"Come look, Max. This is simply a miracle!"
Witnessing Chris clear the accounts in such a short time, Caroline excitedly called her friend over.
In just ten minutes, Chris not only prepared the account statements but also calculated the coffee shop's total profit for three months.
"Oh my goodness, we actually earned over ten thousand dollars!!!" Caroline picked up the organized statement and beamed with joy.
Over ten thousand dollars wasn't much to the old Caroline.
But now, having earned this money through her own labor, she felt a special sense of satisfaction.
"Um, the ledger you recorded isn't actually complete. Expenses like rent and utility bills haven't been added yet…" Chris, who had just organized the accounts, quietly reminded Caroline.
In a prime location like the Fifth Avenue commercial district, earning just over ten thousand dollars in three months wouldn't even cover the rent under normal circumstances.
Not to mention the labor costs.
So, in Chris's opinion, Caroline and Max were not really suited for business.
Of course, Chris didn't know that this small coffee shop would have originally lost even more money. It only started truly making money and slightly filling some of the previous gaps after Max joined a month ago.
If it were just Caroline, it would simply be an act of "charity."
"I don't care, I made money anyway." However, Caroline, still immersed in the joy of earning money, refused to communicate with anyone at the moment.
On the other side, Max was very aware of the small coffee shop's current situation, but she couldn't think of a way to make the shop more profitable for the time being.
"I see you're good with numbers. Why haven't you found a regular job? Like an accountant or a cashier?" Max couldn't help but ask with concern as she handed the bag of organized desserts to Chris.
Chris's current state clearly indicated he was unemployed.
"You know the current economic situation. Even people with accounting certificates can't necessarily find jobs, let alone an uncertified self-taught person like me. As for cashiers, they prefer to hire young, pretty girls…" Chris shook his head with a bitter smile.
With a child, he truly had no competitiveness in the current economic downturn.
"What a f***ed up world!!!" Max cursed with a sigh.
"The world has always been like this, but we shouldn't give up hope for life, should we?" Chris said optimistically, "I recently submitted my resume to King Investment Group, applying for a sales position that doesn't require a degree. Maybe next time we meet, I'll already be an employee of King Investment Group."
This economic depression did not affect King Investment Group's development; in fact, it has been developing even better.
Therefore, they could offer many job positions.
Furthermore, King Investment Group's introduction of inexpensive burgers and donuts, among other things, made even unemployed people like Chris feel a sense of goodwill towards King Investment Group.
"Then I wish you good luck." Seeing Chris's positive attitude towards life, Max kindly offered her blessings.
"And I wish you a pleasant life!" Chris packed up the food bag and the medical equipment, bowed slightly, and then led his son out.
Just then, the coffee shop's glass door was pushed open from the outside, and three figures walked in, braving the snowflakes.
"It's quite cozy." Mike shook off the snowflakes from his body, then looked around Caroline's small shop.
The space wasn't large, but it gave a feeling of home.
"Mike, why are you here in the snow?" Caroline spotted Mike at a glance.
Although the girl spoke in a question, she had already happily rushed towards Mike.
Caroline really loved this kind of unexpected little surprise, which felt a bit fresh and new.
"Just shopping, thought I'd drop by." Mike smiled and hugged the girl, his tone a bit perfunctory.
But Caroline didn't mind. She happily led Mike into the shop and said, "Why didn't you tell me you were coming in advance? I could have planned how to entertain you."
Although this shop was small, it was Caroline's first legitimate business venture.
At this moment, she had the air of a child showing off candy to an adult.
"It's not too late now. Bring out your best coffee and desserts. I'll help you taste them…" Mike sat down and unceremoniously ordered Caroline around.
"Yes! I'm sure you'll be satisfied." Caroline played along with the response, then waved to her still-dazed friend, "Max, you show off your skills too."
Mike's face often appeared on the front pages of major newspapers, so even someone like Max, who didn't follow the news, knew he was the boss of King Investment Group.
Young… handsome… rich…
These were Mike's labels.
However, this perfect person, like a prince from a fairy tale, now seemed very close to her little sister.
Max had guessed that Caroline's identity was that of a rich young lady, but now it seemed her background was even stronger than she had imagined.
"Why didn't you tell me your boyfriend is the boss of King Investment Group?" Max, who had been pulled behind the counter, was still in shock, then said, expressing her disappointment, "If I were you, why would I open a coffee shop? With such an excellent boyfriend, I'd definitely wash myself clean every day and present myself to him."
Working hard for three months to earn ten thousand dollars probably wasn't even enough for a tip from a rich person like Mike.
Of course, this comparison was a bit exaggerated, but that was the meaning.
"I'll tell you a secret, Mike is very promiscuous. If you like him, you can wash yourself clean and present yourself to him right now…" Caroline teased mischievously.
This showed that her relationship with Max was really good.
"Forget it, I know my place. And don't think I haven't heard about Kings Dance Troupe. That's over a hundred young and beautiful women, I can't compete with them." Max had a good figure and a decent face, but she was a bit older.
Overall, her advantages were not very obvious.
Moreover, Max was more free and wild in terms of personality. She looked at her teasing friend and retorted, "Besides, you and I are not in the same league. When I become rich someday, I might consider keeping a gigolo like your boyfriend."
Caroline: "Oh, you're indeed coveting Mike's good looks!!!"
…
Girls' whispered conversations are often very bold, and the better the relationship, the dirtier the content.
Although Caroline and Max spoke in very low voices, to Mike's hearing, it was no different from them speaking right into his ear.
However, as their conversation became dirtier, Mike consciously filtered out this noise pollution.
Then, he boredly picked up the statement on the table and looked at it.
At the coffee shop entrance, Chris, who had originally intended to leave, stood rooted to the spot as if frozen after recognizing Mike's identity.
He neither dared to approach rashly and disturb them, nor could he bear to leave.
Seeing Mike pick up the statement on the table at that moment, his heart pounded more violently than ever before.
Although Chris himself didn't know why, there was an unrealistic expectation deep down.
Like waiting for that ray of light in the darkness—
Unfortunately, Mike quickly put the bill back on the table, then merely glanced casually towards the door.
Nothing happened throughout the entire process.