78 Im going to play with a bandit and a third time. (2/2)

I looked in the direction of the voice and saw ...... a girl, maybe a grown woman, cleaning up.

Where am I?

Here?　This is Mr. Holland's house.

Mr. Holland: ...... Mr. Holland!

Yes?

Yes, that's right: ...... I headed to Mr. Holland's yesterday drunk. .......

I'm sorry.

What am I doing?

What do you do when you bother the person you're trying to get hired for: .......

'I'm fine. More importantly, are you feeling okay?

”Hello.......... Yes.

I look around my body in one fluid motion and reply .

'That's good to hear. I'll go tell Colt and the others. Then we'll have lunch.

'Oh, thank you. ......'

No, no. I'll come get you, and in the meantime, please take your time.

Okay, I understand.

I looked away at the girl as I sat on the bed.

'Colt, Mr. Colt ......?　Now, she said she was going to tell Mr. Colt. ......

Are you here by any chance?

Well, no way. .......

I don't care about that, but that girl was ...... kind and cute, and she was wearing a collar ...... and she's a slave here?

Slaves or ......

I'm sure you've had a hard life: .......

It's nothing compared to the hard times I ran away from.

I should have tried harder. .......

Why did I give up?

”Moran, are you awake?　I'm coming in.

Were you, were you, Mr. Chairman?

Hey, good to see you. How you been?

'Yeah, yeah, ......'

You really were here: .......

Have you lost some weight?

Well, that's good to hear.

Or, does the chairman work here?

Yeah. I'm here to change my mind and serve you.

'Oh, really? ......

If you ask me, ...... is not your usual chairman .

First of all, how funny is it that the chairman is worried about my body?

Is this a dream?

'Has Moran been able to find a new job?'

Yes, no: ......

Okay, ...... then, can I ask you one favor?

Do you want me to do something for you?

Yeah. I need your help with something. And I'll pay you well in the meantime.

So, what can you do for me?

I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree to it without asking you what it's about: .......

'Yes, ...... but first, let me apologize to you. I'm really sorry for all this.

What?　What happened to you all of a sudden?

Is this really a dream?

'I'm finally realizing that I've been stupid: ...... I'm just trying to apologize to the people I've bothered.

'Well, well, ...... what can I say, it looks like the chairman of ...... is back to his old chairman.

This is a dream.

I think I had a dream where I wanted to see my old chairman.

The old me?

Yes, it's like seeing the president of the Chamber of Commerce when it was younger. Hard working, always low profile.

Was I like that in the old days?

Yes, sir.

'Well, ...... I hope I'm a little closer to the man I was back then.

Oh no ...... tears .......

'If that's the way you feel, it's okay . ...... Okay . I'll do what the Chairman asks.

Wait a minute. Have I explained this to you yet?

I'm fine. How long do you think you've been by your side?

And it's all a dream anyway.

Yeah, well, ...... we've known each other for a long time, haven't we?

Yes. So what do you want me to do?

Yeah, so let me tell you about my plan.

Yes, nice to meet you.

'Moran, what did you think of my daughter who was here earlier?'

I got the impression earlier ...... that she was a sweet girl.

Yeah, that girl's name is Elsie. She's the daughter of my old favorite liquor store.

'I didn't know that. ......

The Chairman's favorite liquor store: .......

As I recall ...... is the store that the chairman of the board of directors had to shut down.

”So I'm thinking of having her take over the business association.

'I see. ......'

That's it?　Are you surprised or disgusted?

''Well, it's something I don't like to do, but I can't help it. Besides, I have a feeling she'll be fine.

'Really?　May I ask why?

When I talked to that girl just now, I felt that I should do my best too. I feel like I can do my best under her.

And he's cute.

”Okay, ...... so, I need to ask Moran for a favor: ......

Yes, can I help you?

Maybe ...... this is not a dream.

I'm starting to worry about what they're going to ask me to do: .......

It's not like I've ever acted or anything, right?

'Can you persuade each of your men who quit to come back?　And when you do, explain Elsie to me.

...... What's the deadline?

'Twenty more days if you can, but don't worry about the ...... deadline.

Hey, this is easier than I thought.

And I can kind of see that the chairman wasn't an act.

Okay. I'll convince you all in 20 days.

”Oh, oh, ......, you don't have to do that, okay?

You'll be fine.

I've done harder things in my life.

Then I kept trying to locate and convince former employees.

At first, I could only get by on one person a day at best.

It was hard to track him down.

It wasn't that hard to convince them to stay, either.

People were just like me, they quit, but they were in trouble for their jobs.

And when I told them there was going to be a change in the chairmanship, they were quick to respond.

As for Elsie, I told them she worked at Mrs. Holland's store, and they said she was fine.

And in the second half, with the help of an ex-employee who was able to talk me out of it, we were able to accomplish the Chairman's request before the deadline.

I went to the chairman, and he said.

Oh, really?　You've been getting some sleep?　I told you you didn't have to push yourself.

I was surprised and worried about it .

It's kind of ...... skinny again, and the chairman has really changed .......

In a good way, of course .