Chapter 6 - The Offer I Refused
Three weeks later, Patsy’s Grill reopened.
The story had exploded across Chicago.
Federal charges.
Corruption investigations.
Anthony Bellini facing decades in prison.
Several officials resigned before they could be arrested.
Peter’s parents became witnesses.
I became the waitress reporters kept trying to interview.
I refused every request.
I had enough problems.
Or I thought I did.
Then my landlord called.
“Your balance has been paid.”
“What?”
“Six months.”
I knew immediately.
I hung up.
Twenty minutes later, I walked into Peter’s office.
He looked up.
“Emma.”
“You paid my rent.”
“No.”
“Peter.”
“My accountant did.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“Technically—”
I slapped an envelope onto his desk.
He opened it.
Inside was every dollar I had saved.
He stared at me.
“What’s this?”
“First installment.”
He pushed it back.
“No.”
I pushed it toward him.
“Yes.”
“You saved my parents.”
“They’re my friends.”
“You protected them before you knew who they were.”
“I would’ve done it for anyone.”
“I know.”
That stopped me.
Peter stood.
“I’m not paying you back.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“Helping.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“No.”
He came around the desk.
“That’s something I’m learning about you.”
I folded my arms.
“And?”
“You never ask.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know.”
“And Leo.”
“I know.”
“Then stop treating me like charity.”
Peter’s expression softened.
“I don’t.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
He picked up a folder.
“What’s that?”
“An offer.”
“I’m not working for you.”
“You haven’t read it.”
“I don’t need to.”
He handed it over.
I opened it.
PATSY’S GRILL.
My eyes widened.
“What is this?”
“The owner wanted to retire.”
“You bought the diner?”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
“You bought my workplace?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Read page two.”
I did.
My name was there.
Emma Carter — General Manager and 20% Ownership Partner.
I looked up.
“No.”
Peter sighed.
“Of course.”
“I can’t accept this.”
“You can.”
“I didn’t earn twenty percent of a restaurant.”
Peter leaned against his desk.
“You kept customers coming back. You covered shifts. You managed inventory whenever your boss disappeared. You fed people from your own tips.”
“That doesn’t make me an owner.”
“It should.”
I stared at the contract.
“Why twenty percent?”
“Because I wanted to offer thirty and my attorney said you’d throw something at me.”
“He’s smart.”
“Very.”
I tried not to smile.
Peter watched me.
Then I noticed another page.
Health insurance.
Full coverage.
Employees and dependents.
My throat tightened.
Leo.
His inhaler.
Peter noticed where I was looking.
“That applies to everyone,” he said quickly.
I looked at him.
“Everyone?”
“Every employee.”
“You didn’t do that just for me?”
“No.”
I knew he was lying.
But it was a generous lie.
“When do I start?”
Peter smiled.
“Monday.”
I pointed at him.
“One condition.”
“Name it.”
“Sam and Rose eat free.”
Peter laughed.
“They’re my parents.”
“And?”
“And I can feed my own parents.”
“Not at Patsy’s.”
He stared at me.
I stared back.
“Fine.”
I held out my hand.
“Partners?”
Peter looked at it.
Then took it.
“Partners.”
His tattooed hand was warm around mine.
Neither of us let go immediately.
Then Leo appeared in the doorway.
“Mom?”
We separated.
“What?”
He pointed at Peter.
“Can the pirate come to dinner?”
Peter looked at me.
I sighed.
“Apparently.”
Leo grinned.
Peter smiled.
For the first time, he looked completely harmless.
May you like
Almost.
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