5 - Job Offer (2)

"Her name is Alethea Zorba. She’s twenty-two years old. She’s hardworking and patient," Callie explained, letting the phone’s camera capture Alethea from head to toe. "I’m confident she’d be perfect for taking care of someone who’s ill, just like you need."

Alethea stayed silent as Helen switched the call back to voice mode.

"Does she have any actual experience caring for the sick?" the voice asked. Alethea shook her head in response.

"Not formally," Callie interjected. "But she’s very patient and has experience taking care of ill family members."

"That’s fine. Even if she doesn’t know anything, I can train her," Helen said firmly. "Our terms may sound unreasonable, but as you know, we’re offering a fantastic salary." Her tone grew more direct. "And in addition to what your friend mentioned, we have a few extra requirements: we need someone meticulous, patient, and not overly talkative. We want someone obedient, someone who doesn’t ask too many questions or make too many demands. Rest assured, as long as you do what we ask, you’ll earn even more than the amount I initially mentioned."

Callie looked at Alethea with bright, excited eyes, while Alethea’s expression remained uncertain, her hesitation growing.

"No phone, no family visits, available 24/7. And you can take time off, but only if our employer permits it," Helen continued when neither Callie nor Alethea responded. "All other details will be included in the contract. If you feel ready and capable of working with us, we’ll come to pick you up in two days."

"T-this isn’t a scam, is it?" Alethea asked hesitantly.

"Of course not. You can participate in a trial period, and we’ll pay you a full month’s salary upfront, even if you only last a week. But if you’re confident you can work without the trial period and are ready to sign the contract, then you cannot back out or change your mind," Helen said firmly.

"I-I’ll think about it first," Alethea replied, still unsure.

"You have until tomorrow morning. If I don’t get a definitive answer by then, I’ll take a candidate from another agency—someone who’s serious about working," Helen warned before abruptly ending the call.

"Well?" Callie turned to Alethea eagerly. "Are you still suspicious? She said they’d pay your salary upfront, and you can even go through a trial period. Are you in? Come on, Thea. Opportunities like this don’t come twice!" Callie coaxed.

"Opportunity for what?" The sudden voice of Hera, Alethea’s mother, startled both girls. "Do you have a job for her? Where? How much is the salary?" Hera asked sharply as she entered the kitchen, her eyes narrowing at Callie. For a moment, her attention shifted to the food cooking on the stove. "Why are you silent?" Hera snapped again, turning her gaze back to Callie.

"Umm… my mom… she received a request from someone in the capital city looking for a caregiver," Callie stammered nervously. As Alethea’s friend, Callie was well aware of Hera’s domineering personality. She glanced at Alethea, silently seeking her approval on whether to reveal more details to her mother.

"Where? How much is the salary?" Hera pressed.

"The employer lives in the capital, but they said Alethea would first be taken to the employer’s vacation home. The salary is…" Callie hesitated, looking at Alethea again, unsure whether to disclose the jaw-dropping figure.

"Just say it. Why do you keep looking at her?" Hera snapped irritably.

"The salary is forty thousand dollars a month," Callie finally answered, causing Hera to widen her eyes in shock as she looked back and forth between Callie and Alethea.

"Really? You’re not trying to trick us, are you?" Hera asked, scrutinizing them both suspiciously.

"No, Mrs. Zorba," Callie assured her. "They truly promised Alethea that salary."

"How could they possibly offer that kind of money to an amateur? With that salary, they could hire a professional from a hospital instead of a village girl like her," Hera remarked, her tone laced with logic.

"I don’t know. Maybe they think people from the countryside are more obedient than those from the city," Callie guessed carelessly.

"Or because we’re easier to fool?" Hera shot back sarcastically. "But never mind that. What makes me uneasy is what happens if we need her for something. How are we supposed to contact her?"

"You can contact my mom or me. We’ll act as intermediaries," Callie reassured her, but Hera responded with a dismissive scoff.

"I still don’t feel comfortable. Tell them that if they really want Alethea, they have to provide us with a guarantee."

"They’ve already said they can pay her one month’s salary upfront," Callie pointed out.

"One month? That’s clearly not enough," Hera said sharply. "What about the second, third, and subsequent months? What if Alethea decides to cut ties with us after earning that kind of money?" Hera’s gaze shifted toward Alethea, her expression harsh.

Callie and Alethea stared at the woman in disbelief.

"For God’s sake, Mom. Do you really think I’m that selfish?" Alethea asked, exasperated.

Hera shrugged nonchalantly. "Who knows what’s in your heart?" she replied mockingly.

"Then how many months’ salary do you want, Mrs. Zorba?" Callie interjected, attempting to mediate.

"Six months," Hera stated firmly, prompting a protest from Alethea.

"Mom, six months isn’t a short time. And that’s not a small amount of money. What if I can’t last that long?" Alethea argued.

"Alethea is right, Mrs. Zorba. That’s a significant sum. If Alethea can’t handle working for her new employer, you might end up owing a penalty that could be even larger," Callie added, trying to mediate.

"I trust my daughter isn’t foolish enough to put us in that position," Hera said coldly. "Besides, this arrangement benefits everyone. They get peace of mind knowing they won’t need to look for another caregiver for the next six months. Your mother’s agency profits from the bonus payment for placing Alethea. And we’ll be at ease because even if we can’t see Alethea, we won’t have to worry about living expenses while she’s gone."

Hera’s words sounded practical, but to Alethea, they cut deep. Her mother wasn’t worried about her well-being, the treatment she might endure, or whether she’d be uncomfortable with her prospective employer. All Hera cared about was money, money, and more money.

Alethea opened her mouth to protest again, but her mother raised a hand, signaling her to stay quiet.

"This is a golden opportunity, Thea. Don’t be stupid and reject it over baseless fears. When else would a village girl with no education like you get a job with such a fantastic salary?" Hera’s tone was biting, her words landing like sharp blows.

Callie offered a nervous smile, knowing Hera wasn’t entirely wrong. She turned to Alethea, silently urging her to make a final decision. "So, are you agreeing to your mom’s terms?" she asked softly.

"Of course she agrees. She’s not that foolish. Besides, working there will ensure our family’s financial needs are met," Hera interjected, making it clear this was her final decision, leaving no room for Alethea to argue further.