Page 23 of The D Appointment

I approached the man sitting at the table of the fancy restaurant I had just entered. He laughed at some sexist joke his friends had made, and I felt no guilt about what I was about to do.

But even though his assistant had given me the information of where he’d be at this time and he looked exactly like the profile picture I’d found on the internet, I still approached him and asked, “Ron Stewart?”

He turned toward me and eyed my too-casual clothes, my tattoos, and my nose ring. He chuckled to his friends like he couldn’t believe someone like me had had the audacity to approach someone like him.

But I simply waited for him to answer me. I wasn’t in a rush, and guys like him didn’t intimidate me.

When he realized I wasn’t going to leave, he sat up straighter in his chair and threw the napkin from his lap onto his empty plate. “Yeah, I’m Ron Stewart. What’s it to ya?” He deliberately scanned me up and down. “I doubt you’re here about hiring my company. You could never afford me.”

He and his buddies all laughed.

“That’s okay. I don’t need to hire you.”

“Oh, you don’t, huh?” His voice was filled with arrogance. “Then, what are you here for?”

I pulled the envelope out of my jacket and dropped it in his lap. “I’m here to serve you.” I smiled. “Have a good day.”

As I strolled away, I heard Ron Stewart cussing at me, but I was used to the hate. No one liked a process server.

While I worked as a welder for ten hours a day, four days of the week, I did process serving on my other days. It helped me save up to take in my brother after he turned eighteen, and it gave me the flexibility many part-time jobs didn’t.

When I got outside, my phone vibrated in my pocket, so I pulled it out to see who had texted me.

Gina:Were you serious about helping out Vivian again?

The smile on my face morphed into a grin. What a coincidence. This side gig of mine was how I had met Gina.

Me:Fuck yeah.

Gina:Good. But you’re going to have to go to her.

Me:Whatever. I’m done for the day, so I can do that.

Gina:Here’s her address.

Gina sent a link to Google Maps.

Gina:But I have to warn you: she was in a bad mood at work today.

I laughed.

Me:Thanks for the heads-up.

If I was lucky, I would be able to fuck the bad mood right out of her.

11

Vivian

When I got homethat night, I put on a pair of leggings and a comfortable T-shirt, and I poured a glass of wine while I waited for my dinner to be delivered.

Even though I was away from the office, I got on my laptop. I couldn’t bring files home from work, but I could do a few things away from the firm, like look over my schedule and organize in my mind what I had to do on Monday.

I was deep into my to-do list when there was a knock at my door. I looked at the time and saw that a half hour had passed. I wasn’t even hungry, but I guessed my food had arrived.

I had paid with my credit card, but I liked to give my tips in cash because I didn’t always trust companies to give it all to their drivers. I scooped up the money from my kitchen counter and opened the door.

The deliveryman was holding the food up in front of his face, so I couldn’t see what he looked like, but there was something familiar about him.