Page 44 of Hidden Desire

“I’ll help you tonight,” Sage replied.

Stassi could understand frustrations and being overwhelmed. “It’s alright. If there’s anything I can do to assist, I’ll be happy to.” Outside of signing it, because I’m just not ready. She sipped on her milk, hoping no one would bring that to everyone’s attention.

“Thanks. I have to get back to work.” Both Marcus and Lena stood up and said their goodbyes, then hurried away from the table. Stassi glanced back at Sage.

“I apologize for Lena.”

Sage shrugged. “No need to. After all, Ariel wasn’t exactly warm and friendly with you. Guess it’s my turn.”

Sage shrugged. “Still…”

They sat there in silence, Stassi picking at her sandwich. “Remember how you said that we should get together and have a date? Well, Saturday didn’t exactly go as either of us planned, so I think it’d be nice to do that. It’s been years since I roller skated last, but I think I could remember how and would love to teach you.”

Sage smiled. “Well, I’d like that, as well. But I think maybe we should wait until things calm down with the union. I should put some focus on that.”

Stassi understood. She wasn’t pleased, but it had to be done. She would accept it, even when she felt like once again their relationship was set to the side.

Stassi got into her apartment and reached for her cell phone. On the drive home, she contemplated what she could do to assist with the union. The one thing she came back to was talking to her dad and getting him to straighten things out. He was the owner and had to know something was going on. Yet, with him not answering her calls, it was hard to get a message through to him.

She pulled up his number and tried. This time, though, he answered right away.

“Hey, honey. What’s up?”

It was so nonchalant, yet she couldn’t believe he had actually picked up the phone, that it took her a moment to get her words together. “Wow. I’m stunned you actually answered.”

“Well, I’m a busy man.” He chuckled, lightheartedly. “But can I do something for you. How’s work?”

“Can you do something for me? Dad, I’ve been trying to reach you, but when we finally started talking, you stopped texting. So, yeah, there’s something you can do for me. You can start by giving me answers, and I swear you better have some good ones.” She took a breath, but he didn’t interrupt, so she carried on. “What’s going on with the hospital? The machines are falling apart. There’s one coffee maker which makes lousy coffee. The staff are overworked and underpaid. And they’re talking about cutting bonuses and 401K benefits.” She hesitated. “But you know all that, right? You have an explanation that I’m just missing. I’m sure of it because no one is getting paid overtime, and people are getting burned out.” A pause, and still no response. “Just tell me that you didn’t realize they were handling the money and budget poorly.”

“Stassi,” he started.

“Dad, I’m running out of patience. Just tell me that you had no idea any of this was happening, and you’ll go down tomorrow and straighten it out. I have friends that this is really affecting. Not to mention me, I’m exhausted and getting paid pennies to work double shifts.”

“Stassi,” he started again.

Stassi heaved a sigh. She did not like where this was going. She felt tears stinging the backs of her eyes, and she willed them to dry.

“If you had continued your education, you would realize that business requires sacrifices.”

“Sacrifices? You can’t be serious right now. Who needs to make these sacrifices? The hospital? The employees? Dad, people’s lives are at stake here. You knew all this?”

“Again, it’s all about what ultimately serves its purpose, and without sacrifices, no one would benefit.”

Stassi shook her head. Right before her eyes, her dad’s strong business sense was being washed down the drain. She idolized him as a child, but he was a businessman first and said screw the little people. It was wrong, and she couldn’t just stand and watch it happen.

“I worked nearly a hundred hours in two weeks, and the amount I got paid was next to nothing. So, I’m just supposed to accept that?”

“I’m sorry that you got caught in the crossfire, but it wouldn’t be fair if I changed things for my daughter.”

Stassi groaned. “I’m not asking you to change it because of me. I’m asking you to change things because of everyone at the hospital that deserves better. People are sick and don’t have the benefits. Single parents are being forced to get two jobs. There’s so much more than just me not getting paid fairly for what I work. This isn’t about me.”

He huffed. “Well, I don’t know what it’s about, because my daughter would have once understood that you have to do what you have to do. You have to take the good with the bad.”

“And there are a million other clichés out there. I get that, but nothing is going to stop the employees from trying to get their voices heard.”

He laughed. “Good luck with that because there are a ton of other people out there who would love to be employed. People are replaceable, friends or otherwise.”

Stassi sunk down on the couch. It was so cold and heartless. If she ever had that kind of mentality, she would hope that someone would come forward and tell her to snap out of it.

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