"You're available to start right away?"
"Yes."
"I'm not really seeing a lot of restaurant experience on the, uh, resume."
"I've always had, um, summer jobs, but, yeah, mostly retail." The redhead shifted in her seat, knowing beforehand that her lack of industry experience would have brought problems when trying to get a job as a waitress.
"So, did you drop out of school, or... why'd you come all the way back here?"
"Oh, no, um...well, this is my home, and there was an accident, so I have to take care of my brother."
"Well, I'll tell you what I can do, Chloe. Um, I'll talk to the owner. I know they were looking for wait staff with experience, but... obviously you're smart, so maybe they'll work with you."
"Sure, that'd be great."
"Maybe you could host, if nothing else. I can't promise anything, but, um..."
"Oh, no, yeah."
"Maybe I'll let you know by the end of the day."
"Thank you so much."
"Nice to meet you."
"Nice meeting you." Chloe slid out of her wooden chair by the bar at the restaurant she was interviewing at, trying to sport a smile while leaving with what remained of her dignity. She was trying to score a job, any job at this point, to try to support both her and her seemingly terminally ill brother. Her house was already up for sale and she planned to downgrade to a two-bedroom apartment in the hopes that she could keep up with a lease rather than down payments on a house. She tended to be taking care of Raleigh full-time nowadays, brushing past his self-deprecating nature and sarcasm to keep him afloat. She also worried about him near 24/7, which she found herself doing even on her drive back to their house.
"I'm gonna go back to the clinic for a little while today. Will you be okay here alone?" Chloe asked whilst entering the door, spotting her brother sitting across the kitchen island.
"Something wrong?" Raleigh asked, flicking his hand up to the baldhead that he concealed under his favorite green hoodie.
"Dr. Barden thinks that he can help us cut some of the costs."
"How?"
"I... I have no idea. But I'll find out."
Dr. Barden was someone Chloe had met by happenstance. He had heard of Raleigh's condition and wanted to help, using his close relationship with their city's hospital network to connect Chloe to a well-known fundraiser and philanthropist. As an oncologist himself, Dr. Barden was out of other alternatives, so when had been able to snag Chloe a meeting with the slippery celebrity in a spur of the moment, Dr. Barden insisted Chloe take it. Her appointment with the two men happened to be today.
Chloe found herself riding an elevator up to one of the higher floors of a hospital building, knocking on her new friends' office door with a tentative, "um, Dr. Barden? The nurse said that I..."
"Of course, come in." The man beckoned for Chloe to enter, motioning for her to join the two men already in the office. He flashed a weak smile, white teeth contrasting against his medium-dark skin. Across from Dr. Barden's desk was a patterned couch where a man in a gray suit stood up to greet Chloe, hand extended for a handshake.
"Chloe, good to see you. Shepard Lambrick."
"Chloe." She replied, taking his hand in hers and lightly applying pressure to solidify an attempt to appear less weak and desperate than she actually was.
"Dr. Barden's told me much about you." Lambrick began as Chloe took a seat in a lone chair alongside the wall. "So... your brother. He's quite sick, correct?"
"You can help him?"
"Well, let's just say that my foundation has the ability to improve his situation." He paused, straightening his tie before continuing. "The Lambricks have funded the building of clinics all over the world. Haiti, uh, Afghanistan... schools, too.
"Well, my brother doesn't need a school." Chloe added curtly, apprehensive of what a stranger could provide for the brother she had been taking care of for twenty years.
"You're right, absolutely right. My family, however, believes in creating opportunities for everyday people. People who just haven't received a fair shake in life... people like you and your brother."
"What do we have to do?"
"I'm hosting a dinner party tomorrow night, and I'd like you to join us."
"Just me?" Chloe wondered if Raleigh had to come as well, or if this was something she could work on by herself without having to get him involved.
"Just you... oh, but there'll be other guests there, individuals that we'd also like to help. And the evening will culminate with a game, of sorts, and the winner will be taken care of; bills, school, house, everything."
"What if I don't win?"
"Well, then, you just don't win. That's it."
Chloe looked at the two men with furrowed brows, prompting Dr. Barden to add: "This is legit. Mr. Lambrick saved my life. Not long ago, but before I met you and your brother, I was in the same position. I'd already lost my wife. I was on my way to losing everything... this practice, everything. I had no place to turn. I was invited to this event, so I went."
"You won?"
"He did, and I am proud to say that the Lambrick foundation came through on its promise." Lambrick announced, almost smug to add the man in front of him to his personal trophy case. "You can see what we might be able to do for you."
"Well, money would definitely help, but my brother needs a bone marrow transplant." Chloe hesitated, uncertain if this foundation could really provide for them. It's not like they could physically pay her in body tissue. "Do you mind if I think this over? Um, it's just... short notice."
"It is, you're right. Think it over, but R.S.V.P. by eight o'clock tonight if you do decide to join us and my staff will make arrangements to pick you up.
"Thank you."
"Chloe, when I say that we have the ability to dramatically improve your brother's situation, it's not just the money I'm talking about. You win the game, and we can bypass any waiting list and locate a donor, immediately."
"I will let you know." Chloe replied, bowing gracefully as she gathers her purse and leaves the office with a quiet shut of the door behind her.
As soon as she makes it out of the room, Lambrick immediately remarked, "she's perfect."
Dr. Barden contorts his face, afraid of disappointing Lambrick before saying: "I'm not sure she's right for this."
"What? She couldn't be more perfect. She's fighting for her brother, herself, she has no relatives, no family. No one to ask questions."
"Shep, she is not right." Dr. Barden suddenly felt defensive of the young redhead, knowing what sorts of things the game required.
"Let's just say I've appreciated your discretion over the last couple of years. Should I be concerned about this moment of weakness on your part?" Lambrick narrowed his eyes, challenging his cohort's opinion.
Dr. Barden felt the heaviness of his gaze upon him, knowing he had to reply carefully. "...Of course not. I'm fine." The two men crossed eye contact before Lambrick nodded with approval.