Wife for Hire

Chapter 7

(Karmen)

Joe and Maxine agreed to meet with me at one of our favorite spots, it was an outlet mall that had different restaurants and things included as well as stores. I had no idea how much money was on the card that Lucinda had given me, but I was ready to spoil my friends that had been through everything with me, through thick and thin. We sat at the table looking over the menus, this place wasn't as fancy as the place that Jason had brought us to, but it was definitely more than we were used to. The waiter came by and took our drink orders, when he left I looked at my friends.

"So, how's it going at the diner?" I asked, waiting for some juicy gossip that I was sure to be missing. Maxine took a sip of her tea and Joe rolled his eyes.

"Girl, it ain't the same without you. Literally, all these new kids that Don is hiring are getting on my everlasting nerves." Joe said. I looked to Maxine and she nodded.

"Yeah, this one little girl straight up told a customer he could go fuck himself, simply for informing her that the ketchup bottle was empty. Karmen the diner isn't the same without you, I wish you would come back." I squeezed her arm and smiled sadly. Even though the diner didn't pay much, I still managed to make a lot of tips and majority of those is what made it easy for me to pay parts of my mom's hospital bills.

"I know, I miss the diner too but Jason apparently doesn't want me working." Maxine nodded. What could I do, the man was giving me 3 million dollars, my mom was going to be in a better facility soon and I just knew that me and my friends would be taken care of. I would do whatever he said.

"How's that going?" Maxine asked. I groaned and rolled my eyes. Joe was eyeing me eating a piece of bread. I didn't even know where to begin, it had only been two weeks and already I was contemplating ways to kill him, especially after this morning.

"He throws that damn contract in my face every chance he gets. Turns out he had also been engaged before me and him even agreed to get married." I whispered just in case wandering ears were listening. Maxine's eyes widened and Joe gave me a look that said 'girl you lying'. I shook my head at him letting him know that I wasn't. I went into the story of dinner with Jason's father and his ex-fiancee, they laughed at my confusion over the menu and Emily being the fiancee and not the stepmother, but all in all they also thought this was all really messed up.

"I can see why he avoided that marriage." Maxine said, taking a bite of her pasta. The food had come while we were in the middle of talking. I shook my head.

"Jason on the other hand, he can be joking and playful one minute and then cold and distant the next minute." Joe shrugged.

"Maybe he's just trying not to get close to you, I mean you are a beautiful woman, you attracted him for a reason." I nodded considering this. Didn't mean he had to be a jerk. I know that dinner with his father was supposed to be an act, but it felt like it came so naturally. Maybe I was just overthinking it all. I ended up shaking it off and enjoying the rest of lunch.

(Jason)

Derek was sitting across from me at the table as Lucinda served us. I watched as she poured soup into the bowls, a grilled cheese sandwich and a salad. A simple lunch, but I knew it would be filling. Derek thanked Lucinda and we both dug in.

"How are things going with Karmen?" Derek asked, blowing on his soup before sticking the spoon in his mouth and nodding in delight. I shrugged, I hadn't really interacted with her besides dinner last night and the annoyance this morning but other than that she steered clear.

"I guess it's fine, we don't really talk." Derek sighed. I shrugged again I didn't know what he wanted from me. Karmen was here to piss off my dad, so far she was doing a pretty good job. Other than that she was free to do anything she wanted until I needed her again. I sighed and ate more of my soup and salad.