Sophie huffed dramatically, but retreated to the office, though she kept glancing through the glass with obvious interest. Ethan turned back to Vivien, who was still standing in the middle of the bay, looking at him with an expression he couldn't quite read. "Sorry," he said. "She's going through a phase where she thinks being brutally honest is a personality trait. " "She's not wrong, though, is she? " "About which part? " "The bank, the foreclosure. " He could lie. Should lie probably, but what was the point?
60 days pass due, he admitted. They want payment by end of month or they start proceedings. How much do you need? I'm not That's not why I told you. I didn't say it was.
I asked how much you need. Ethan shook his head. Vivien, I appreciate the offer, but I'm not taking money from someone I just met. It wouldn't be a gift. It would be a loan or an investment in a three-star auto shop in Georgetown.
That's a terrible investment. Let me worry about my portfolio. She walked closer and he caught that same expensive perfume from last night. How much, Ethan? 15,000 to catch up and buy some breathing room.
She didn't even blink. That's nothing. It's everything to me. I know. Her voice was soft.
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.
She's a menace. She's smart and she's right. You're being stubborn. I'm being careful. There's a difference.
Careful about what? He gestured between them. This whatever this is. We just met. We don't know each other.
And you're offering me a contract that could save my business. That's not It's not clean. Nothing worth doing is clean. She stepped closer. Close enough that he could see the flex of gold in her eyes.
I'm not offering this because I pity you. I'm offering it because I need someone who won't me about repairs or pad the bills or treat me like an ATM with legs. You fix my car for free. You showed up late to a date because you were helping a stranger. That tells me more about your character than any Yelp review.
And if this thing between us doesn't work out, if we try dating and it crashes and burns, then we have a professional relationship and I still get my cars fixed. Adults can handle that. Can they? I don't know. But I'm willing to try if you are.
Ethan looked around the shop at the equipment he'd bought secondhand, the tools he'd collected over 15 years, the dreams of expansion that had slowly contracted into just trying to survive. Then he looked at Sophie through the office window, bent over her homework, trying to pretend she wasn't listening to every word. "If I say yes," he said slowly, "it's because it's a good business decision, not because we're dating. " "We're dating? " I thought, "Weren't we? " Vivien smiled. "I mean, I was hoping, but you haven't actually asked. I'm asking. " "That's not asking.
That's stating. " He laughed despite himself. "Fine, Vivian Hart. Would you like to go on an actual planned date with me? One where I show up on time and not covered in mud? " "I don't know. The mud was charming. " Vivian, yes, I would like that.
Okay, then. Okay. They stood there grinning at each other like teenagers until Sophie's voice cut through the moment. Does this mean you're taking the job? Ethan sighed.
Yes, Sofh. I'm taking the job. Finally. You were being so dumb about it. Love you too, kiddo.