Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Hair clean, blown out, and styled like you’re going on a hot date.
I did that, too, only slightly burning my fingers in the process. But now my dark hair hangs over both shoulders in big, soft waves made bigger thanks to the hairspray I used way too much of. It’s been a long time since I’ve had an excuse to get dressed up, so I’m a little out of practice.
It doesn’t matter. I’m going to blend right in with all the other girls at the club or the bar or wherever it is I’m going to end up. That’s the whole point. I have to blend in, avoid attention, and then get the hell out of there while I somehow convince myself this was all worth it. I’m doing this for my future.
I pull the compact mirror from my bag to check out my makeup one last time. Eyeliner and mascara bring out my eyes, while the smoky gray shadow makes them look greener than ever. My lips are full, red like wine. It’s a shame I’m not actually going out someplace because I haven’t looked this good in a long time. All it took to break out the makeup and brushes was the idea of being able to afford to live.
“Almost there, miss.”
I’m not sure if the driver is informing me or warning me, but I murmur my thanks before checking out my list again. The instructions are right there, plain as day, and they couldn’t be simpler. The package will be waiting in one of the offices in the warehouse—it should be the only office with lights on. I sure hope that’s the case.
The package will be waiting in the top drawer of the desk. All I need to do is take it, put it in my bag, and get it to the location whose address will be on the package. Easy peasy.
I only hope these stupid heels I’m wearing aren’t too loud, just in case somebody is still hanging around in there. Elena told me it’s usually empty at this time of day, though it’s left unlocked specifically for jobs like this.
Man, I wish I didn’t have to do this. Even if I get out of the warehouse with no trouble, who’s to say everything will be okay when I deliver the package? What if somebody there is surprised and angry when someone other than Elena delivers?
I need to stop asking myself the what-ifs, or I’m going to chicken out before I even get there.
Twenty thousand dollars.
That’s what I need to keep in mind. That’s why I’m doing this. Elena said she’s done it a bunch of times, and she’s always come out just fine. She told me to use her name if anybody asks who I am. That everybody knows who she is. I have to wonder if they’ll trust me just because I know her, but she seems to think they would. I really hope she’s not completely oblivious, being a member of the family and probably getting special treatment because of that. In other words, I hope she wasn’t talking out of her ass.
“I can wait,” the driver insists when we pull up to the front of the discreet, darkened building.
I kind of want to tell him to stay here, but that was another warning Elena gave me. I can’t have the same driver drop me off at the pickup, then take me for delivery. There’s too much room for somebody to start asking questions. Three separate Ubers—I’ll need a third one to get home after I finish the delivery and collect my money. Good thing this job is paying so much. Otherwise, I might have to complain about how expensive this is turning out to be.
“No, that won’t be needed. Thank you, though,” I say with another smile, opening the car door and stepping out.
It’s creepy how quiet it is, but that’s probably just my nerves. I walk quickly but calmly up to the door and turn around just in time to see the Uber driver pulling away. Here goes nothing. Just as Elena promised, the door is unlocked.
In front of me, spanning most of the length of the long brick building, is an open area full of crates, boxes, and pallets. I don’t have to worry about any of that. What I’m looking for is in one of the offices to the right of the door I just came through. I asked for every detail in advance and made a mental map in my head in hopes of getting in and out as quickly as possible.
Still, I hesitate for a moment once I’m inside, listening hard for any signs of company. I hold my breath and count to ten, but I don’t hear anything more than the low hum from the overhead lights. So far, so good.