Chapter 2

Teresa was sitting in the manager's office and saw the apologetic look on the man's face. -I'm a hard worker and punctual. I bet you have a lot of employees who don't show up on time for their shift. I guarantee I won't be late for work.

-That's not the problem,” he sighed. -You don't have the experience.

Teresa was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Yes, because I'm more than qualified to run the cash register on the night shift. -I've worked in much more demanding situations. I'm absolutely confident that I can do this job well.

-A lot of strange people come into the store on this shift. I don't think you're the best person for the job. - She handed him back his résumé. -I'll contact you when there's an opening on the morning shift.

Teresa took the document slowly, trying to hide the disappointment she felt, and forced herself to smile, cordially.

It was, without a doubt, the worst stage of her life, the most complicated and discouraging. He left the supermarket, where he hoped to get a job to subsist until he could get something better, and walked down the street.

For a while he just watched the tip of his shoes as he walked. She hastily calculated the price of the babysitter she had rehired, only because she had assumed she would get the job and start working the night shift right away. You're jinxed.

Teresa continued on her way, lost in thought. She panicked as she remembered the bills piling up on her coffee table. She pulled her cell phone out of her purse, but the battery was dead. -Great, that's all I needed. Thanks a lot, Destiny. She hurried home. It was about twenty blocks away and she could ride the bus, but she didn't mind going for a walk, especially when she felt the world collapsing around her. The cold air was a blessing, even if he felt miserable from head to toe.

It was the twelfth time she had been turned away since the beginning of January. For all the excitement of the good fortune the new year would bring, she could see no change from the previous one. It was proving to be just as disastrous.

-Oh, God! - He stopped on the sidewalk, covering his face with his gloved hands. He tried to control his breathing to no avail, as he held back tears of frustration. He would not let them spill over, for he had perfected the art of self-control ten years ago.

He stopped walking, as he needed to regain his composure. She lifted her shoulders as she took a breath, lowered them as she let it out, and reminded herself to have faith. She was losing it and she had to resist, otherwise everything would go downhill. Her own survival was not the only problem at hand. She had a son who depended on her and she had managed for six years. She raised her head and put her hands in the pockets of her anorak. Her heart was pounding and she clung to hope. -I'll make it. I'll find something. Tomorrow will be another day. I'll have a job, I'll make it.

He had taken only a step forward when something caught his eye. A man had just posted a sign on the door of a nightclub. It looked exclusive and there wasn't a long line of people waiting to get in. A black sports car pulled up to the entrance and a tall man got out of it. They let him pass right away, but it gave her time to admire his tall, stocky body and blond hair.

She gasped as she noticed the sign again and ran across the street. There was the loud honk of a horn and he backed out, his heart pounding a mile a minute. The car finally passed and she saw the driver muttering unintelligible words with his fist in the air. Didn't she know that she couldn't hear him with the window closed? She was too excited to be angry with the man. She crossed the street more cautiously. -Excuse me! - She shouted to attract the attention of the man who had pulled the sign out into the street. -Excuse me!

He turned as Teresa buttoned up her jacket to ward off the cold that was digging into her ribs. -I...I'm looking for a job. Can you take me to see the person in charge of hiring?

The man looked her up and down and Teresa waited until he finally nodded.

Confused by his reaction, she walked into the building after him and was stunned.

Oh, my God!

He was totally out of place there. She thought she should turn around, walk out and continue on her way. The nightclub was unlike anything he had ever seen before. He could make out the sound of music coming from somewhere downstairs. The floor he was on was spacious and ostentatiously furnished. There was a huge bar that covered the entire length of the fifty-foot wall on the left and that's where he was headed. He looked around, admiring the place.

Yes, she probably had more qualifications than necessary to work as a waitress there, but she was more concerned about not fitting in. This place is out of my league. But she quickly reprimanded herself. Those thoughts were the product of discouragement and despondency. That business would be lucky to hire her. There was a lone figure at the bar, swirling a glass of what looked like vodka. He had his elbow resting on the bar and was staring at an indeterminate point in the distance as he took a slow sip of his drink. She recognized him by his height, broad shoulders and blond hair. She had seen him get out of the car a couple of minutes ago.

-What's your name?

Teresa looked away from the lone figure and concentrated on the matter at hand. -Teresa. Teresa Cooper.

-All right, Teresa. I'm Jackson. Please wait here. - He disappeared behind the bar and Teresa watched nervously as he approached a fat guy with incipient baldness. They both looked at her as Jackson pointed in their direction. The fat guy grimaced at the sight of her and Teresa prepared to make a scene. How dare he? But then he smiled and turned to her.

-Hi, I'm George. The staff calls me Mr. O'Malley. Teresa Carter, right?

-Cooper. Teresa Cooper. - She got defensive, ready to walk out of the room.

-Have you worked as a waitress before?

-Well...” Teresa held out her résumé. -I worked as a waitress during college, but I've been a receptionist.

college, but I've been a receptionist at an eye clinic for the past two years. Before that, I was a paralegal.

-How did you get the resume here so fast? They just put up the sign.

Teresa smiled at him. -I had an interview elsewhere and was walking down the street when I saw the sign.

-Are you hopeful you'll get the job you applied for?

-No, not really,” he admitted.

-Okay. Well, Teresa,” he looked at the document, ”how old are you?

Teresa was caught by surprise, although it was not an unexpected question. -

Forty.

-Forty. - He scratched his beard, looking carefully at his face. I'd give you thirty-one or thirty-two.

-Thank you. - It was not a compliment to Teresa. She felt utterly desolate.

That man didn't seem very willing to hire her.

The problem, Teresa, is that our policy is not to hire waitresses over twenty-eight.

Teresa raised her eyebrows. -What does age have to do with my ability to bring dishes to a table?

The man shook his head. -I'm sorry. You look like a working girl. Here...” He put his cell phone on the bar. -Keep your number in my phone. I'll call you when there's another job opening.