A deal I can't refuse

“Eleanor, I don’t pay you to sit around and look sad about your miserable life. Get to work,” Dave, my grumpy new boss, says.

“Sorry,” I say, standing up from a chair in the kitchen. I just finished having lunch and was taking a break.

“I don’t want your ‘sorry.’ I need you out there helping customers, so beat it,” he says, pushing me toward the entrance of the kitchen. Before I walk over to a table, I adjust my hair and check my uniform for any food stains. Once I look presentable, I approach the closest table to take their order.

This is my life now—waiting tables. I was lucky to get this job. Uncle Jack had to beg his manager to hire me. It’s been two weeks since I was fired from the Crawford Wine Company. I’ve been avoiding Carson phone calls ever since. I don’t want to come between him and his grandson. They have a good relationship, and I can’t bear to be the person who ruins it. So I made a choice and decided I should stop being friends with Carson.

“Welcome. What can I get for you today?” I ask with a fake smile plastered across my face. I’m not too fond of this job, but I don’t have a choice if I want to help Uncle Jack with the bills. He’s done so much for me, it’s the least I could do.

The customer’s under the table, picking up something off the ground, so I haven’t seen his face yet.

“I would like . . .” he says, bringing his head back up. He stops once he sees me. An evil smile graces his lips as he takes in my appearance. “Look who we have here,” he’s happy about the fact that I’m his waitress.

“Hello, Mr. Crawford.”

“Hello Eleanor. How do you like your new job? I bet you don’t like it so much,” he says, smirking.

“You can say that again. What would you like to order?” I ask, trying to change the subject. I’m not too fond of the way he’s trying to pry into my life after he’s already ruined it.

“You don’t want to talk about your life? That’s understandable given your current situation.”

I’m starting to hate this man. Because of his foolishness, I’m stuck at this shit job and forced to deal with my horrible boss, Dave. I wish there were a way I could get back at him for taking away an important opportunity.

“Please, could you just tell me your order” I’m seriously getting tired of standing here and listening to him mock me about my job. A job I have because of his foolishness.

“I’ll have creamy garlic chicken pasta and a glass of your finest wine,” he says after looking at the menu. Thank God. I couldn’t take another second of his mocking.

“Alright, sir, your food will be ready in a few minutes,” I say and walk away from his table.

He left me a big tip when he left. I know it was as an insult. He knows I have to live off tips. It would be just like him to leave a big tip to show off. I hate that man. I wish there were a way I could get back at him.

***

The next day I spend waiting tables, trying my best not to make my new boss angry so he won’t lower my salary at the end of the month. After my shift, while walking toward the bus station, a black car suddenly pulls up in front of me. I’m not good at knowing car makes and models, but I think this car’s a Rolls Royce. The windows are tinted so I can’t see who’s inside. The back window rolls down.

“Hello dear,” Carson says, smiling at me.

“Hi, Carson,” I say with a sad smile. I’d been hoping I wouldn’t run into him for a while.

“How are you doing, dear?” he asks, stepping out of the car.

“I’m doing great. How have you been?” I ask as he stands beside me.

“I would be doing great if my friend was picking up my calls.”

“I’m sorry about that; I’ve been so busy with work,” I lie through my teeth. I don’t want to tell him the truth.

“You don’t have to lie to me; I know Jason fired you.”

“How do you know everything that happens in that office?” I ask, surprised.

“I have my ways. Why don’t we talk more while I drive you home?”

“That won’t be necessary, Carson.”

“I insist. It’s the least I can do with how Jason’s behaved.” I’m about to refuse again, but he cuts me off before I can speak. “Please, dear,” he says, pleading. I nod my head, and we both walk to the car. Once the driver starts the vehicle, Carson speaks.

“My grandson firing you because he believes you’re after his position is foolish. So that’s why I’ve worked something out to make sure that doesn’t happen again,” he says and hands me an envelope.

“What’s inside?” I ask before opening the envelope. Inside I see a document. It’s a contract—a long one. I ask Carson what the contract is about because I can’t start reading it now.

“I’ve drafted a contract which states I’m your employer, and Jason cannot fire you under any circumstance.”

“Why would you do that?” I ask, confused.

“I wish I could tell you my reasons, dear. But I can’t. Just know I’m doing this because I have your best interests at heart.”

“My best interests?” I ask.

“Yes. I know how much you need a good job like this one to pay off your college loans. Please just take the position, and don’t overthink it.”

“I don’t think I can. There are too many unexplained variables tied to it,” I say honestly. Carson won’t tell me why he’d draft such a contract and, most importantly, why do I have to work for his grandson? Something smells fishy.

“I’ll promise you this…once my goal is accomplished, I’ll explain everything to you.”

“Why can’t you just explain it to me now?”

“It’s best you don’t know yet. But I promise you, I'll explain everything when the time is right.” Carson isn’t a man of many secrets, so I wonder why he won’t explain to me why he’s doing things this way. I’m about to refuse the offer again when he speaks. “Just think about it and call me in three days with your answer. I really need you working for my grandson,” he says as the car comes to a halt. We must have arrived at my house.

“Alright, I’ll call you in three days with my answer,” I say, stepping out of the car.

“Thank you, dear. I promise you won’t regret it if you decide to work for him,” he says to me with the windows still rolled down.

“We’ll see,” I say before the car drives away.

***

The following day I meet with Amber for lunch to discuss the contract. I’m so lucky today’s my day off and Amber has daytime off because she only works at night. Otherwise, I’d have had to rely on only Uncle Jack’s opinion. He thinks I should take the job. He made some valuable points, but it won’t hurt to get another point of view.

“So, what do you think?” I ask Amber as I take a bite of my food.

“Uncle Jack’s right. You should take it and don’t think about why Carson is bent on making you work with his grandson.”

“You think so, too.”

“Yes. As much as everything seems fishy, it doesn’t change the college debts you have to pay, and your waitress job isn’t going to pay them.”

“I know, but I can’t believe Mr. Crawford signed the contract too.”

“He signed it?” Amber asks, shocked.

“Yep. Sorry I missed that detail. He signed it. That means he agrees to his grandfather being my employer.”

“Hmm. That’s odd given how he fired you last time and his stupid accusations.”

“I know. That’s why I have my doubts.”

“I understand why you have doubts, but you can’t put them first. Your debt comes first, and it needs to be cleared, so take the job. Also, I would like to ask something?”

Amber makes the same points as Uncle Jack. They’re right. My waitress job can’t pay my college debts, but this job can, even though the circumstances around it are fishy.

“You’re right. I’ll take the job. What would you like to ask?”

“How can Carson be your employer?”

“He can be my employer because he’s also Mr. Crawford’s employer.”

“What do you mean?”

“Jason Crawford isn’t fully the CEO of the company until his grandfather dies.”

“Oh, so it’s like he works for his grandfather as the CEO.”

“Something like that.”

“It makes sense why he doesn’t like you.”

“It’s not my fault Carson sees me as a granddaughter, or that Mr. Crawford sees me as a threat. Though I don’t believe I am.”

“Yeah, it isn’t your fault. Be careful. It won’t be easy working for someone who hates you,” she says, giving my hand a warm squeeze.

“Don’t worry. I will.”