Perception and Deception

Perception and Deception

By Andrea Hintz

Copyright © 2016 by Andrea Hintz
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever
without the express written permission of the publisher
except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing, 2016

ISBN-13: 978-1514797198

ISBN-10: 1514797194

Dedications

To God and my family.

Also by Andrea Hintz:

Tesoro: Secrets of the Hidden Treasure

Tesoro II: Secrets of a Captain's Journal

Tesoro III: Secrets of a Fallen Crew

The Tesoro Series: A Short Story (Bailey)

The Tesoro Series (Books 1-3 and a Short Story) (Collector's Edition)

Chapter 1

Felix

What am I supposed to do with my life?

It was a question I had been asking myself a lot lately and it was something that seemed to be hovering over me in everything that I did. The walls were closing in and I felt as though I needed to make a change.

"What can I get for you?" the waitress asked, standing by my table.

What should I be doing with my life?

"Excuse me," she said, clearing her throat. "Miss?"

I quickly looked up and saw that the waitress was a tired looking, middle-aged woman with frizzy brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. She wore jeans and a red T-shirt with a nametag that read, 'Janice.'

"Sorry," I said with a quick smile. "I'll just have coffee."

"Cream? Sugar?"

I shook my head.

Janice cocked her head. "Are you alright honey?"

I looked a little startled. I was supposed to be focusing on my work. Was it that obvious that something was troubling me?

"I'm fine," I replied quickly. "Why do you ask?"

"You just seem a little...sad," Janice answered. "I just want to make sure my customers are well and happy. I haven't seen you around here before."

Her voice was as smooth and gentle as warm tea and her soft brown eyes seemed to look right into my heart. It was a little disorienting.

"Everything is fine," I said. "But thank you for asking. No, I'm not from around here."

"Let me tell you something, Miss," Janice started, taking a seat by me. "If you don't mind my advice..."

"No, not at all," I replied, folding my hands on the wooden table.

"You seem too young to be troubling yourself with worry and sadness," Janice said. "You can't be more than, what, twenty-five? Before you know it, you'll be my age, and you'll find that you worried away the most care-free years of your life."