AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Though the prospect of coffee had me hurrying in for my shift.
When I walked into the Raven’s Nest my jaw dropped. Somehow in my stretch of days off Walter had decided to completely change up the store.
“It’s been fifteen years and he’s never changed anything,” one of our regulars, Dora, said with a wink and brushed past me.
The corner that used to be a little market of treats, specialty coffee, and random mugs was now repurposed into a secondary counter. It was half the size of the normal one and the shelves behind it were now empty.
As I stepped closer, the alcove had its own little work bench and there were boxes of empty jars and supplies stacked just out of sight.
Had they left it so I could be the one to make it my own?
When Serenity spotted me she let out a little squeal and disappeared behind the curtain, bringing him out with her. It was the first time I’d ever seen Walter smile this big.
“Why don’t you come back to my office? We have a few details to talk over before we move on,” he said ominously.
“Okay…” I questioned more than said as I followed behind him in stunned silence. I couldn’t wrap my head around it all. Walter had known me for a little over a month, this was a huge show of trust.
“You don’t have to look so terrified,” he joked, letting out a raspy laugh as he closed the door behind us. He gestured to the empty chair across from his desk and I sat down.
Walter’s office was cluttered but organized. He had stacks of papers and books on his desk but they were at least neatly stacked. His shelves were crammed with old binders, books, and random knickknacks. I had a feeling his late wife had a lot to do with this.
Walter dove right in, not bothering to be patient. “I went to that shop that you told me about. You weren’t kidding about all the supplies she had on hand. We had a good long talk and she had some great suppliers and information. I’ve got some notes on your work table out there if you’re interested.”
“Thanks, I am. Poppy’s great,” I said. “The shop is amazing.”
“Having a local supplier is even nicer,” he told me. “A great selling point. And her prices are very reasonable. From what she said, she needed an opportunity like this so you just might have saved that shop.”
“Wow,” was all I managed to get out. “I hadn’t realized she was struggling. She was so cheerful when I was there.”
“Not many people like to let the world know when they struggle,” Walter said.
“Alright, wise one,” I teased.
He gave me a look but then was back to business. “I came up with a tentative contract. Of course, things can be changed but I wanted you to take a look at the stipulations before we moved forward.”
“A contract?” I asked. “I’m not following.” He hadn’t had me sign anything when I started here. Walter pulled out a pair of reading glasses and slid them on his face before sliding over a stack of papers.
“After I put in all the work coming up with a business plan I realize that this is far more than just an employee should handle. The hours you work in the shop will be your normal pay and benefits, of course. But you’ll also get paid hourly for the time you work blending teas and whatever else it is you need to do. Then when they sell, including those we make for guests in store, you’ll get a percentage of.”
The contract was intense but I skimmed over it, stuttering when I got to the profit splitting.
“W-w-Walter this says fifty percent. That can’t be right.”
“It’s right,” he said with fire in his gaze. This alpha was ready to pick this as his hill to die on. “And the hourly rate will include the normal duties like closing and opening—the works. So, you can step over to the baristas if they need some help and you’ll be able to get this part off its feet once everything is said and done. When you get settled, you can also take over any contact with suppliers.”
“Of course,” I agreed easily. The benefits alone would be amazing to have. The extra income, though, meant I could figure out a place to move to, or at least contribute to one if this pack ever got off the ground.
Walter was still on task, not caring that my mind was going a million miles a minute trying to process this.
“We would need to discuss if you wanted to expand at any point since our logo will be all over your tea. In fact, the person that did my logo made a little adjustment for this. I’ve got a roll of stickers made already to go on top of the order bags and printed it on all the compostable tea bags we got in.”
He handed over a postcard sized paper that had the printed logo on it. The main store image had been adjusted to fit the new venture. Instead of the books it was a raven next to a teacup with some floral in the background. The name was also changed to Raven’s Nest Teas by Eleanor Winters.
He chuckled to himself when I gasped. “I used your full name. It seemed more regal for this purpose.”
“Walter,” I said quietly. “It’s too much. I didn’t expect this at all.”
“I know you didn’t but I’m not going to be around forever, Ellie. This place meant the world to my wife and because of that, to me. I’m not the one putting in the work here. Sure, I helped you get it off the ground but you’ll be doing the footwork.”
