“Do you think I should tell the barista, like maybe she could write down his real name and…”
“Unless she knows kung fu, I don’t think you need to let her know. You already have lots of information about the guy from the GoldRush files. I mean, you had to have done some research to make sure he was actually a millionaire.”
“Unless I’m an idiot.” That seems likely at the moment.
“Definitely not an idiot,” Max says, which makes me feel a little better. He’s definitely not an idiot, so if he says I’m good, I’m good.
I take a deep breath and step onto the sidewalk. I can do this. I just have to pretend that I’m a badass. Actually, I don’t have to fucking pretend. I am a badass. Who does this fucker think he is? I’m shaky but not from fear; I’m just mad as hell. “Let’s get a coffee and find out what his deal is.”
Max holds up his hands. “I wouldn’t mess with you. Let him have it and I’ve got your back.” He might be a neuroscientist who hasn’t seen the outside of a lab since I hired him, but I believe him. Advisable or not, Max will defend me against all of my enemies.31
I don’t say it out loud, but I know we’re both thinking it—this is probably the guy who sent me to the hospital. Maybe art museum guy thought it was a woman, but Kobra has just moved to the top of my suspect list.
Once we’re inside Cuppa Cuppa, I scan the shop. It’s quiet, a few people with laptops are scattered around the room as far apart from each other as possible. The barista from Friday is behind the counter and she gives me a nod when she catches sight of me. “Hey!” She starts to ask if I want the regular before stopping herself to beckon me over conspiratorially. When I lean over the counter, she whispers, “I think someone might have already ordered for you.”
“Really?”
“You know how you were asking me about your friends earlier?”
I nod.
“You’ve met the guy on the patio here before, once or twice. I remember the one time for sure because it was the same time you lost your cell phone.”
“Ah. You found it in the bathroom, right?”
She nods.
I have a feeling that had something to do with Kobra. I don’t know what, but it can’t be a coincidence that I lost my phone when I was with him and now he’s tracking me. Unless it is.
Before we step outside, I ask Max, “Am I just being a conspiracy nut, or…”
“Nope. People have evolved to believe in conspiracies because they exist. Natural selection favors people who avoid threats that might result in reproductive loss and harm, like conspiracies. Your ability to see potential conspiracies is evidence that your brain is perfect.”
Is Max hitting on me? “Not as good as your brain, Max,” I say in a semiseductive voice, then add with complete sincerity, “Thank God I hired a scientist.”
“I’m a neuroscientist, Mia, not a Geek Squad guy, if you’re thinking about the phone issue.”
I point out the obvious. “A guy named Kobra who thinks he can charm snakes figured out how to hack my phone in a few minutes. I’m sure you can, too.”
The back patio, which I didn’t notice on our last visit, is a beautiful brick courtyard with bistro tables and big umbrellas. It feels very European, though the palm trees lining the square sort of ruin the vibe. I spot Kobra immediately, and he sees me too. He’s wearing an unbuttoned shirt and his snake tattoo covers his whole torso. I feel sexually harassed just being in his presence.
“Hi, Kobra.” I try to act as natural as a person can while saying hi to a guy named Kobra. I don’t want this asshole to know that I don’t remember anything before Tuesday, that I’m vulnerable. Even if he was the one who sent me to the hospital, he doesn’t have to know he knocked all the brains out of me. #gameon.
Max dramatically pulls out a chair for me and I say, “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
I can’t see Kobra’s eyes through his shades. “Who’s this? You bring security today? Or is he your new boyfriend?”
“None of your concern,” Max says. His voice has a hard edge that I haven’t heard before.
“I don’t think Mr. French Billionaire would like that very much.” Kobra gives me a nod of approval. “Nice dude, by the way. He’s so smooth. I don’t normally like Europeans, even the girls—I just can’t do body hair. Can’t charm my snake if your bush looks like it could talk back.”
I cringe as he laughs at his own joke, if that’s what it was. “Gross,” I say.
“Tell me about it.”
“I meant you.”
He laughs. “Mmm. I always did like you. Feisty!”
“What do you want from me?” I ask. “How’d you know I was going to be here?”
“Good guess.” He smiles, all superior.
What a snake. “Don’t play with me,” I say. “You messed with my phone.”
He chuckles. “Of course I messed with your phone. I do that to everyone, sweetheart. It’s just good business to keep tabs on some people.”
I shake my head. “That’s not how I do business. It’s over.”
“Well, if you don’t like it, just turn it off. I activated Find My Friends.” When I pull up the app, I see his name. It says my “friend” Kobra is following me. A stupid picture of him smiles back at me.
“See, it wasn’t a secret.”
I deactivate the app. “If you ever track me again, I’m calling the cops.”
He chuckles like that’s the best news he’s heard all day. “I don’t know how you keep your hands off her, man. She’s really feisty.”
I make a face like I’m about to barf and Max says, “Stop being an asshole.”
“You gotta let girls know you’re hot for them. That’s how relationships work.”
OMG. Kobra giving relationship advice. “Let’s get on with it. Why did you want to meet?”
“You know why. Crystal.”
Fucking Crystal! My head is going to explode. What is it with this chick?
“I paid to go out with her. I expected her to answer my calls after. Did I pay thirty-five grand for one date?”
“If you were acting like this, I understand why Crystal didn’t take your calls after.”
“Well, I want to see her again. As is, I’m not a satisfied customer.”
“You are—no, were—a client, not a customer. You’re not buying a woman. You’re paying me to give you an opportunity to form a real connection. It appears that you already blew that. And I’m not surprised. Not to mention, why does it have to be her?” Not that I’ll set this freak up with anyone, except the police.