Ella was going to reason out the lady as to why she was here when the lady spoke, "What would you like? Cakes, berries, or something strong like punch-milkshakes? It's my own new recipe, you know. I can get you anything for your tastes hon," the lady then winked after saying that. It was Ella's turn to blink then. She wondered whether the lady was alright in the upper level. Listening to this Ella thought to stop hanging her hands in the air anymore. She slowly brought her hands to her side, however the lady stood with the knife in her hand playing with it. Ella thought it better to be done with what she had come here for. She then replied, "I want a job."
"That's not available in the menu, last I checked."
"I can assure you I know that. But I am here looking for job."
"Are you perhaps lost honey? Because no one have come over asking such a dratted request since....my husband died I guess." The lady said thoughtfully.
Thinking that this was also going to be a goner and she won't be getting any job here, she was ready to take her leave when the lady spoke suddenly, "Oh! Start up already. There. You stand there and sell all the items. These are going to rot up if you don't sell it quickly."
Shocked Ella asked, "I have the job then?"
"Yup have it. I have got to take a nap now. Continue with the selling."
"Wait! What about our employment agreement?"
"What about it?"
"What is my salary? What is my field of work?" asked Ella as that was the main reason why she was here in the first place.
"Field? I don't have any field for you to play golf on." Ella didn't miss the obvious way her employer dodged the question about money to be paid to her.
She replied, "I mean what do you want me to do. I don't know how to bake. So, the only place I can be fruitful to you would be the accounts section, if you allow me to."
"Oh, you have the whole shop to work at. And any dawdling won't be tolerated. You youngsters have no shame in wasting your time so obviously. I used to work more than any of you all at your age. Though I can still work better than you even now," huffed the lady. This made Ella look at her bored knowing how to deal with such remarks.
"Yes, I can see that! You have customers lining up behind me just waiting up to have your delicious almost-rotting cakes," said Ella.
"Don't act smart here young lady. I know you won't be able to handle the business here like me. So, you should be thankful that I am considering to give you the employment."
This made Ella so on angry that she had to calm herself 'Breathe Ella, Breathe. You can't go to the prison now not when mom is waiting at home.'
Ella smiled sweetly at the lady and asked, "How much will be my salary miss?"
The lady gave her the stink eye and said, "I am Mrs. Helen Willow. You can call me Mrs. Willow. And there is no salary. You will be waged."
"What? What is that supposed to mean?" asked Ella exasperatedly.
"Don't you know what are wages? I thought you are the educated one!"
Ella calmed herself for not going to her employer's throat and demand whatever she wanted. Though the scene didn't look less appealing. She then said, "I know what are wages. But how much will be the wages that I am supposed to receive?"
"Oh, I don't know!" Ella couldn't believe the lady's state of knowing nothing and acting oblivious. Though she had to admit that the lady did a good job of making anyone mad. Her poor pitiful husband, thought Ella. The man would be grateful to be dead at last.
The lady then continued, "The more you sell the more you will be paid," saying it like a mantra.
Then it dawned on Ella as to what did she mean. She went on to confirm it, "So you are saying that I will be paid based on the sales I make?"
"If that's the language you understand. Yeah."
As Ella was thinking about it Mrs. Willow was rushing out to take her needy nap. Ella stopped her and asked, "So what will be my percentage of the sales?"
"This ain't a math class. What the bloody rubbish are you sprouting?"
Ella asked her again, "If I will sell an item here, I should be paid something out of it. How much will I be paid Mrs. Willow?"
"I don't know!" Ella felt absolutely frustrated. And there she thought that jobs are less difficult than business. She didn't understand how to deal with this stubborn woman. She started moving her hands to her hair and clutching it annoyingly. As Mrs. Willow watched her she went along to leave the girl to deal with her hair than loose her nap. Ella was looking around the shop and while looking at the item she thought of another approach. Just when her dear employer was going to open a door which she hadn't noticed until now as it was situated behind the wall which was visible to any one entering the shop, Ella yelled, "Wait!"
The lady huffed, "Can't I have one moment of peaceful sleep here? What has the world come to be?"
Ella ignored her statement and asked, "How much is that Chocolate Nut truffles for?" pointing at the item.
The lady then looked at her like as if she had asked the price of her kidney, "What, you're a customer now? Oh! You are a con!" she exclaimed at Ella accusingly.
Ella glared at the woman and then spoke, "No I'm not!" Ella doubted that this mad woman will understand any reason she explained. She went on to ask again sweetly this time, "How much would you like me to sell this Chocolate Nut truffles?"
"Sell it for ten bucks."
"And if it's sold for ten bucks how much will I be paid ma'am?" asked Ella sweetly.
"Four bucks. I ain't giving you any more than that young lady."
"Oh, that's fine I understood what you mean madam," said Ella. It meant her payment was 40% of the sales made. So much for knowing how much you are paid, thought Ella who was already exhausted dealing with her employer.
"I shall be joining from tomorrow Mrs. Willow. What time would you want me to be here?"
"Right now."
"That can't be possible now as you see your new employee is very exhausted and needs some energy to deal with any customers that you have. Otherwise it would be bad for business."
"What's wrong with now? You haven't even done anything today!"
"Oh, you mean me hunting for jobs since morning and then coming across this place to only be feared for getting murdered, also to make a lot of scenario to know what my sala- wages will be. Then I think I have done enough for today."
"Now listen you can't ju-"
"See you on the morrow old lady," bid Ella while exiting the shop but not before hearing her, "I am not old! Have you lost your sight? You might see a doc-"
There went her interview. If it was supposed to be this sarcastic, she wouldn't have taken those etiquette classes for how to behave in an interview.