Chapter 2 - The Billionaire at My Apartment Door
The ambulance arrived eleven minutes after I called.
By then, Eleanor's lips had regained a little color.
A paramedic examined her ankle and checked her vital signs.
He recommended hospital evaluation.
Eleanor looked at me.
I crouched beside the stretcher.
"You really should go."
She sighed.
"You're very stubborn."
"That's what my daughter says."
Her expression softened.
"Ava."
I stared.
"How do you know her name?"
Eleanor looked embarrassed.
"I owe you an explanation."
Before she could continue, the paramedic asked another question.
The ambulance doors closed.
And Eleanor Vale disappeared into the rain.
I stood under the awning holding my soaked handbag.
My shift was gone.
My wages were barely enough to cover what I owed.
My landlord expected a payment on Friday.
And I had no idea how to tell my daughter I'd lost another job.
I walked to Harbor and Vine anyway.
Frank stood near the hostess station.
He saw me through the glass.
Then deliberately turned away.
I opened the door.
"Frank."
He looked annoyed.
"What?"
"I need to collect my things."
"You're no longer employed here."
"I know."
"Then leave."
"My coat is in the staff room."
He rolled his eyes.
"Marcus can bring it outside tomorrow."
I stared at him.
"My wallet is in the pocket."
Frank looked at me for several seconds.
Then smiled.
"Fine."
He disappeared into the back.
When he returned, he handed me my coat.
The pockets had been emptied.
"My wallet?"
He shrugged.
"Wasn't there."
I felt cold.
"It was."
"Then perhaps you lost it while playing hero."
A customer glanced toward us.
Frank immediately lowered his voice.
"Leave before I call security."
I looked at him.
Then at the receipt printer behind the bar.
Another receipt had just emerged.
The customer had left a thirty-dollar tip.
I wondered how much of it the waitress would actually receive.
"You're stealing from us," I said quietly.
Frank's face changed.
"Get out."
"I've seen the receipts."
He stepped closer.
"If you make one more accusation, I'll make sure nobody in Boston hires you."
I believed him.
That was what made him dangerous.
I walked home in the rain.
Mrs. Alvarez, my elderly neighbor, was watching Ava.
She opened the apartment door before I knocked.
"Oh, honey."
I forced a smile.
"Hi."
She looked at my soaked clothes.
"What happened?"
"Long day."
Ava came running.
"Mommy!"
I dropped my bag and caught her.
She wore pink pajamas and one slipper.
Her other slipper had disappeared months earlier.
"Hey, sweetheart."
"Did you get my shoes?"
My heart tightened.
"Not today."
She nodded.
"Okay."
No complaint.
No tantrum.
That somehow made it worse.
Mrs. Alvarez handed me a towel.
Then whispered:
"Your landlord came."
I closed my eyes.
"What did he say?"
"He wants you to call him."
Of course.
I thanked her and went into the kitchen.
Ava sat at the table drawing.
I opened the electric bill.
FINAL DISCONNECTION WARNING.
I folded it again.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Something made me answer.
"Hello?"
A man's voice spoke.
"Miss Carter?"
"Yes."
"My name is Julian Vale."
I stopped breathing.
"I understand you helped my mother tonight."
I looked at the wall.
"Is she okay?"
He paused.
"She has a fractured ankle. The doctors expect her to recover."
I exhaled.
"Thank God."
Silence.
Then he said:
"May I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why did you help her?"
I frowned.
"Excuse me?"
"My mother said you were rushing to work."
"I was."
"And you knew stopping could cost you your job."
I looked toward Ava.
"Yes."
"Then why stop?"
I thought about the rain.
The old woman.
The people stepping around her.
"Because she needed help."
Julian said nothing.
Finally, he asked:
"Are you home?"
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
"I'd like to speak with you."
"About what?"
"Your dismissal."
I closed my eyes.
"Mr. Vale, I don't want trouble."
His voice softened.
"I think you already have trouble."
Before I could answer, someone knocked.
Three firm knocks.
I looked toward the door.
"Mommy?" Ava called.
I checked through the peephole.
A tall man stood in the hallway.
Dark hair.
Black wool coat.
Expensive suit.
He held a phone against his ear.
Julian Vale.
I opened the door cautiously.
He lowered his phone.
"Miss Carter."
I stared.
"How did you find me?"
His expression changed.
"My security team located the address in your employee record. I should have asked before coming. If this isn't a good time, I'll leave."
I looked at Ava.
She peeked around my legs.
Julian noticed her.
His expression softened.
"Hello."
Ava stared.
"Are you the shoe man?"
Julian blinked.
"The what?"
I closed my eyes.
"Ava."
She pointed at my shoes.
"Mommy needs new ones too."
Julian looked down.
My sneakers were soaked.
The soles were separating.
He looked back at me.
For a moment, I wanted the floor to swallow me.
Then he said:
"I'm here because my mother asked me to thank you."
I stepped aside.
He entered our tiny apartment.
Ava watched him curiously.
Julian noticed the overdue bills on the kitchen table.
He didn't mention them.
Instead, he sat in the chair I offered.
"Mother told me what happened."
I folded my arms.
"Then you know I lost my job."
"Yes."
"Frank had been looking for a reason."
Julian's expression sharpened.
"Why?"
I hesitated.
Then thought about the missing tips.
"Because I asked questions."
"What questions?"
I looked directly at him.
"Where our money was going."
He leaned forward.
"What money?"
"Our tips."
Silence.
I continued.
"Customers pay one amount. We receive another."
Julian stared.
"How long?"
"Months."
He took out his phone.
Then stopped.
He looked toward Ava.
She was sitting on the floor drawing.
He lowered his voice.
"Miss Carter, I want you to know something."
I waited.
"Harbor and Vine is part of my company."
"I know."
"And if your manager has been taking employee tips, I want it investigated independently."
I laughed bitterly.
"With all due respect, Frank runs that restaurant like he owns it."
Julian's jaw tightened.
"Then perhaps it's time someone reminded him who actually does."
He stood.
Then reached into his coat.
I stiffened.
He noticed.
He slowly withdrew a business card.
"Call me tomorrow."
I looked at it.
"Why?"
"My mother wants to see you."
Before I could answer, Ava appeared beside him.
She held out her drawing.
"Look."
Julian crouched.
The picture showed a woman carrying an elderly lady through blue rain.
At the bottom, Ava had written:
MY MOMMY HELPS PEOPLE.
Julian stared.
Then looked at me.
His eyes softened.
"Your daughter seems very proud of you."
My throat tightened.
I couldn't answer.
Then his phone rang.
His security director.
Julian answered.
"What?"
His expression changed.
"Say that again."
He turned toward the window.
"Who authorized the transfer?"
A pause.
Then:
"Do not let him delete anything."
He ended the call.
I stared.
"What happened?"
Julian looked at me.
"My mother went to Harbor and Vine tonight for a reason."
My stomach tightened.
"What reason?"
He took a breath.
"She was investigating the same missing tips you were."
May you like
Then he added:
"And the man who fired you may be stealing far more than gratuities."
