Curiosity bubbled up inside of her. Should she…? She glanced toward the street. Since people’s lunch break had ended a short while ago, foot traffic outside had slowed. No potential customers approached the store or turned the carousels outside to pick a card.

Anja didn’t like eavesdropping, but she couldn’t help herself. Under the pretense of getting a roll of tissue paper from the stockroom, she opened the door, sneaked into the back rooms, and lingered in front of Nobby’s tiny office.

Voices drifted through the door, and she could easily identify Susanne’s precise, confident tone. “I haven’t finished my review yet, so it’s too soon to make any real recommendations, but one thing is clear: you’ve got to cut your costs.”

Nobby said something Anja couldn’t understand.

“Well,” Susanne answered, “if push comes to shove, it might become…”

Anja didn’t catch everything, so she leaned closer.

“…let your employees go.”

What? Anja nearly hit her head on the door. Susanne had seriously marched in there to tell Nobby he should fire her and Felix, the student who helped out in the store on Saturdays? What a bitch! She should have known Susanne would be the type who got her kicks from firing people. Good thing Nobby would never in a million years go for this…would he?

Nobby answered, but his voice was too soft for her to make out the words. His tone, however, spoke loud and clear: it sounded defeated.

God, no! Her knees became wobbly, so she caught herself with her damp palms against the door. Please don’t let this coldhearted beast tell you how to run your business.

Susanne spoke again, but now it sounded strangely warped and distorted, like an old cassette tape that had been played one too many times.

Anja sucked in a steadying breath to ward off her rising panic. She didn’t know how long she’d been standing there, trying not to hyperventilate, when the door beneath her hands started to move.

She jumped back, but it was too late to pretend she’d been heading toward the stockroom.

Susanne stood in front of her, those cool gray eyes assessing her the same way she’d looked at the Meisterstück Solitaire earlier. “Frau Lamm?”

“I…I, uh…” Past Susanne’s shoulder, she caught a glimpse of Nobby, who sat slumped behind his desk. “I wanted to ask if it’s okay if I take my lunch break now.” She needed to get out of here—now.

“Oh, yes, yes, of course. Go.” For the first time ever, Nobby didn’t smile or make eye contact. “In fact, why don’t you both go to lunch? I’ll hold down the fort until you’re back.”