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I opened the envelope and peeked inside. My breath hitched, and I stared up at Coleman. “Is this a joke?” I’d expected it to be a check, but the number of zeros took me a while to process. It was enough to take a huge chunk out of buying a decent place to live comfortably. “There’s no way I can accept this. It’s too much. I was just doing my job.”
“No, that wasn’t your job you were doing, Griff. Besides, the amount we’re gifting you is nothing compared to the losses we would have incurred from a lawsuit if you hadn’t stepped in. It’s the least we can do.”
“And I get to keep this, even if I don’t accept the supervisor position?”
“Yes, but so you know, you can fill the supervisor role temporarily, but we’ll need you to complete at the minimum a certificate course for you to represent our company long term.”
“That sounds complicated.”
“I’m sure you can handle it. You’re smart and seem to know the skills already. You’ve been out of the game for a while, though, so we have to make sure you know how to stay compliant with procedures and regulations related to the field.”
“There was nothing else to do in prison but get jacked and read. I kept up to date.” Reading all the books and newspapers I could find was what had got me through the boring days while waiting for Scott’s next letter. I knew information I would never use.
“Then this should be a piece of cake for you. I don’t want to pressure you, so I’ll give you a few days to think about it. You can get back to me with your answer.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks for the opportunity.” I might have read anything I got my hands on in prison, but that differed from someone testing me about the content. I was never any good at school.
“No, you’re the one doing me a favor, Griff. I can sleep at night when I trust the people I’ve hired are doing their best. I have a feeling I’m not wrong about you.”
He went through the details of the course I would have to take at the community college. The company would pay for it, and they provided a one time bonus for successfully completing the course. He explained it was customary that they get their workers to upskill, and the bonus was an incentive.
As he talked, my mind wandered a little. Money was one of my biggest constraints, but this was a golden opportunity landing in my lap. I could take better care of Scottie, be the man he deserved.
Giggling pulled me out of my thoughts, but Coleman had stopped talking and stared at three young women walking to the bar.
“I take it this is the end of our meeting?” I chuckled.
“Huh?” Coleman turned around with a furrowed brow. “Sorry about that. My daughter’s with that group. The one with the wavy brown hair in the middle. She’s not old enough to be here.”
“Oh.” I glanced back at the young women already downing shots and laughing. His daughter was beautiful. “Do you want to go over?”
“No.” He flung back the rest of his scotch. “We’re not exactly on speaking terms.”
Just like Jay and me. I bit my tongue not to ask why he was estranged from his daughter. He seemed like a good man.
“This is what I meant by everyone deserving a second chance.” The sigh Coleman released was a heavy one. “Everyone makes mistakes, even if it’s not taking someone’s life. I fucked up big-time with my daughter when I got custody of her and remarried. Her mother was a manipulative and deeply disturbed woman, so I thought that her mother had put the things she told me about my ex-wife into her head. By the time I found out the truth, I’d already lost her. She won’t have anything to do with me.”
“That’s rough.”
“It is. I’ve tried so many times to apologize, but she won’t accept it. If she knew I was here right now, she would leave.” He opened his wallet and put some money on the table. “I should go. Why don’t you call me when you’ve decided?”
Coleman navigated around the tables farthest from his child. At the door, he paused and glanced back at his daughter. The pain etched across his face was so raw it reminded me of my own.
I shouldn’t interfere. I knew I shouldn’t. If I fucked this up, I could undo everything that had happened tonight, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself as I walked to the small group.
“Hey.” I lightly tapped the brunette on the shoulder.
She spun, her eyebrows furrowed and lips pursed. She took her time trailing my body with her gaze. A smile stretched her wide lips, and dimples appeared in her cheeks.
“Well, hello,” she said with a purr. “Yes, you can buy me a drink.”
Not what I’d meant to ask her, but I could take advantage of her opening. “Sure, but let’s talk over there where it’s more private. Yes?”
I was deceiving her, but I couldn’t exactly speak to her when her friends were watching us.
“Sure. Why not? I’m Beverly.”
“I’m Griff.”
