Chapter 67
Anthea unexpectedly came in to talk about quitting her job,
Why on earth would she want to quit?
Harriet chuckled and said, “Anthea, we’re getting busier by the day, and you’ve been quite the whiz around here. How about you stick with us long–term? I’ll bump your pay by five hundred bucks, a deal that’s not on the table for just anyone.”
Harriet was testing the waters with Anthea.
She could practically predict that Anthea was going to be over the moon with excitement.
Five hundred dollars was nothing to sneeze at!
“You’ve got it all wrong, ma’am,” Anthea replied. “It’s not about the money. It’s just that I’m about to start school again.”
What? Wouldn’t she stay for an extra five hundred?
Harriet stared at Anthea in astonishment. She hadn’t expected Anthea to be so hard to please, using school as an excuse.
A waitress worrying about school? Since when did that matter?
A flicker of barely concealed scorn passed across Harriet’s eyes.
Anthea always worked her tail off to stay in this job. Would she give it up so easily?
It was all because business at the rotisserie was booming lately, and Anthea thought she could play hardball, expecting a raise!
Harriet had offered an additional five hundred. What more did Anthea want?
Besides, the recent surge in business wasn’t thanks to Anthea!
It was Harriet’s secret sauce recipe that was drawing in the crowds!
Anthea was being shameless.
Did she think she was an angel? Did she think her pretty face alone could set the rotisserie on fire with queues around the block?
Ridiculous!
Harriet had decided to give Anthea an extra five hundred out of pity. And yet, Anthea was proving to be ungrateful, trying to extort a better deal!
“Well, if you’ve decided to leave, I won’t try to stop you,” Harriet continued. “The day after tomorrow, I’ll have your paycheck ready for you when your shift ends.”
Anthea thought she could pull a fast one? No chance!
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Chapter 67
“Okay, I appreciate it.” replied Anthea.
After Anthea left, Baldie stepped out from the back. “Mom, is Anthea quitting?”
He had overheard Anthea talking about school.
Could it be that Anthea was still studying?
Had he got it wrong about her?
Harriet turned around. “Quitting? She’s trying to get a pay raise out of me! Acts like she’s all that!TM
“A pay raise? What kind of rise?” Baldie asked, puzzled.
Harriet explained, “Our business has picked up these past few days. She thinks it’s all thanks to her good looks! So, she’s using quitting as a threat, trying to squeeze a raise out of me!”
Baldie nodded in understanding. “I see. So, are you going to give her the raise?”
Harriet replied, “I offered her an extra five hundred, but she turned her nose up at the offer! She wants to quit, huh? Fine, let her quit! There are plenty of fish in the sea. Does she think the world will stop without her?”
Baldie blinked, processing the information.
“So, is Anthea quitting?”
Harriet smiled. “Don’t worry. She’s just bluffing. She won’t leave. Our rotisserie offers one of the highest wages around here. I even threw in an extra five hundred. Where else can she get a deal like that?”
Forget around here. She’d be hard–pressed to find such wages anywhere in Cloudcrest.
“Oh,” Baldie nodded, relieved.
Time flew by.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
It was Anthea’s last day at the rotisserie.
Ironically, Karen, who hadn’t shown up for three days, decided to drop by tonight.
“Mrs. Christensen, where have you been the past few days?” Anthea asked, genuinely happy to see her regular.
Karen replied, “I had a bit of a headache, so I took a few rest days.”
“Are you fine, Mrs. Christensen?” Anthea asked, noticing a pallor on Karen’s face. She reached out instinctively to check her pulse, her brow furrowing in concern.
C
