Brian chuckled. “The Judge and Miss Helen vetted my agent for me. They were my legal guardians, by the way, until I was 21. My dad was in jail, and my mom bailed when I was in grade school. I lived with the O’Leary’s part time, the Broquard’s part time, and at Andy’s part time. Miss Helen has this way about her; I mean you just don’t want to disappoint her. She could cut me to the quick just by starting with, ‘You know Brian, I’m disappointed in . . .’ and then whatever it was I’d screwed up that time.”
Grace and Sara both looked up in surprise at Brian’s revelation. “Long story,” said Andy quietly. “Be good for your next round of pillow talk,” he quipped.
Jake laughed and Grace blushed.
“Well, Miss Federspiel. You crushed your interview. It’s my great pleasure to offer you a position with the Sumner-White Group. The contract is right here. Please take your time in looking it over. I emailed a copy to Jake’s agent. He’s looking it over, and probably charging Jake double-time for the trouble.”
He handed over the two-page document.
Grace stopped mid-chew and looked at him, stunned.
Brian smiled and took the offered document. He scanned it quickly.
“Wow! Babe, they’re going to start paying you immediately,” he whistled. “$100 large, plus they pay for your school,” he paused. “Damn girl! You get to use the company flight service. Holy shit!” He looked at Andy with raised eyebrows. “Grace, you get a raise for each degree you attain. You’d start at $500K a year once you’re done with your doctorate.” He read on, “Fuck me,” he muttered.
He looked at Andy again.
“Seriously with the other thing?”
Andy grinned and nodded.
Grace turned bright red, and then pale.
Jake’s phone rang. He answered it and talked briefly with his agent. “Hold on, I’ll put her on.”
Grace listened, her mind only vaguely registering what she heard. She did catch him saying, “This is an amazing deal. I’d sign it if that’s what you want to do. I wish Jake’s contract was this clean and easy.”
She handed the phone to Brian, too stunned to talk. She looked at Andy, and nodded her head yes.
“Seriously, Grace. Please take your time with this. It’s a good deal, but it would commit the next eight years of your life. The second page is the buyout clause if you take another job. You’d have to pay the company back for the master’s and doctoral programs if you leave early. Plus, if you do this, you’d have to put up with working with me,” he smiled at her reassuringly.
She looked at Brian, still too stunned to speak.
Ellen was filling Kail, and Eden in on Grace’s job offer — not in detail, but that an offer was being made – as they ate together. From across the restaurant, they heard Kail, “Gracie, are you OK? Holler if you need some Power Girl. Seriously. I’m just over here basking in AFed and JFed’s loveliness.”