Chapter 2 - THE MAN BEHIND THE COMPANY
Monday morning, Clare arrived at Mercer Home and Living ten minutes early.
She wore her usual navy cardigan and carried a paper cup of coffee in one hand while balancing Lily's forgotten science project under her arm.
The Franklin store was already busy.
Christmas displays had replaced the Thanksgiving decorations overnight.
Customers wandered through aisles of furniture, candles, blankets, kitchen appliances, and holiday decorations.
Clare had barely put down her purse when her manager, Patricia, hurried toward her.
"Clare."
"Morning."
"Corporate is coming."
Clare stopped.
"Corporate?"
"Apparently."
"Why?"
Patricia lowered her voice.
"Nobody knows."
"That's comforting."
"The CEO may be here."
Clare laughed.
"The CEO?"
"Yes."
"Here?"
"That's what I said."
Clare glanced around the store.
The CEO of Mercer Home and Living was practically a myth among employees.
Daniel Mercer.
The name appeared on corporate documents, annual reports, charity announcements, and occasional business magazines.
Clare had never seen his photograph.
She had never cared enough to look.
To her, Mercer was simply the company that provided her paycheck.
Her paycheck paid rent.
Her paycheck kept food in the refrigerator.
Her paycheck paid for Lily's school supplies.
That was all she needed to know.
At 10:17, three black SUVs pulled into the parking lot.
Patricia went pale.
"Oh, no."
"What?"
"He's here."
Clare glanced toward the entrance.
A group of executives entered.
Then Daniel Mercer walked through the doors.
Clare's coffee slipped from her hand.
The cup hit the floor.
Coffee splashed across her shoes.
Daniel stopped.
Their eyes met.
Recognition passed between them instantly.
Lily's "lonely stranger."
The man who had eaten Clare's stuffing.
The man who had taken her daughter's little card.
The man she had casually asked what he did for a living.
Daniel looked at her.
Clare stared back.
Patricia whispered beside her.
"Clare..."
Clare couldn't breathe.
Daniel removed his gloves.
"Good morning."
Her voice barely worked.
"You."
A faint smile appeared.
"Me."
Patricia looked between them.
"You two know each other?"
Daniel's gaze remained on Clare.
"We had dinner."
Patricia's mouth dropped open.
"With Mr. Mercer?"
Clare finally understood.
Mercer.
Daniel Mercer.
The Mercer.
The owner.
Her employer.
The man whose company signed every paycheck she had received for six years.
Clare felt her face burn.
"Oh my God."
Daniel's expression softened.
"Please don't."
"Don't what?"
"Look at me like I suddenly became someone else."
"You are someone else."
"Not really."
He glanced down at the coffee covering her shoes.
"Although apparently I'm more dangerous than I realized."
Despite herself, Clare laughed.
Then Patricia rushed forward.
"Mr. Mercer, I'm so sorry. We weren't expecting—"
"I didn't announce the visit."
"Obviously."
Daniel looked around the store.
Then back at Clare.
"I came to see how the store operates when nobody knows I'm coming."
Clare frowned.
"Why?"
His answer was quiet.
"Because I wanted to know what my employees actually experience."
Something in his tone made her uneasy.
This wasn't a normal corporate inspection.
May you like
There was something else.
And Clare was about to discover it.
