Chapter 5 - The Young Server
As the guests began frantically whispering among themselves, grabbing their purses, and making hasty exits toward the valet, I turned away from the Mitchell family.
My eyes swept over the crowded lawn until I spotted him—the young server who had tried to offer me a napkin before Vanessa threatened to fire him. He was standing near the catering table, pale, holding an empty silver tray, looking terrified that he was about to be dragged into the destruction of his employers.
I walked straight toward him, my wet shoes squeaking on the grass. Ethan followed two steps behind me.
The young man swallowed hard as I approached. "Ma'am... I'm so sorry... I should have helped you anyway. I shouldn't have listened to her."
I stopped in front of him and looked at his small metal name tag. Liam.
"Liam," I said, my voice softening completely. "What is your last name?"
"Liam Brooks, ma'am. I'm a student at Vanderbilt. I just... I work for the catering company to pay my tuition."
"And how much does this catering company pay you per hour, Liam?"
He blinked, surprised by the question. "Eighteen dollars an hour, ma'am."
I turned to Ethan. "Ethan, call the director of human resources at Vance-Carter Corporate Headquarters right now."
Ethan immediately pulled out his phone. "I'm on it, Mom."
"Liam," I continued, looking the young man in the eye. "As of this moment, you no longer work for this catering firm. Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, you will report to the executive floor of the Vance-Carter Tower downtown. You are being appointed as a junior administrative fellow in our philanthropic division. Your starting salary will be seventy-five thousand dollars a year, plus full tuition coverage for your remaining time at Vanderbilt."
Liam’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. He stared at me as if I had spoken in a foreign language. "M-Ma'am? Are you... are you serious?"
"I am entirely serious," I said, touching his shoulder softly. "In my life, I have met thousands of people in expensive suits who possessed zero character. Today, you showed me that you have a good heart. I hire character, Liam. Skills can be taught."
Tears sprang to the young man's eyes. "Thank you... thank you so much, Mrs. Carter!"
Behind us, Patricia Mitchell let out a bitter, sharp laugh. "Oh, isn't that sweet! The great Eleanor Carter giving charity to the help while she destroys a respectable family!"
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I turned around slowly to face Patricia.
"Respectable?" I chuckled, a dark, low sound. "Patricia, you haven't been respectable in fifteen years. And don't worry—I haven't even begun to destroy you yet."
