She actually laughed.
CeCe squeezed his hand as if to say,Don’t let her get to you.
“It’s none of your business. As of this moment, you’re no longer my agent.” The decision filled him with surprising relief. He should’ve cut her loose years ago.
“Fine.” The single syllable slithered off her tongue. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He immediately regretted taking the bait.
“Jayce, darling,” she said with an ominous lilt. “You know I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. In a town this small, it will take me two seconds to dig up dirt on youandyour precious fiancée.”
“Good luck,” he grunted. But even as he said the words, a cold feeling of dread swept over him.
“Everyone has a secret.” She slid her purse over one arm. “And I’m going to have fun finding yours.” With a vicious smirk, she made her dramatic exit.
“That can’t be good,” CeCe whispered, putting words to his own apprehension.
He’d not only poked the bear, he’d served himself on a silver platter.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
CECE
A few days later,CeCe exited the café and stepped onto Main Street. The setting sun splashed a gilded palette of pinks and yellows across the shimmering sea. She loved this time of day, when evening approached, promising cooler breezes and quieter streets.
She smiled, recalling her stolen moments with Jayce—herfiancé—in the still hours of nightfall. They’d watched movies, made dinner together or simply talked, late into the early morning when the sleepy sun slipped back into the sky.
On her urging, they’d decided to wait until after Abby and Logan’s wedding to share the news of their no-longer-fake engagement—apart from with their parents, who’d been ecstatic—not wanting to pull focus from their friends. Plus, after years of secretly pining after one another, there was something sweet about savoring the newness of their relationship in the serene, protective sphere of their silence.
However, she realized she’d only been able to keep the secret by avoiding her friends, secluding herself with the excuse of prepping for Abby’s wedding—she’d be supplying assorted desserts in addition to the cake.
Tonight, her powers of restraint would be put to the test during Abby’s bachelorette party. Hopefully, her friends would be too preoccupied celebrating Abby’s upcoming nuptials to be suspicious of her secret.
Resolved to give her full attention to the night’s festivities, not dwell on her own relationship or Gretchen’s ugly threats, which had thus far proved hollow, she stepped into the lobby of East Street Cinema. Now defunct, the historic movie theater sat vacant except for the occasional special event.
To the right of the lobby, a large room with arched windows faced East State Street. Formerly a small eatery frequented by moviegoers before and after films, it now sat empty. For tonight’s celebration, Nadia had cleaned and polished the long mahogany bar top that once served concessions. Now, it offered gourmet charcuterie boards, spritzers, and colorful mocktails, all in keeping with the night’s elegant Audrey Hepburn theme.
CeCe added her contribution to the smorgasbord—a pastry box filled with flaky croissants à laBreakfast at Tiffany’s—before joining the rest of the party in the main auditorium.
Abby, Nadia, Sage, and Mia all congregated at the front of the room, each clad in their favorite pajamas. CeCe smiled at their eclectic ensembles, from Nadia’s two-piece set in crimson silk to Mia’s rainbow-colored onesie with a unicorn head for a hood. She’d opted for her usual cotton shorts and oversize T-shirt, which thankfully hadn’t drawn too much attention on her brief walk from the café.
“Wow, Mia,” she breathed, admiring the run-down yet, somehow, still regal space. “You’ve really worked your magic. It looks beautiful.”
Since the theater equipment was no longer in operation, Mia had rigged a portable projector that connected to her cell phone to stream the night’s movie selection onto the big screen. She’d also hung twinkle lights strategically along the stageand arranged plush pillows and cozy blankets across the worn stadium-style seats.
“Thanks.” Mia flipped on the projector and the opening credits forRoman Holidayrolled across the screen. “I can’t believe the owner shut this place down. It’s criminal.”
