Annihilate Me (Vol. 3) (The Annihilate Me Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

pulled
out her card.   “Contact me.   The company I work for has a fund that
offers full tuition for those who need it.   If you are in need—and I have no idea if you are
because that’s none of my business—but if you’d like to go to culinary
school, contact me at that number.   I’ll judge you on your burgers and especially on the fries, and we’ll go
from there.   Fair enough?”
    “Lady, are you serious?”
    “It’s Ms. Blackwell to you.   And I am serious.   I’m always serious.   People say I’m too serious.   They might be right.   Whatever.”   She nodded at him with a half-smile.   “We’ll be seated over there.   See that table?   The round one?   Right there.   You’ll serve us?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “Have a nice day.   What’s your name?   I don’t see a name tag.”
    “Charlie.”
    “No respected chef is called ‘Charlie.’”
    “That’s my name.”
    “That was your name.   So, Charles, I’ll let
you know about the food.   Kick it
into high gear.   Give it your best
shot and let’s see what you’ve got.   Because this woman—”   She tapped her finger against her chest.   “This woman doesn’t eat like this except for once a year.”
    “I’ll do my best, Ms. Blackwell.”
    She put a hundred dollar bill on the
counter and started to walk away.   “I have no doubt about it, Charles.”

 
 
    *   *   *  

 
 
    “That was interesting,” I said as we took
our seats.  
    “What was interesting?”
    “If he takes you up on your offer, you
might have just changed his life.”
    “So?”
    “It was kind of you.”
    “I’m not a complete bitch, Jennifer.   I just come off as one.”
    For the first time in two days, I
laughed.   “No you’re not.   You’re complicated and wonderful and
scary and smart and talented and sometimes even touching.   I’ve never met anyone like you, but I’m
grateful that I have.”
    She waved her hand in dismissal.   “That’s just because I freshened up
your face and reapplied your lipstick a moment ago.”
    “You know better than that, so let’s be
serious.   I’m glad that you’re
here, in more ways than you know.   I’ve come to lean on you and consider you a friend.”
    “No one ever considers me their friend.”
    She studied me for a moment in such a way
that I knew she was telling me the truth.   Maybe she didn’t have many friends.   As long as she’d lived in this city of ice and power,
particularly at her level, real friendships might be a challenge to come
by.   And probably were.  
    “Well, I do.”
    “So be it.”   She looked at me almost as a mother would.   “You were crying when I entered the
room.   Why?”
    “You know why.”
    “Alex is going to be fine.”
    “It’s not about that.”
    She lifted her chin.   “So it isn’t.   Look, Jennifer, I’m just going to lay it out for you.   I’m not going to be easy on you.   I’m going to be logical and helpful,
but don’t expect anything more than that.   My point here today is to get you focused and moving forward.”
    “With what?”
    “With everything.   And yes, that includes your
relationship with Alex, which I’ve come to embrace.   I think you’re right for him.   And I protect him more than I protect myself, so please
consider that.   As I understand the
situation—and correct me if I’m wrong—you had no idea that Alex’s
life had been threatened until the night of the party.   Am I correct?”
    “You are.”
    “And he knew all of this before you went
with him on your romantic journey to Maine.   Am I correct?”
    “You are.”
    “And things happened between the two of
you in Maine that makes you feel betrayed because he kept silent.   You feel that he should have told you
what he knew before things... progressed.   Am I right?”
    I sighed.   What didn’t she know?   “You are.”
    “Then we need to talk.”
    “I need to talk with someone.”
    “Haven’t you talked with