Tara's Catering Service

A Business Proposal

Meet Tara Alexander, thirty-something, slender, beautiful and very successful, well that was until the economy hit rock bottom. Before Tara lost her job, she worked for a very successful construction company as a manager for over ten years. During that time, she was able to purchase her own home and maintained a very healthy bank account.

Then, the housing market hit a slump, and everything went to hell from that point and fast. The company she had worked for so long filed for bankruptcy and everyone including herself, was laid off.

In the beginning, she thought, with her work experience finding another job was going to be a snap. Why not, she has an MBA in Business, over ten years of experience working in the field, hell she was sure that within a month she would be back at work. Six months later, she was still unemployed, and her once healthy bank account now nearing the red. Now, She was becoming more desperate with each passing day.

Tara was no longer searching for a job in the construction field but rather anything that had a steady paycheck attached to it. She was willing to take whatever to make ends meet and to get her bills up to date. Day after day Tara watched the bills pile up, one on top of the other and no job. Only a polite “no” at every turn, one interview after the other, ending with no callback, and no work. She became more desperate with each passing day, and every time the mailman dropped off the mail, it was only to find another envelope with the word ‘final’ stamped in red on the front of it.

Another week, another job interview over, and another “thank you, Ms. Taylor, we will be in touch,” which meant, sorry we are not hiring at this time, or I don’t fit the job

description Tara thought walking out of her latest job interview. What she needed at the moment was a stiff drink and the only place to find it was at Ryan Bar and Grill. The bastard was the only one she knew was open 24/7, and it was on the way to her house. But the last place she wanted to be at the moment.

At ten in the morning, she had her choice of parking spots. Tara chose one next to the entrance; if she got wasted, she wouldn't have far to go to find her car. As Tara walked towards the bar, she saw the sign plastered to the door: Experienced Waitress Needed ASAP. She later learned that a regular waitress had quit that day and they were in desperate need of a replacement, especially since it was the weekend, the club busiest nights. The announcement called for an experienced waitress as a requirement. Great, thought Tara she lacked the experience part but then again how hard can it be to write down orders and carry a tray. It cannot be hard at all, she thought as she made her way into the Bar determine to lie if need be into a job. Unfortunately, she wasn’t the only one who had seen the note that day. There was a line of women waiting to interview for the position. Two hours later and still no work, she sat at the bar and ordered a drink.

“Rough day eh,” remarked Ryan placed the drink in front of her.

Tara smiled as she reached for her glass. “What gives you that idea?” she asked taking a sip from the glass

“It’s not even noon, and you are on your second drink.”

“Is it, I wasn’t counting. However, if you must know, it’s been a f****d-up year.” She said dryly.

“Want to talk about it?” Ryan asked, running a dry towel over the countertop.

The last thing she wanted to do was talk about it. What did that do? Nothing but remind her of her current situation: broke, hopeless, and jobless. “No, thank you, just keep the drinks coming,” Tara replied politely.

“I’m a good listener,” commented Ryan with a smirk.  

“Part of the job, eh, still thanks but no thanks.”

“Maybe later,” he said and left to tend to another customer.

Tara watched him walked away, feeling no better than she did the moment she had sat down at the bar and ordered her first drink. There was nothing wrong with Ryan. He was tall, well built, in his late thirties, single and always after his next conquest. When they first met, Tara even thought about f*****g him. Of course, that was before she witnessed the line of women he went through. A different one each night would not be an exaggeration. Yet, between Ryan's looks and his fifteen minutes of fame, it makes sense.  Prior to being Ryan the bartending bar owner,  he had spent a short time in the NFL, until an injury sidelined his football career before it had a chance to begin. Luckily for him,  he'd earned enough money during that short time to buy the bar.

“Can we talk?” he asked placing yet another drink in front her

“Didn’t we already have this conversation?”

Ryan leaned close to her and said, ‘This one is new, outside in private.”

“Sorry about the job,” he told her once they were outside beyond the sound of the continuous music and ears of other customers.

“Yeah, well me too” replied Tara feeling the effects of the few drinks she had earlier “How long have you been looking?” Ryan asked lighting a cigarette.

“A few months now, I have never seen things this bad”

“I hear ya.”

"So what do you want to talk to me about?” Tara asked, wanting nothing more than to get back inside to her mission: get drunk, pass out, and forget about things for a few hours. He looked at her hard for a few seconds, as if wondering what to say or maybe how to say it. 

 “Ryan, I don’t have all day! What do you want to talk to me about?” Tara snapped, pulling him out of his deep thoughts and back to the present.

“Sorry,” Ryan apologized, he had to be careful not to run her off before he had a chance to tell her what was on his mind with her looks and body, the prospect looked very profitable.

“Fine, what do you want?” Tara asked her annoyance building.

“How are you for money?” Ryan asked point-blank. With the question, a thousand red flags went off in Tara's head.  The idea of a man asking a woman about money never turned out to be good. 

“If you are looking to borrow, this bank has filed for a bailout and got denied” Tara laughed.

“I thought so when you came in looking to apply for the waitress job.”

“Really!” She said sarcastically. Of course, Ryan knew she was at the end of her rope, everyone was these days. She used to be a regular at the club, drinking the best, price didn’t matter. Now, she couldn’t even afford to pay for parking, and that was free. “What are you getting at Ryan?”

“First, promise me that no matter your decision, this conversation will stay between us.”

Secrets, Tara thought, great just what she didn’t need, then again maybe she could blackmail him later if she got desperate enough, “Fine, whatever.”

“How would you like to make some easy cash?”

"So that was it?" thought Tara.  Ryan was looking for a quick f**k. “Easy money?” she asked pretending not to know what he was talking about.

"I have a few friends, in and out of the game, who are always looking a little distraction off the field and on the side,” apprising her from head to toe. “You’re beautiful, smart and any man would be willing to... you get the picture.”

“I’m not that desperate.” She lied, “besides, I don’t think I’m what they are looking for?”

“You are perfect.  You’re a professional, you have your place, you live alone, and if you haven’t noticed as I mentioned before you are very beautiful.”

“Tempting but I don’t think so” Tara interrupted. 

“You need the money, and these guys have it to spare; all they ask for is someone who knows what they are doing and how to keep their mouth shut.”

“And what makes you think I can or will do it?”

“You will,” he replied, sounding so sure of himself. "Think about it.”

He took a card out of his pocket and held it out for her, “if you change your mind, give me a call.”

“No” moving her head from side to side refusing to take the card in front of her

“Just take the card,” he insisted. “Its good and easy money. It doesn’t have to be a permanent career change.  Just think of it as something to you get you back on your feet.”

“I will find a job soon enough, don’t worry about me.”

"Really? How long have you been looking, a few weeks or are we talking about months? How much longer before you’re completely broke? Think about it, Tara. this is easy money. All you have to do is be discrete.” He finished, hoping he had convinced her, or at least it sparked her interest.

“Easy money, yes,” she agreed, “but what about the other factors.”

“What  other factors?” He asked.

“The one you so kindly forgot to mention. You know like getting the s**t beaten out of me or getting busted and landing in behind bars. Have you thought about those?”

“Yes, I have. You won’t have to worry about any of that, it’s all been taken care of. These guys are not your routine clients. Besides, you won’t be my first girl, and I’ll take care of everything.”

Damn Ryan, she thought, the offer actually sounded appealing. He knew she was at the end of her rope and desperate enough to try anything -a waitress was one thing- but what Ryan was suggesting a different matter entirely. Tara tried to take it all in as she stared at the card in her hand. He offered her was a job. It was the only job offer she has had in months, not exactly what she was looking for but it was something that paid, and according to Ryan, it paid good money. All the job required was for her to open her legs, smile, and pretend she was having fun. How hard could that be? Tara thought, physically not hard at all. But emotionally, well, that was another matter.

On the other hand, Tara knew, if she got busted at least, she would have a place to stay and food to eat because at the pace things were headed she was going be homeless within a couple of months.

“What is in it for you?”

“Think about it first, if the answer is yes, we can talk about it.”

“Fine, but I’m only thinking about it,” she said firmly making sure he understood that she wasn’t accepting his offer, just going to think about it. She took the card; intending to toss it in the nearest garbage can as soon as she was alone. The notion of f*****g some strange man for money just wasn’t her. True, she wasn’t a saint, she had screwed her share of men, willingly of course, and enjoyed it.  But, what Ryan was offering her was something else, not to mention illegal, and it simply wasn’t her. Then again, neither was living on the street or begging for lodging on some friend couch. For a few days, Tara thought about nothing but Ryan’s proposal nonstop. During that time the bills kept piling up, the phone kept ringing as the bill collectors-unsuccessfully- tried to reach her. Tara was about to lose everything her house, her car, and her mind. In the end, her decision wasn’t that difficult, compared to the reality she currently was living. A week later, she had her first client.