HEART FOR HIRE ✓

Six

For the rest of the night, I dream of money. In one dream, I get a call from the bank inquiring if the money that was deposited on my account is legal. It must have been such a terrifying amount that the bank had to give me a call.
In another dream, I gave lent all my money  to a masked person, who later turned to me and made it clear that they were never going to return it.

When I wake up, my mind immediately switches to the offer Zion offered to me last night.
If only there was a way of accepting the offer without hurting other people's feelings!

By 1pm, Alex and I have already arrived at the theater because of the change in the schedule. That doesn't bother me because unlike other twenty year olds, nothing occupies my mornings.
I don't have a television, I don't want to pay for streaming services and I can't possibly pay a large internet bill without denting my already small bank account.

The only entertainment I get are the movies at the theater because I don't have to pay for them. I guess those are the perks of working there.

"Fries you all said?" Alex asks, leaving the theater to buy our lunch. "There is this drink I want you guys to try. Don't worry, it's on me."

"Is it one of those diet drinks and kombuchas? If yes, never mind!" Jeanette yells back from the supplies room.

"You won't be able to hold back after having a taste," Alex replies, his voice fading as he finally steps out.

"This boy will never change," Jeanette laughs as she comes into the break room with clean work t-shirts. "He is only nineteen but God knows what kind of chemicals he has taken. How does he even come across such weird drinks?"

"He collects them and does a review about each drink on his YouTube channel," I explain.

"Are we sure he won't get poisoned? He is like a little brother to me," Jeanette switches to caring big sister mode. She normally does that when one of us makes a silly mistake that could have been avoided. "He is being careful, right?"

"Of course he is. He is nineteen," I sigh. "But enough of that, I have something on my mind and I would really like to hear your honest opinion about it."

"Don't tell me that you also want to start your own YouTube channel to review random drinks!"

"Hell no," I scoff. "Not that it's bad or anything but I don't think I am good with cameras and live streaming kind of things. I- I got an offer from someone."

Jeanette stops whatever she is doing and turns to me.
"And what kind of offer?"

"Well, you remember mystery man, right?" Jeanette nods in confirmation. "He was here last night and he made a pretty interesting offer."

Before I can comprehend what is happening, she is standing in front of me, both of her hands on her cheeks and her elbows touching the break room table, like a child patiently waiting for candy.

"Does it involve money?"

"Yes?" I raise my eyebrows in a questioning manner. How did she know?

"Did you take it?"

I shake my head.

"Why the hell not?" she bangs the table. "That botique you want won't open itself! What were you thinking? Don't you need the money?"

"Of course I do," I reply. "His offer is not as simple as you think. He wants me to be his maid, or something like that. I can't possibly do that if I have to keep a job here too. Besides, I can't just abandon you when our workload just doubled, that's not fair-"

Jeanette grabs my shoulders and shakes me which effectively shuts me up.
"Calm down," she motions for me to take her lead and breathe slowly. "Now, please explain what happened. Slowly."

Taking another deep breath, I begin explaining.
"He said that he wants me to do his laundry, eat with him and watch a movie with him if he comes to this theater."

"And what exactly is stopping you?"

"Because that would mean that I am going to have to quit this job. I can't leave you," I frown.

"Woah woah," she waves her hands, "who said anything about leaving? We can figure out a way how you can juggle the two jobs, it's not so hard."

"We can?"

"Of course," Jeanette smiles, "many people work more than one job at the same time. We just need to find the perfect balancing of the time."

For the next couple of minutes, Jeanette explains to me how she used to work three part-time jobs daily; one at a clothing store, another at a grocery store and another as a tutor.
If she could, maybe I too can do it. After all the money I want won't earn itself.

"You are free in the morning hours, aren't you?" I nod my head. "You can do his laundry in the morning. Right?"

"Yes! Why didn't I think of that earlier?" I slap my head continuously.

"Don't worry sweetheart. No amount of slapping can take away the foolishness in your head," she teases me with a wink. "Besides, you can have lunch with him before coming in to work."

"But I'll be late," I whine, "I don't want to get in trouble with the boss."

"Luckily for you," she says in a fake deep voice, the kind that sounds like AI generated TikTok videos, "I am the boss and I am suggesting that you don't turn down this offer."

"You would let me do that?"

"Of course. As long as you treat Alex and I to  crispy chicken on Fridays."

Throwing my arms around her suddenly, I continue showering her with words of thanks. What would I do without her?

"Hey guys," Alex's voice interrupts our bonding session and I immediately detach myself from Jeanette, "I came with someone."

Jeanette and I turn to look at Alex and the so-called person he has come with. My eyes widen upon seeing the person that I am afraid that I may be going into shock.

Jeanette on the other hand looks as jolly as a kid who just got money from the tooth fairy as she yells, "Mystery man!"