Chapter Two: Back to work

Elena

The blaring sound of my alarm startled me awake, but I was already exhausted before the day even began. I threw off the covers and dragged myself out of bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Across the room, my little sister, Sophia, was curled up in a ball under her blanket, her steady breathing filling the small space. In the other room, Jordan was likely still snoring, blissfully unaware of the storm raging in our lives. I took a deep breath and put on my best attempt at a cheerful voice.

“Rise and shine, sleepyheads! Time for school.”

A groan came from Jordan’s room. “Five more minutes.”

“Nope. You’re going to be late,” I called out, walking over to Sophia’s bed. I gently shook her shoulder. “Come on, sweetheart. Get up.” She grumbled something incoherent but stretched her tiny arms before slowly opening her eyes. “I don’t wanna go to school,” she mumbled, burying her face into her pillow. I chuckled, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

“If you get up now, I’ll make your favorite pancakes.” That did the trick. She shot up, her eyes still groggy but eager. “With extra syrup?” I smiled. “With extra syrup.”

Jordan finally dragged himself out of his room, looking half-asleep. “Can’t we just skip today?”

“Not unless you want to explain to Dad why your grades suddenly dropped.” I smirked, heading to the kitchen.

I quickly got to work, whipping up pancakes for Sophia while Jordan settled for his usual toast and eggs. I flipped the last pancake into Sophia’s plate and passed it to her.

I forced a smile. “Hurry up and eat before the bus gets here.”

Minutes later, I helped Sophia into her coat and handed Jordan his backpack. I walked them to the bus stop for once today. Dad was usually the one to do this but putting all the problems going on in his company into consideration, I decided to not go back to my apartment and stay with them until he was a bit like himself again. When the bus finally arrived, Sophia waved excitedly before climbing in, while Jordan gave me his usual nod of goodbye. As the bus pulled away, I exhaled, already dreading the day ahead. Work was a much-needed distraction. As a business consultant, my job involved helping small businesses strategize, optimize their profits, and avoid the pitfalls that could destroy them. Normally, I loved it. But today, my heart wasn’t in it. I had barely finished reviewing a financial report when my assistant knocked on my office door.

“Elena, there’s a client here for a consultation. He didn’t book an appointment, but he insists it’s urgent.”

I sighed, setting down my pen. “Fine, send him in.”

The door opened, and in walked a man—tall, effortlessly confident, dressed in a tailored navy-blue suit that fit him like a second skin. His dark hair was neatly styled, and there was something about the way he carried himself that made me immediately wary. He had the air of someone who owned every room he walked into. But it wasn’t his appearance that threw me off. It was the mischievous glint in his eyes.

He sat down across from me, offering a charming, lopsided grin. “Elena Parker, right? I hear you’re the best consultant in the city.”

I arched a brow. “You heard wrong. There are plenty of consultants better than me.”

He let out a low chuckle. “I doubt that.”

I studied him for a moment. “And you are?”

He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. “Let’s keep that a mystery for now.”

I exhaled through my nose. “You want my help, but you won’t tell me who you are?”

“Names are overrated.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Let’s just say I need some business advice, and I’d like to see how good you are before I reveal anything.”

I frowned but pulled out my notepad. “Fine. What kind of business are you running?”

“Let’s call it… an empire in the making.”

I gave him a deadpan look. “You’re being awfully vague.”

“Vagueness keeps life interesting.”

I sighed. “Alright, let’s try something simple. What’s the biggest issue you’re facing in your business right now?”

He leaned back, considering the question. “I suppose the biggest challenge is finding the right people to trust. Employees, partners, associates… you never know who’s going to stab you in the back.”

I tilted my head. “Sounds like you’ve been burned before.”

His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Haven’t we all?”

For a moment, I felt an odd pull—like he wasn’t just talking about business. There was something deeper beneath his words, something personal.

I cleared my throat. “If trust is your main concern, then you need a system of checks and balances. Background screenings, performance evaluations, loyalty incentives. You need to give people a reason to stay loyal to you.”

He tapped his fingers against the desk. “And what about you?”

I blinked. “What about me?”

“If I hired you, what would make you stay loyal?”

His question caught me off guard. It wasn’t what he asked, but how he asked it—like he was genuinely curious. Like my answer mattered.

I chose my words carefully. “Honesty. If I trust the people I work for, loyalty comes naturally.”

For the first time, his smirk faded slightly. “Interesting.” He glanced at his watch and stood abruptly. “Well, Miss Parker, this was… enlightening.”

I frowned. “Wait, that’s it?”

He flashed a grin. “For now.”

Before I could say anything else, he walked to the door. Just before leaving, he turned back and met my gaze.

“By the way… you should smile more. It suits you.” And then he was gone.

I didn’t even know what to make of this man but I couldn’t care less. I’ve had weirder clients than him. If I went after every client that perplexed me, I would never close from work. The hours at work dragged on painfully slow, each ticking second stretching into an eternity. By the time I finally signed out for the day, exhaustion weighed heavy on my shoulders. I clutched my file tightly, letting out a breath as I stepped out of the office building and into the crisp evening air. The streets buzzed with life—cars honking, pedestrians rushing past, street vendors calling out their last-minute deals. I started down the sidewalk, my thoughts tangled in frustration. My father needed money, and I had no idea how to help him. My consulting job paid decently, but it wasn’t enough to cover his debts. As I walked, my eyes wandered over the buildings lining the street, their neon signs flickering against the dimming sky. That’s when I saw it—a small restaurant tucked between a pharmacy and a clothing boutique. A bold, glowing sign hung over the entrance:

Pluto’s Grill and Bar

I had passed it before, never paying much attention. But tonight, something made me stop. A restaurant meant shifts, tips, late hours—exactly the kind of second job I needed. Maybe a bit more cash from other places would be able to get me enough to help my dad. I hesitated for only a second before stepping forward, pushing open the glass door. Inside, the air was warm, filled with the scent of sizzling meat and freshly baked bread. The space was lively—servers weaving between tables, a bartender juggling orders, customers laughing over half-finished drinks. I made my way to the hostess station, where a young woman in a black uniform stood flipping through a menu. She barely glanced up when she greeted me, her voice flat. “Welcome to Pluto’s. Table for one?”

“Actually, I was wondering if you’re hiring?” I asked, straightening my shoulders. That got her attention. She finally looked up, her gaze sweeping over me, assessing. “You’ll have to meet the manager and he’s not in right now. Would you be able to come around tomorrow?”

I nodded. “Yes. I will.”

I walked out the door and proceeded to head towards Sophie’s and Jordan’s school to pick them. My dad still had a lot on his plate so I decided to take one thing off that plate. By the time I reached their school, parents were gathered at the gates, chatting while waiting for their kids. The last few students trickled out, and then I spotted them. Jordan stood near a bench, his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder, his usual unimpressed look in place. Sophia, on the other hand, lit up the moment she saw me.

“Elena!” she squealed, running toward me.

I crouched down, catching her in a hug. “Hey, sweetheart. How was school?”

She pulled back, wrinkling her nose. “Boring. Miss Daniels talks too much.”

Jordan snorted. “That’s because you don’t listen.”

Sophia shot him a glare, but I laughed. “Come on, let’s go home.”

The walk back was filled with small chatter and complaints about cafeteria food. By the time we got to the apartment, my feet ached, but there was still one more thing I needed to do.

“Jordan, make sure Sophia does her homework, okay?” I ruffled her hair, ignoring her whine of protest.

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Where are you going to by the way?”

“I’m just gonna stop by Dad’s office for a little bit and come right back.” I said, my eyebrows arched. “Try not to burn down the apartment while I’m gone.”

“No promises.” Jordan said with a wink. I shook my head and grabbed my coat.

Dad’s office was dimly lit when I arrived, the air thick with the scent of old coffee and paper. He was at his desk, hunched over a stack of documents, but this time—he wasn’t drowning in stress.

“Elena,” he said as soon as he saw me. He stood up, running a hand through his graying hair. “I was just about to call you.”

I frowned. “What’s going on?”

He let out a breath, rubbing his temples. “A shareholder from the loan company reached out today. He wants to meet with me.”

I stiffened. “Why?”

“To discuss a repayment plan. Installments,” he explained. “If this works, I might be able to buy more time. Keep things afloat.”

“That’s… that’s great, Dad.”

He nodded. “I have a meeting with him tonight.”

I smiled as my dad proceeded through the door. “Good luck.”