Her Darkest Secrets

Chapter 3

Annie POV

Annie Eighteen Years Old

I leave my shift at the diner and make my way to the shelter. I've been here for about a year and a half now and despite all my thinking about how I would make a ton of money waitressing, that hasn't been the case. It's actually super hard to find a job, and before I got a room at the shelter, I was living on the streets. No one wanted to hire a girl who looked like she hadn't bathed in weeks, and was wearing ratty clothes. I tried to wash up in a public restroom before my interviews but you can only get so clean in a place like that, especially when most of my clothes were stolen a few months after I got here. That's what I get for falling asleep in an alley and not waking up when someone snagged most of my stuff, including my money. On top of that, I had gotten rid of my cell phone before I got here. I didn't want my mom or Andy figuring out how to trace me through it, and I thought I would be able to buy a new one after I started working.

Things turned around for me a couple of months ago when a room opened up at the shelter I had been waiting on. I stopped by every day to check if they had space for me, and every day the woman at the shelter gave me a look filled with pity as she shook her head telling me there was nothing yet. The day I walked in and she greeted me with a big smile I just knew it was my turn. I got one of the rooms, it's a pretty basic room that I share with someone else, but I have a bed and access to a bathroom with a shower. And I was also able to use one of the phone numbers at the shelter as a contact for interviews. They even had a closet that we could borrow clothes from for work. So once I was cleaned up and had a new outfit, I hit the job search hard, and I came upon a help wanted sign at this cute little diner. I don't make a ton in tips and a paycheck, but I am able to save everything I make. I've already made a dent in how much I need to save for a down p*****t and security deposit on a new apartment, and the shelter will help match up to a certain amount. I've been looking for another job, something I can do during the day before my shifts at the diner start. I'm thinking about that as I drop off food at one of my favorite tables.

This guy, I'm not really sure what his name is because he's never told me, and his friend come into the diner at least once a week and they always tip me half the bill, more if it's not at least thirty dollars. "Thanks for bringing this over darling," the guy says.

"No problem, let me know if you guys need anything else okay?"

"Well, you happen to know anyone looking for a job?"

"What kind of job?" I ask but I'm sure my eyes light up at the prospect of something else.

"Here's the ad for it, it's at this club I work out of sometimes. I saw it there and thought you, or one of your girlfriends here, might be interested." I take the ad from him, it's for a cleaning job and says no experience necessary. I could totally do this. The only experience I have is waitressing, so I know that my options for a second job were likely limited to something similar, I hadn't considered doing something like cleaning though.

"Do you know if the shifts would include daytime or evening? I am actually looking for another job but I would need something during the day so I could keep working my evenings here."

"I'm not sure about the details for this particular job it's not my area, but why don't you stop by and ask?"

"Okay yeah, sure, I can definitely do that!" I keep the ad since it has the address on it and feel like I'm on cloud nine for the rest of my shift. If I can get this job I'll be able to save up so much more money!

The next day, I get up early, get myself presentable and head to the club that's on this ad. I get there and the doors are locked, and no one is answering. I suppose I should have thought of that, they probably don't open until much later, c.rap. I turn around to leave and walk smack into a wall, or not a wall, a person.

"Can I help you?" The guy I just almost ran over asks me.

"Oh I'm so sorry, um no I don't think so. Unless I just had the good fortune of running into the owner of this place."

"Wyatt," the man says as he holds his hand out to me. "Owner of, this place."

"Oh wow, I'm really sorry. Um, I'm Annie, it's nice to meet you, I was just trying to get in, well obviously I was trying to get in," I stop talking as I realize I'm babbling.

"I can see that, is there something I can help you with?" He asks as he pulls a key out of his pocket and unlocks the door I was just knocking on and holds it open for me.

"Yes, I saw your ad for a cleaning position and I was hoping I might be able to apply for that job."

"Why wouldn't you be able to apply for it honey? Can I get you something to drink?" I've followed him in and we're standing by the bar area.

"Oh, a water would be great thanks so much." He gives me a glass of water and I continue to explain my dilemma, "I stopped by because I first wanted to ask what the shifts are for the cleaning positions. I have another job I work in the evenings every day, except for Sunday, so if this conflicts I won't be able to apply."

"Ah, I see, well we have two shifts we're hiring for and I have people I can move around to accommodate your schedule so why don't you go ahead and fill out this application," he hands me a piece of paper from behind the bar and a pen.

"You want me to do it for you now?"

"No time like the present honey, get this filled out and leave it with me. I'll give you a call in the next day or two to set up an interview and then, if all goes well, we can offer you the position."

"That would be great thanks." I fill out all the paperwork and give it back to him to look over. He's reading it when his eyebrows shoot up to his hairline and he looks up at me. "Did I fill it out wrong?" I ask, not understanding the look he's giving me.

"The address you have listed, that's a shelter isn't it?" I feel my face start to burn. He wouldn't be the first employer to spurn me because I'm homeless but I won't let him, or anyone else, treat me badly about that. I'm doing everything I can to change my circumstances.

"Yes, is that a problem?"

"Not at all," he says gently, "I'm just surprised because you seem so young."

"I'm eighteen, almost nineteen actually so not all that young."

"That's still pretty young honey."

"I have an old soul."

"I can see that. You know what, I'm inspired by your application and your good attitude despite your circumstances. If you want it, the job is yours and we'll make sure to put you on days."

"Oh my goodness really?!" I practically screech.

"Really."

"That's wonderful, thank you so much! I wasn't expecting to be hired right away so I do have a few day shifts at my current job over the next couple of weeks. Would it be okay to set a start date of two weeks from now?"

"Of course, I'll look forward to seeing you then," Wyatt tells me, flashing me a megawatt smile that makes me blush a bit. I shake his hand and head out, not daring to believe how lucky I just got.