Going Incognito

Chapter Seven

Janelle walked up the driveway and past the valets who followed her with their eyes. She smiled at them, as if she always parked across the street and walked to Hillaker’s Restaurant.

         Inside, a chandelier hung over the lobby area. A bald-headed man with a thin white mustache stood behind a tall podium. Ben and Corrine were gone, evidently already seated.

         The bald man bowed slightly. “May I help you, miss?”

         “Uh, yes.” Now what? Janelle looked out the door, then back at the man. “I’m, uh, waiting for my sister.”

         “Do you have reservations?”

         “No, I don’t.” She removed her sunglasses.

         The man looked down at the podium and wrote something. “I have a table for two. Follow me.” The man disappeared through a doorway.

Janelle donned the sunglasses, and her heartbeat picked up as she followed him into the dining area. They passed several linen-covered tables where guests talked and ate. The clink of silverware and glasses competed with the din of conversation. Tall leafy plants effectively hid one table from another. Janelle glanced around but didn’t see Ben and Corrine.

         The waiter stopped at a table by the wall and pulled out a chair. “Here you are, miss. I’ll keep an eye out for your sister.”

         “Thank you.” Janelle sat down and removed her sunglasses as the waiter left. That man probably thought she was trying to avoid the paparazzi. 

         In Missouri!

         She dug her cell phone from her purse. Maybe she should call Sherry and tell her to come. Janelle began to punch in the number when she heard a familiar voice.

         “That’s not going to work, Corrine.”

         Ben! Janelle glanced behind her. Through a jungle of potted plants she could see the back of his head. On the other side of the table, Corrine faced him.

And me! Janelle spun around.  

         “Oh, Ben, don’t be ridiculous. Changing the company name is the best thing you can do.” There was a note of distain in Corrine’s voice. “I know your grandfather named the place, but for pity’s sake, it’s so old fashioned. No one wants to shop at a bra and girdle store anymore.”  

         Janelle secretly agreed with her, but Ben was silent.

         “And you’re in a bad location,” Corrine continued. “That old part of town is going downhill fast. You need to expand.”

         He sighed. “I can’t afford to build more stores right now.”

         “No, not more stores. You need to put your merchandise in department stores across the nation—Penney’s, Nordstrom’s, Saks Fifth Avenue. That’s what I do. Corrine’s Lingerie is in all those stores.”

         Janelle’s eyes widened. Corrine Hackle was the Corrine in Corrine’s Lingerie? Last year Janelle bought one of those bras—and she really liked it!

         “Well…”

Ben mumbled something Janelle couldn’t hear. She inched her chair back toward the potted plants.

         “You don’t know how many times I told your father…” Corrine’s voice faded. “…but Jed was so stubborn. I can’t believe all those women on the second and third floors of your building still sew undergarments on sewing machines—sewing machines, Ben!—just the way your grandfather started. You need to update your equipment.”

         “I know that, Corrine.” His voice raised a decibel. “But Thorne’s can’t afford to change right now.”

         “That’s why we need to merge.” Her voice was soothing. “In fact, we could just liquidate your company.” Her voice faded down again then came back. “Now isn’t that a good idea? You would be the vice president of Corrine’s Lingerie. I’ll double your present salary, and even help you find a good place to live in St. Louis. It would be—”

         “Here’s a glass of water, miss.” The waiter appeared at Janelle’s elbow.

         “Oh!” She scooted her chair up to the table.

He set the glass down and handed her a menu. “Perhaps you’d like to order an appetizer while you wait for your sister.”

         Janelle held up the cell phone. “I was just going to call her.”

         The waiter left as she punched in Sherry’s number. She glanced over the menu. The cheapest appetizer was eighteen dollars!        

“Hello?” Sherry’s voice sounded tired.

         “Hi, Sherry.” Janelle heard baby Luke wail in the background. “I, uh, just wondered what you’re doing right now.”

         “What do you mean, what am I doing? I’m trying to fix supper. Luke’s teething, Abby and Annie won’t stop fighting, and I’m still in my pajamas! I’m going nuts!”

“Oh, Sherry, I’m sorry.” Janelle kept her voice low. “Want me to come over?”

“No, Scott should be home in a few minutes­­. But call me later. I want to know how your first day went at the new job.”

“Okay. You won’t believe what I have to tell you.”

Janelle said good-bye and cut off the call just as the waiter appeared.

“What appetizer would you like to order, miss?” As he gazed at her, she noticed his eyes were brown. Kind brown eyes. She felt terrible deceiving him.

“I’m afraid my sister can’t make it, so I’ll have to leave.” She stood. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

“Certainly. I’ll see you to the door.”

          Janelle walked out with him, hoping the potted plants near Ben and Corrine’s table were doing a good camouflage job.

* * *
Until tomorrow, God bless!