That's why I'm offering. Pride and desperation war in his chest. Pride was winning, but barely. I can't. If I take your money and the shop still fails, then we'll deal with it then.
Vivien pulled out her phone. What's your bank account number? No, Ethan. No. He said it firmly enough that she stopped.
I don't want your money. I want to earn my way out of this. That's admirable and stupid. Yeah, well, I'm good at both. They stood there in the shop, the Subaru between them, and he could feel Sophie watching from the office.
The rattle he'd been chasing seemed to have vanished, like even the car was holding its breath. "Fine," Vivian said finally. "No money. " But let me ask you something. How many bays does this shop have? Two.
And how many mechanics? Just me. I had a guy, but I couldn't afford to keep him. So, you're doing everything yourself? Oil changes, brake jobs, diagnostics, everything.
That's how it works when you can't pay staff. She walked around the Subaru, examining the space with the same calculating look he'd seen corporate types use when they were deciding whether to buy or demolish. What if you had more work than you could handle? Would that help? Sure, if I had 8 more hours in the day and didn't need sleep.
What if the work paid enough to hire someone to actually expand? Ethan wiped his hands on the rag again, a nervous habit. Where are you going with this? Hard Industries has a fleet, about 200 vehicles across our Seattle operations, trucks, vans, company cars. We have a contract with a shop in Belleview, but they're overpriced and the work is mediocre.
His heart started beating faster. Vivien, I could move that contract here. Regular maintenance, repairs, emergency service. It's steady work, guaranteed payment, enough to keep you busy and pay your bills. It was everything he needed, everything he'd been praying for during the sleepless nights when the electricity bills sat unpaid and Sophie asked if they were going to be okay.
It was also charity dressed up as business. That's a conflict of interest, he said. How you're offering me work because we went on a date because you feel bad for me. I'm offering you work because you fix my Jaguar in the rain with nothing but a flashlight in your hands. Because every review of this shop says you're honest, even when it costs you money.
Because I need a mechanic I can trust, and apparently those are rare. She crossed her arms. The fact that I also enjoyed eating burgers with you at midnight is completely separate. Viven, it's a business decision, Ethan. I'm very good at those.
Sophie appeared in the doorway again. Take it, Dad. Sophie, this is an adult conversation. Take it. She's trying to help and you're being stubborn because you're proud.
Go back to your homework. Fine, but you're being dumb. She disappeared again, and Ethan heard the office chair squeak as she threw herself into it. Viven was smiling. I really do like her.