A Bargain With The Devil

I was hiding again in the pantry for the third time that day. If Mum called me again to ask where I put the soy sauce, I would curl into a ball and disappear. Things were easier before, when Dad was still in charge. The restaurant scene was his schtick anyway, but then he got sick and now we were failing, woefully.

My watch flashed, signaling the end of my five-minute hiatus. That was how long I could stay in there without being bothered. To prove my point, the door handle twisted above my head. When the door did not budge, a voice called out.

“Ehh... Mae, is that you? I need to get some flour, we’ve run out.”

I sighed, rose from the floor, and unlocked the door. Lisa’s round face came into view. She smiled kindly at me, before hurrying into the pantry. As I walked back to the kitchen, the sound of clanging pots and knives on chopboards grew louder. My mum was yelling at José in Italian again.

I was glad I only had to wait tables; a day in the kitchen with my mother would kill me.

With efficiency honed from working years in the restaurant, I set to work. My smile looked natural as I waltzed through the room taking orders, returning meals and clearing tables.

My job wasn’t a total bore. Gauging the customers through their outfits was the highlight of my day. I could tell which customers would be trouble by the way they dressed. I had learned to be careful around women who wore their shades while in the restaurant. With men, it was harder to tell.

The door chimed open for the thousandth time and a man walked in looking grim. My eyes skimmed over him. Crisp suit, mouth pressed in a line, an I-mean-business expression. He would be one of the easy ones.

Something about him made me nervous, and I wondered if I had attended to him before. Instead of taking a seat at one of the empty tables, he made a beeline for me, the server closest to the entrance. Oh, he was one of those ones, the snotty people who thought they could come in and have everyone moving to their own beat.

“Good afternoon.” He started.

“Good day sir, if you would just be seated, someone will be with you shortly.” I responded, my smile still strong.

“I’m actually here on business. It’s about this property and I’d like to see the owner. It is very important that I meet with him today.” my curiosity was piqued.

“I’m his daughter, my mother is running this place for now since his health got worse, she’ll be happy to talk to you if it’s important.” He paused for a bit, and then nodded.

“That’ll be fine.”

I led him to Dad’s small office ignoring the look Miles gave me when he saw us, and then I left to fetch my mum from the kitchen. She looked just as puzzled as I was when I told her about our guest. Discarding the apron, she followed me to the office. The strange man had already pulled out a file from his case, which now sat lonely on the desk.

Mum greeted him and sat in Dad’s ginormous leather seat. It smelt of several spices and Dad’s cologne.

“I am Samuel Mikhalov and I’m a representative of the late Mr. McCauley” He began. McCauley had been the proprietor of half the buildings in seaside Arroyo Grande. His recent death had worried everyone who was under his care. “As you know, McCauley has no Family here, but he has a half-brother who currently resides in Scotland, being the only living relative of McCauley, his properties were automatically transferred to his name.” he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Owen has no interest in keeping the property and has sold” -my heart dropped- “the property to a new owner based here.”

Mikhalov smiled sympathetically. “I’m afraid the two men were not on good terms in their youth, this is his way of spiting his brother for disappearing“.

My mum glanced at me and I saw the fear in her eyes, so I squeezed her shoulder warmly. We did not have to panic yet. Things could go either way, this new owner could be kinder and drop McCauley’s rates...or he could be worse.

“It’s just a new owner, right? There won’t be some sort of hike in our rent, we can barely afford it with my husband being ill.“ Mum voiced both our fears.

“I’m afraid it’s worse than that.” Mikhalov answered. “The new owner, Mr. Crowe, plans on renovating seaside Arroyo, Occupants in the properties formerly owned by McCauley need to be evacuated within three months. I felt it would be impolite to send just the letters, so I am here to deliver them myself.” He extended a brown file to my mother but she just sat, stunned.

I took it from him and reached inside, pulling out a letter. It said the exact thing the lawyer had said just with more words.

“That’s impossible! This is too short a notice, this can’t be applicable in court, and it’s illegal!”

“I am aware of McCauley’s love for this place and I would do everything in my power to stop this, but there was nothing in the contract you signed with McCauley that states that this is illegal. Mr. Crowe’s actions do not violate any contracts.”

“We’ve been here for thirty years.” My mother said in disbelief. “This is our home.”

He shook his head sadly. “I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do. I am sorry. Perhaps you could try talking to Mr. Crowe, he might reconsider...” but even as he said it, he did not seem confident.

Mum remained frozen. She just looked on at him opposite her, a few times, she’d break into a smile and then, her face would contort to show confusion. Mikhalov had broken my mother.

“Thank you for your...” Life-altering news? Soul-destroying revelation. “I think it’s time you leave.” I managed to spit out. The urge to point comically at the door then yell “And stay out!” left my body the second, Miles walked in.

I had completely forgotten about my brother and his tendency to poke his nose in. He was holding a plate of food and no doubt had a great excuse for coming in here, but one look at my face, mum’s dead expression and the guilty one of the lawyer, it died in his throat.

“What’s wrong?” he asked me accusingly.

“I will leave your family to deal with this. Once again, I truly am sorry.” Mikhalov said before he shuffled out of his office with his head down, no doubt going to someone else’s job or home to break the bad news.

He walked out, leaving me to repeat the dreadful news to my brother, and no doubt to my father when we got home.

“We don’t have any choice, Mum. If I can just convince him-“

“I don’t think YOU should go. I can talk to him man to man.” Miles cut me off. I rolled my eyes.

“Having three lonely hairs growing out of your chin does not make you a man, Miles.”

“I’d like to see you grow them.” he muttered, and I rolled my eyes again.

I had spent two days! Two whole freaking days trying to convince Mum and Miles that a visit with our new landlord was due, and an extra day to learn all I could about Mr. Ethan Crowe from the info Miles had grudgingly provided.

“I bet most of the shops that have considered going, have been to his office already. I’m going today, okay? No debates, we just have to try, we can’t wait till we get thrown out or have to tell Dad about this.” I finished. That was enough to stop their debating.

It had been unanimous. There was no need to tell Dad about the situation until we were sure there was nothing we could do to stop the destruction of our home and business. I would rather we never have to tell him, which was the purpose of my visit to Los Angeles.

I packed all the meals I had spent my morning cooking, into a tote bag and prayed the meals would stay hot for my two-hour drive to the city. “Mamma Piacere, I can convince him, or at least try to buy us more time.”

She nodded in defeat. “You are right.”

“Just don’t forget the info you read and you’ll be good.” Miles supplicated gruffly. I could not wait until he was over teen-hood. His whole grunting and never saying words without sounding pissed was irritating.

“I’m not an idiot, Miles.” He was the worst sometimes.

I had learned what he could find on Ethan Crowe, so I could plead to his human side. Rich people liked to talk about money, or their hobbies, and since I lacked the former, hobbies would have to do. I just needed to figure out how to start a conversation about horse riding and hunting. I had considered wearing one of my father’s shirts with a horse on it, but felt like it would be too obvious Mum put steaming hot buns in a disposable bag and added it to my already heavy bag of food.

“You look beautiful.”

I shrugged. I could never go wrong with a black short-sleeved turtleneck dress, Hopefully I looked classy enough to meet with the multi-billionaire who held our life in his hands.

Standing in front of the enormous Crowe building two and a half hours later, I hesitated. A smudge of my anxiety disappeared when I saw Mrs. Cassandra walk out of the building, muttering and stomping. She owned two shops after ours, selling oddities that I found fascinating.

After several attempts to draw her attention by calling out her name, I ran and blocked her path. “Oh! Child you nearly scared the life out of me.” She gasped her hand on her heart.

“I’m sorry.” I answered politely and continued with the question in my mind, “Were you here to see our new landowner? What did he say?”

“I didn’t even get to meet the fellow, that rude little lady wouldn’t let me past the reception area! Snobby rich people ruining everyone’s lives.” She continued her tirade, as she marched on, leaving me on my own again.

I forced out a breath. I should have anticipated that, but I was not going to turn back without meeting Mr. Crowe. The heat from my bag warmed my legs and an idea formed. I prayed that it would work.

“Look like you belong, look like you belong, I chanted in my head as I walked past security, completely ignoring the reception area. Only people who did not belong would need help from a receptionist. I am a long-time client, I told myself as I made a beeline for the elevator. From the corner of my eye, I saw the receptionist raise her head once, shrug and continue to flip through her magazine. I pressed the highest floor and only let out the breath I was holding after the elevator doors closed.

Others joined me in the elevator, but when I reached the top floor, I was alone. I braced myself as the doors opened.

A woman worked quietly on her computer but lifted her head when I stepped off. She looked at me quizzically before her face turned into a mask.

“How can I help you?”

“Delivery,” I said with a dazzling smile, ”for an Ethan…Crowe? Yeah, that’s the name.” I answered. The bag made a thud as I dropped it on her desk and watched her face as the aroma wafted up her nose.

“He usually doesn’t order by himself.” she said perplexed. “Give it here.”

“I’m sorry miss, it has to be delivered to the person who makes the order, I need to do my job or I’ll get fired.” I lied, doing my best to look like a tired worker. I was, but it was properly hidden under all of my makeup. She eyed me suspiciously.

“You don’t look like a delivery person.”

Shoot, my attempt at looking like a professional business owner was turning back to bite me in the ass. I shrugged, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. I’d like to get this done quickly, I have other places to be, and this guy didn’t sound happy when he ordered, I don’t want to annoy him further by being late.“ My heart was fighting to break free from my chest, it was a struggle to keep my bored expression in place.

“Give me a moment to confirm.” She finally answered getting up from her desk and walking in the pointiest heels I’ve ever seen, to the black glass doors that led to Ethan Crowe’s office. She knocked once, opened the door and poked her head in. I could picture the conversation as it happened. He would ask what she was talking about after she relayed the news of the overdressed delivery girl. I waited until half her body was through the door before I grabbed my bag. Now was my chance. At the risk of getting kicked out I moved quietly behind her till I was close enough, and ignoring her scream of protest, barreled past her through the slightly open doors, and straight into the most immaculate office I’d ever seen.

Seated behind a large glass table with a stunned expression, was the one man I thought I would never have to see again.