Second Offer - Better Terms

"What happened to your hand?" Jasmine asked, her pout returning as she squatted down to help Daisy gather the scattered makeup she had thrown moments ago.

"I fell down the stairs," Daisy muttered, voice barely above a whisper. Her energy was gone, drained completely. At that moment, she didn't want a lecture or even sympathy. She just wanted everything to stop.

"Stairs?" Jasmine paused, glancing up. "From the new job you told me about yesterday?"

Daisy nodded slowly, followed by a tired hum.

"Is it... some kind of dangerous job? Why would you get hurt on your first day?" There was something like worry flickering in Jasmine's eyes.

For a split second, Daisy felt her heart squeeze, like maybe, just maybe, her mother was genuinely concerned about her. 

"I was careless," Daisy replied, quietly.

"So, did you lose the job?" Jasmine asked, frowning. "What's going to happen now? You probably can't work for a few weeks, right? If your finger's that bad, we're going to be in trouble."

And there it was. The part that always came and the illusion crumbled just as quickly.

Daisy didn't answer. Her eyes dropped to the compact powder case she was holding. She turned it slowly in her hand as her throat tightened.

So that was it. Not concerned. Not guilt. Just fear that her paycheck might not come in.

It was not even five minutes ago, after Daisy had screamed out all the pain she'd bottled for months, her mother had offered a meek apology. Daisy hadn't acknowledged it then. She thought maybe they were both too raw, too emotional to talk through it.

But now, that apology felt hollow. Worthless.

Her mother hadn't changed. Probably never would.

After all, she had spent fifty years living like a princess, sheltered, spoiled, untouched by real hardship. Why would she change now?

Daisy drew a slow breath and placed the last of the scattered items on the vanity table. She stood up, carefully cradling her hand.

"I'll figure something out," she said quietly. "Like you said, I always do."

Jasmine opened her mouth, but Daisy didn't stay long enough to hear what would come out. She turned and walked out of the room, leaving behind the scent of perfume, the glint of high-end lipstick tubes, and a woman who still didn't know how to live without someone saving her.

====

Daisy scoffed, staring at the ceiling. "Figure something out?" she muttered bitterly. The words felt like a joke now, something she kept repeating out of habit, not hope.

She scoffed again, turning on her side, her eyes falling on the phone lying next to her pillow.

It had been a week since that day. Since the stairs. Since the contract. Since her finger broke.

The swelling had gone down but the pain lingered, just enough to remind her with every small movement that she was stuck.

She'd spent the last seven days trying to find something she could do from home. She had searched every job site, posted inquiries in online forums, even entertained freelance apps. But all she kept finding were pyramid schemes disguised as "business opportunities," or online surveys that promised quick cash and delivered nothing but spam.

She'd been careful. She knew better than to fall for flashy titles like Earn 1,000 a Week From Your Phone! or Work From Home With No Experience Needed! But the deeper she dug, the more hopeless it felt. Every time she thought she might have found something legitimate, it ended with a red flag or worse, a registration fee.

Multi-level marketing. Scam after scam.

False hope wrapped in pretty fonts.

Her thumb hovered over the screen now, debating.

Maybe she could call Aurora.

Ask if she'd heard about any jobs, anything that didn't require two working hands or a fake smile.

But the thought made her stomach twist. Aurora had already helped her so much. Picking her up that day, driving her to the hospital, even lending her a bit of cash when Daisy insisted she'd pay it back by the end of the month.

How many times could she keep asking without becoming… a burden?

Still, she tapped open her contact list. Her thumb stopped over Aurora's name, lingered there before she flinched out of surprise when Aurora's number appeared on the screen.

"Hello?" Daisy picked up the call immediately, her voice sounded cheerful.

But in the other line, Aurora seemed hesitating before replying, "What are you doing?"

"Me? Lying down on my bed," Daisy said, trying to keep her voice light. "Thinking about how to become a millionaire without lifting a finger… literally."

Aurora let out a soft chuckle, but it faded quickly. "Right… I figured you'd be resting. How's the finger?"

"Still attached. So, you know, the usual," Daisy replied, eyeing the dull beige ceiling of her room. "Why? What's up?"

There was a pause. A long one. Enough to make Daisy sit up a little straighter.

"Aurora?"

"You know, Daisy… about my boss's offer the other day," Aurora finally said, her tone careful. "He still wants to offer you the deal."

Daisy instantly sat up, wincing as her finger throbbed at the sudden movement. "Why?!" Her voice shot through the line, too sharp.

"Ah, you're hurting my ear," Aurora groaned. "Calm down."

"No, seriously—why? After I quit before even starting?"

"I don't know," Aurora replied. "I didn't ask. He just told me to pass you the message. Said if you're interested, you can come in again. Same job, but he changed the payment terms."

Daisy frowned. "Changed how?"

"He said he'd pay you half on your first day, and the other half after the contract ends."

Daisy blinked. "Wait… he's offering to pay me upfront?"

"Well, half of it. I guess he wants to make sure you don't run off again," Aurora said with a light chuckle.

Daisy didn't laugh. Her mind was already racing.

Half on the first day.

That meant groceries. Electricity. Maybe even paying off some of the smaller debts that had piled up over the last few months. They could breathe, at least for a while.

"You don't have to decide right now," Aurora said, sensing the silence on the line. "Just let me know. I'll tell him."

"Aurora…"

"Hmm?"

"Seriously, what is my job's scope? You told me the other day, I am supposed to do work like a maid right? But he already has a long line of maids. And the contract the other day, I left it there, so I didn't really read it." She paused, taking a deep breath, "Wait, Aurora…can I ask him to meet before I decide to accept the job or not?"

Aurora when silence on the other line, "You mean you want to meet him?"

"Yes, would it be hard?" She asked, a little hesitant this time.

"Hmm…I will try asking on your behalf." Aurora's voice was a bit low, like she herself has a lot on her mind.

"Aurora… are you okay?"

There was a pause.

Then came Aurora's voice, slightly too bright, too fast. "Me? Yeah, totally fine! Just the usual chaos at work."

Daisy frowned. "You sound kind of… off."

Aurora laughed, but it came out thin. "Probably just tired. I've been in back-to-back meetings since this morning."

What Daisy didn't know, Aurora wasn't alone.

Just a few feet away, Theo stood, arms crossed, eyes cold, watching her. He hadn't said a word during the call. He didn't need to. The weight of his presence was more than enough.

"I'll ask him," Aurora said quickly. "About the meeting. I don't know if he'll say yes, but I'll try."

"You think it's weird that I'm asking?"

"No," she replied. "Actually, it makes sense. It's smart of you to want to talk first."

"Thanks, Aurora."

Aurora swallowed hard, her gaze flicking up to Theo's unreadable face. "I'll let you know soon."

When the call ended, she slowly lowered her phone. The silence in the room was immediate and heavy.

Theo raised a brow.

Aurora cleared her throat, trying to steady her voice. "She wants to meet before deciding. Face-to-face."

He didn't move for a moment. Then, with a faint tilt of his head, he simply said, "Set it up."