Chapter 2 - The Offer She Refused
Nora didn’t call.
The next evening, Roman returned.
David appeared beside her at the service station.
“He requested you.”
“I’m busy.”
“Nora.”
“I have four tables.”
“He bought all four.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“He paid for every reservation in your section.”
Nora closed her eyes.
“Of course he did.”
Roman sat alone behind the velvet curtain.
The cocktail napkin rested beside his hand.
Nora approached.
“Coffee?”
“No.”
“Wine?”
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
Roman gestured toward the chair opposite him.
“Sit.”
“I’m working.”
“I compensated the restaurant.”
“You compensated David. You didn't buy me.”
Roman paused.
Then nodded.
“Fair distinction.”
That answer surprised her.
He pushed a folder across the table.
Nora didn’t touch it.
“What is that?”
“A job.”
“No.”
“You haven’t opened it.”
“I don't need to.”
“Financial analyst. Three-month consulting contract. Salary is inside.”
“I said no.”
Roman leaned back.
“Why?”
“Because I know what your last name means.”
“My last name owns construction companies, restaurants, shipping interests and commercial property.”
“And people whisper when they say it.”
His eyes cooled.
“People whisper about many things.”
Nora turned to leave.
Roman spoke again.
“Leo’s mistake would have cost one of my companies seven figures.”
She stopped.
“He made another error?”
“No. You found another one.”
Nora slowly turned.
Roman tapped her napkin.
“I had three independent financial consultants review this.”
“You showed them my drawing?”
“I showed them the underlying numbers.”
“And?”
“You were right.”
Nora said nothing.
Roman continued.
“Two of them needed hours. You needed less than a minute.”
“That doesn't mean I want your job.”
“What do you want?”
“To finish my shift.”
Roman watched her for several seconds.
Then he closed the folder.
“Fine.”
Nora blinked.
“That’s it?”
“You said no.”
“You're accepting that?”
“I prefer people who voluntarily work for me.”
Nora almost laughed.
“You brought your entire organization here yesterday to embarrass me.”
“I brought three men.”
“You still tried to embarrass me.”
Roman considered that.
“Yes.”
The direct admission caught her off guard.
“I was arrogant.”
“You were.”
“I underestimated you.”
“You did.”
His mouth twitched.
“And you appear determined to enjoy this.”
“A little.”
Roman stood.
He placed several bills on the table.
“This is for the meal.”
“You didn’t order anything.”
“I occupied the table.”
He started toward the curtain.
Nora looked at the folder.
“What salary?”
Roman stopped.
She immediately regretted asking.
He turned.
“Open it.”
Nora did.
Her eyes widened.
The number was almost four times what she made at Bistro Laura.
“You're insane.”
“Possibly.”
“I don't have a degree.”
“I didn’t ask for one.”
“You don't know anything about me.”
“I know you recognized a problem my accountant missed.”
Roman stepped closer.
“And I know you walked away from money most people would have begged me for.”
Nora closed the folder.
“Still no.”
“Good night, Nora.”
Roman left.
That should have been the end.
It wasn't.
At 11:43 p.m., Nora returned home and found her father sitting outside her apartment.
Arthur Gallagher looked ten years older than he had six months earlier.
“Dad?”
“Nora.”
She immediately knew something was wrong.
“How much?”
Arthur looked away.
“How much?”
“Forty thousand.”
Her stomach turned.
“You promised.”
“I know.”
“You promised me you stopped gambling.”
“I thought I could fix everything.”
“You always think that!”
“Nora—”
“You lost Mom’s insurance money. Then the savings. Then my tuition.”
Her voice cracked, but she controlled it.
“And now forty thousand more?”
Arthur lowered his head.
“They want it Friday.”
Nora stared at him.
Friday was three days away.
“Who?”
Arthur didn’t answer.
“Dad. Who do you owe?”
A voice came from the hallway.
“Not someone you want to meet.”
Nora turned.
A stranger stood near the stairs.
He smiled.
“Friday, Miss Gallagher.”
Then he walked away.
Arthur whispered, “I'm sorry.”
Nora looked at her father.
Then slowly reached into her bag.
May you like
Roman’s black card was still there.
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