3: 3
My legs buckled and I dropped straight to my knees.
The doctor sent another photo of my mother, her face flushed purple, her breathing about to stop at any moment.
"We've already put her on full ventilation, but if we don't receive the deposit within half an hour, we'll have no choice but to abandon the surgery."
The world went black in front of me, and the phone slid limply from my hand.
I scrambled forward and grabbed the leg of Mr. Fox's slacks, crushing what was left of my dignity, my voice raw.
"Mr. Fox, please, have mercy. Just transfer me the fifty thousand in wages first, my mom can't hold on much longer. If it saves her life, I'll do anything you want!"
He glanced down at me, a smile curving across that cold face, his voice softening.
"I'm not without a heart. For your ten years of service to this company, I'll lend you fifty thousand out of my own pocket to save your mother."
Light flared in my eyes. I lurched forward, bowing my head to the floor over and over in thanks.
"Thank you, Mr. Fox, I'll pay you back as fast as I can! I'll remember this kindness for the rest of my life!"
Beside him, Gail froze, her face all confusion, and rushed to cut in.
"Mr. Fox, she just tore up the whole finance department and shoved past me! And you're paying out of your own pocket to help her?"
But Mr. Fox raised a hand to stop her, his gaze settling back on me, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"I can lend you the money. But I have one condition."
My head snapped up, unease rising in my chest.
He pulled out a lifetime contract and tossed it in front of me.
"Sign this lifetime labor contract, voluntarily give up your benefits and retirement, three hundred a month in fixed pay, term of service thirty years!"
"It's all written out clearly on there. Read it."
I froze.
Three hundred a month, thirty years, no benefits.
For fifty thousand, he wanted to buy out the next thirty years of my life. Worse than working off the books.
Beside him, Gail let out a snicker, deliberately raising her voice to mock me.
"Joyce, this is a lifeline Mr. Fox is throwing you. Hurry up and sign it, take the money, save your mom. Better than standing here watching her go!"
"Tsk, tsk. Three hundred. That's not even loose change compared to my salary."
Raw humiliation and fury flooded my head. I clenched my fists and screamed, my eyes red.
"You... you're using my situation to force a slave contract on me! You think I won't call the police and have you all hauled off right now?!"
"Call the police?" The warmth drained from Mr. Fox's face, leaving only something cold and grim. He glanced at the phone in my hand.
"You call the police now, and between the response, getting them to the scene, and finishing the statement, that's at least three hours round trip! And the hospital's only given your mother about ten more minutes, right? By the time the police are done, your mother will be long gone!"
