Fired... and hired?

“What are you doing?” Ellie opened an eye as Minnie walked around the house getting ready, “you just got paid! Why are you going to work?”

“I can’t leave my job just because he met me twice!” Minnie exclaimed as she put her glasses on, “What if he stops? Then what? It’s been only two nights. I can’t rely on him.”

“You’re right. Milk him till you get a house.” Ellie replied as she went back to bed.

Minnie chuckled. It was good luck that she had found him two days in a row but she wasn’t anyone special. He would not be there every week. She would continue her work till she had a stable job as a lawyer.

It wasn’t a job she liked but the restaurant was a five star one and the tips were good. Even as she made her way to the restaurant and put her apron on, she made sure she looked prim and proper. The high profile people there tended to pay better tips when she looked clean and pretty.

“There's a customer who’s a regular. She’s brought a party of people with her. Your table.” Another waitress walked over and handed her the notepad.

“Let me guess. She’s a diva.” Minnie smiled wistfully.

“Yup.” She winked.

It was a rule that the newbies got the difficult clients. Minnie was used to this. She put on the brightest smile that she could and walked towards the table. A lady sat with a typical entitled frown on her face along with 3 men.

“You keep putting this off! Are you scared!?” She sneered at the man whose back was turned to Minnie.

“I don’t want this done now Amanda!” he exclaimed when another man spoke up. A short pudgy man who seemed to sweat excessively spoke up.

“I think we should consider this meeting and at least start the proceedings!” He urged the man who sighed and cradled his forehead in his hand.

“Fine…” he conceded.

Poor guy, Minnie thought to herself as she approached the table.

“Good afternoon and welcome to Celeste.My name is Minnie and I’ll be taking care of you today. At Celeste, we are thrilled to offer a unique multicuisine experience, bringing together flavors from around the world with our finest ingredients. May I start by sharing our chef’s recommendations for tonight, or perhaps I could start you off with a drink? “ She rattled off like a well oiled engine.

“Do you all have the same dialogues.” Amanda rolled her eyes, “get me a mai tai.”

“whisky on the rock please, and keep them coming.” The man said and his voice attracted her attention from her pad. Looking up, the girl nearly dropped her pen. Ethan Lockwood was sitting next to her with a weary expression on his face. He hadn’t recognized her!

She frantically looked back into her notepad and scribbled the rest of the orders too. Ethan hadn’t ordered any food while the rest of the table had.

As soon as they had finished their sentence, she rattled off her practiced and ran off to the kitchen. Her heart was beating so hard she was afraid someone would hear it.

“Why do you look so red?” another waitress asked as she put her order into the system.

“No reason.” She shook her head.

He obviously did not recognize her and as long as she was cool, he would not be alerted to any issues. He seemed wrapped up in what she recognized as divorce proceedings anyway.

Getting herself together, she put on a brave face and walked back to refill their water.

“I deserve 50-50 of everything. Chicago has equal distribution of assets!” The woman was nearly screeching. Looking up at Ethan’s face, Minnie realized he looked downtrodden as if life had just rained hell fire down on him.

He was nothing like the sweet charming man that he had seen and looking at his wife she could understand why that would be. She was a piece of work. Dressed obnoxiously in a neon pink body-con dress with orange pumps and Jewelry that had nothing in common with each other, she looked like a caricature of what a tacky woman was.

“Actually Chicago has equitable distribution and not equal distribution meaning assets are divided on the basis of many other factors and not just 50-50.” Minnie blurted out before she could even stop herself. The table was blanketed in silence.

Ethan looked at her with hope in her eyes.

“I’m sorry. I’ve overstepped.” She mumbled softly.

“How dare-“ Amanda began but Ethan cut her off.

“Shut up Amanda. And you? Minnie you said your name was. What does that mean?” He asked.

“Well it means that, the distribution is dependent on many things, like the length of the marriage, who contributes more, age… adultery.” She said the last part while sneakily looking at Amanda who had steam coming out of her ears.

“And why didn’t you tell me about this?” He turned to the man beside him who was his lawyer. The pudgy man turned a distinct shade of pink.

“I’m sorry. I must leave and I beg your pardon for –“ Minnie began.

“No actually,” Ethan stood up, “ I have new information and a new informant to help me out and so lets do this next week instead. At my office.”

“Ugh, how dare she interfere!” Amanda screamed, “Get me the manager! Who is the manager of this place?”

Minnie found herself shrinking back as her manager beelined towards them. A screaming Amanda told him that the waitress was involving herself in their personal matters and he turned white as a ghost.

“I am so appalled at her behavior. I… Minnie. You are fired and Miss Amanda I –“ What he said after that point was unheard because Minnie zoned out.

Did… he fire her?

Tears flooded her eyes immediately. She had never been fired before…

“Enough.” Ethan spoke up, his base voice booming through the chaos.

“You. How did you know those laws?” he asked Minnie.

“I... I am a law student.” She whispered, her voice barely willing to leave her throat as she stared into his intense eyes.

“Great, you are now my lawyer.” He said in a matter-of-fact way.

“But…” His lawyer spoke up immediately, “She’s just a law student! She can’t represent a client!”

“Fine. She’s your subordinate.”

“But-“ She mumbled, confused about the turn of events.

“I pay him 2000 dollars an hour. I’ll pay you the same.” Ethan offered. The enter restaurant stared at Minnie whose mouth was left hung open.

“I… yes.” She whispered and then took off her apron, handing it to her manager, “Keep your shitty job.”

With that she followed Ethan and his lawyer out of there.

“Meet me at my office on Saturday at 2. Don’t be late.” He warned her and offered her his card. Within the minute he and his lawyer had left.

Minnie stood on the pavement with the card in hand.

“What… what just happened?” She thought to herself. Did she just get a job with Ethan Lockwood?