She scoots to the edge of the couch. “Earlier, you said Étienne was arrested? Why? For being a toxic boss?”
I tell her all about my weeklong visit to Brazil.
“Who’s Max Keller?” Her brows touch. “How is he connected to the owner?”
“He’s half Brazilian and his family in Rio de Janeiro knows the owner. Max is a buddy of mine from the business networking club I’m part of.”
She nods. “It’s a good thing the owner had you in his corner.”
“I don’t take kindly to lowlifes,” I say. “Étienne was turning Grazie Mille into an illegal poker establishment after hours. The guy who groped you was his accomplice.”
Her head jerks back. “What?”
“That explains why Étienne took his side over yours.”
“What an asshole.”
“They’re both assholes.”
“True that.” She taps a finger against her chin. “Who’s going to manage the restaurant?”
“After being interrogated by the police on the day I saw you at the restaurant, I had a briefing with the PI team I hired. There was no doubt Étienne was crooked. Anticipating we’d be giving him the boot, I put the owner in touch with a placement agency that specializes in the restaurant business. I told him he needed to get the ball rolling. Right now, he’s in the process of hiring a new manager. He’s also going to hire an assistant manager. He wants the manager to be accountable to someone.”
“Good idea.”
“He’s also going to replace the bartender.”
“He was involved in the illegal poker games?”
“He was using the restaurant’s inventory as his personal liquor store where he could go shopping for free. The private investigators I hire are nothing but thorough.”
“This poor owner. He’s on the other side of the planet, and his employees are screwing him over.”
“Speaking of employees whoaren’tscrewing him over, I relayed what transpired on the day you got fired. He feels terrible you had to go through that. He’s more than happy to reinstate your job.”
Harley twists her lips. “I’m not sure I can brave showing my face at Grazie Mille ever again. I’d never be able to endure the embarrassment of being labeled clumsy, useless, and a disaster. Every little mistake will be magnified and anyone who was there on that humiliating day will see me as incompetent.”
I nod.
She’s right.
Most people will never know Tripp was caught on camera groping her, which is what caused the whole fiasco.
“Working at a florist shop guarantees you’ll be making minimum wage,” I say. “And you don’t feel comfortable going back to your waitressing job.”
“I’ve been looking for work, but without references from the last job…”
“I’m sure the owner can remedy the situation.”
Her eyes light up. “Oh my God, that would be a game changer.”
“Consider it done.”
“You’re a lifesaver.” She stomps her feet on the floor and pumps the air. “Money, money, money, money. Money.”
“You could go back to your waitressing job, or you could explore something else.”
Her arms drop to her lap. “Like what?”
