A Decision Sealed

Alisia sat at the café, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her phone case. The glow of the early afternoon sun cast soft shadows on the pavement outside, and the gentle hum of people moving about their daily lives filled the air. Yet, none of it could distract her from the knot in her stomach. Today was the day she would meet with Ethan to finalize her decision. She had thought about this moment for days, weighed the pros and cons, and now, here she was.

She needed the money. The reality of her father's debt hung over her like a dark cloud, a constant reminder that they were running out of options. Ethan's offer was generous, almost too good to be true. But what other choice did she have?

The café door chimed, and Ethan entered with his usual confident stride. He wore a well-fitted dark suit, his clean-shaven face offering a friendly smile as he approached her table. He carried a sleek black folder in his hand—the contract.

"Alisia," he greeted warmly as he slid into the seat opposite her. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

"No, you're fine," Alisia replied, forcing a smile as she tried to mask the nervous energy that had been bubbling up since she'd arrived.

Ethan placed the folder on the table between them and pushed it toward her. "So, I've had my legal team prepare the contract based on what we discussed. It's all fairly straightforward, but I'd like to go over the important points with you before you sign."

Alisia nodded, her hands resting on the edges of the folder, hesitant to open it. "Yeah, I'd appreciate that."

Ethan leaned back in his chair, his demeanor casual, almost too casual for a business deal of this magnitude. "So, as we talked about before, you'll be starting immediately after your exams. In return, we're offering an upfront salary advance of twenty thousand dollars, as well as your monthly wage during your first few months. That should help with the situation you mentioned."

Alisia felt a small wave of relief wash over her at the mention of the money. It was a lot, especially for someone fresh out of high school. The deal was more than fair—no, it was generous. She could finally help her father pay off the debt and start working toward her future.

"But there are a few clauses I want to make sure you understand," Ethan continued, leaning forward and opening the folder for her. "This is where things might get a bit more complex."

Alisia scanned the contract, her eyes landing on the first clause that gave her pause:

Clause 7.4 - Privacy and Confidentiality Agreement

Any and all information pertaining to company projects, intellectual property, and client data is strictly confidential. The employee agrees not to disclose or share any information regarding their work, projects, or clients with external parties. Should a breach of this confidentiality occur, the company reserves the right to handle the matter internally without the need for formal legal intervention.

Alisia's eyebrows furrowed. "What does 'handle the matter internally' mean?" she asked, looking up at Ethan. "Doesn't that mean you could... well, just do anything?"

Ethan shook his head quickly, his smile reassuring. "No, no. It's not like that. It's just a way to ensure we handle things in-house before going through the lengthy process of courts and lawyers. If there's ever an issue, we'll talk it out first, find out where the leak happened, and figure out the next steps without making a big legal spectacle out of it. It's meant to make things easier for both the company and the employee."

Alisia nodded slowly, her eyes trailing back down to the contract. The explanation sounded reasonable, but the words still lingered in her mind. 'Handle it internally'. It was vague enough to raise red flags, but she pushed the thought aside for now.

"I guess that makes sense," she said softly.

"There are similar clauses like this one," Ethan continued, flipping through the pages. "For example, we have Clause 10.2 on intellectual property. Any software or technology you develop while working for the company belongs to the company. It's standard for most IT firms. We can't have employees leaving and taking the company's innovations elsewhere."

Alisia glanced at the clause and nodded. That, she understood. It was common in the tech industry for the employer to own any work created under their employment.

"Then there's Clause 5.8—long-term project assignments," Ethan said, tapping the page. "There may be times when we'll need you to travel for business projects. It could be a few weeks, sometimes a few months. We'll always give you plenty of notice, and of course, all expenses are covered by the company, plus a stipend for being away from home."

Alisia raised an eyebrow. "A few months?"

Ethan shrugged. "It's not common for someone in an entry-level position, but as you gain experience and get more involved with our clients, it's possible. Some of our best projects are international, and the opportunity to work on them is valuable."

She leaned back in her chair, the weight of the decision sinking in deeper. Travel for long periods wasn't something she'd considered when thinking about her future career. Her father needed her close—she had her life here, responsibilities. But... this was an incredible opportunity.

"Is there anything else I should know about?" she asked, biting her lip.

"There's also Clause 12.1 on non-compete agreements," Ethan said. "It's just a standard clause. Once you start working with us, you can't take on similar projects for competitors while you're employed by us, or for a year after leaving. It's to protect company interests and ensure that no sensitive information gets passed to our competitors."

Alisia scanned the contract again, her mind racing. The clauses made sense, and none of them seemed too out of the ordinary for the tech industry. But that privacy clause still gnawed at the back of her mind. There was something about it that didn't sit right with her, even if Ethan's explanation had been reassuring.

"You don't have to sign today," Ethan added, noticing her hesitation. "I can give you more time if you need it."

Alisia took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the contract one last time. "No," she said finally. "I've thought about it enough."

Ethan's expression brightened, his eyes gleaming with approval. "Good. It's a great opportunity, Alisia. You're talented, and I can see you doing amazing things."

She picked up the pen, her hand hovering over the line where her signature was needed. Her mind flashed to her father, to their debt, to the strangers who had come to their home and the threats that had been made. She didn't have time to wait or second-guess herself.

"I'll sign," she said, her voice firm.

She scribbled her name on the line, feeling a mixture of relief and anxiety wash over her as she handed the contract back to Ethan.

Ethan smiled warmly as he took the contract, tucking it back into the sleek black folder. "Welcome aboard," he said, extending his hand.

Alisia shook it, her grip tight, though her mind was still swirling with uncertainty. She had made her decision, and there was no turning back now.

"Thanks," she said, managing a smile. "I guess this is it."

Ethan nodded. "This is the beginning, Alisia. You're going to do great things. I'll make sure the salary advance is processed immediately so you can have the money by the end of the week."

"Thank you," she said sincerely, the relief in her voice clear.

They wrapped up their meeting with pleasantries, and Alisia left the café feeling a mixture of emotions—relief, apprehension, and a faint sense of unease that she couldn't quite shake. The contract was solid, the terms were generous, and the opportunity was immense. But why did she feel like she had just stepped into something much bigger than she realized?

When Alisia arrived home, her father was sitting at the kitchen table, his eyes tired but more focused than they had been in weeks.

"How did it go?" Gram asked, his voice a little too casual, like he was trying not to worry.

Alisia shrugged off her coat and sat across from him. "I signed. It's a good contract. They're offering an advance payment so we can deal with... everything."

Her father's face relaxed, though there was still a hint of concern in his eyes. "Are you sure about this, Alisia? I don't want you getting caught up in anything just because of me."

She smiled softly, reaching out to squeeze his hand. "I'm sure, Dad. This will help us. We need the money, and I think... I think it'll be a good opportunity for me too."

Gram nodded, though he didn't look entirely convinced. "I've been thinking," he began, his voice hesitant. "I'm going to reach out to some old friends, see if they can help. Maybe there's something we can do to make things easier, take some of the burden off you."

Alisia blinked in surprise. "Dad, that's... that's great. I didn't think you'd—"

"I've been stuck for too long," he admitted, rubbing a hand over his tired face. "But I need to fix this. For you."

Alisia felt a lump form in her throat. "We'll fix it together," she said softly.

After a few more moments of silence, she excused herself to her room. Once she was there, she let out a long sigh, leaning against her bedroom door. The weight of the day settled heavily on her shoulders.

Grabbing her phone, she typed a quick message to Ethan:

Alisia: Hey, thanks for everything today. I just wanted to ask, is it possible to get the advance a little earlier than the end of the week? We really need the money as soon as possible.

She stared at the message for a few seconds, her finger hovering over the send button. She felt a twinge of guilt for asking, but she had no other choice. They needed the money now.

Finally, she pressed send.

A few minutes later, her phone buzzed with a reply.

Ethan: I understand the situation. I'll see what I can do. If everything goes smoothly, you should have the money by mid-week. Don't worry, Alisia—I've got your back.

Alisia exhaled slowly, a small smile tugging at her lips. She still wasn't sure how everything would unfold, but for the first time in weeks, there was a glimmer of hope.

But as she lay back on her bed, her phone still in her hand, that nagging feeling of unease lingered in the back of her mind. Something about the day didn't feel right.