Janet Accepts

"Just my luck. I finally find the perfect guy, and he's a Boomer." Janet said her face turning into a frown.

"What's wrong?" Madeline asked.

"I can't just leave right now. I am under contract to work for Crimson Caravan. I can't just leave without forfeiting my pay."

"Can't you convince your boss? Or maybe just do without the caps?" Madeline asked perplexed. She hadn't considered this hurdle.

"Just skip out on Ms. McLafferty---Ms. ALICE McLafferty?" Janet said equally perplexed "You REALLY don't want to walk away from a contract with her. She is a big time hard ass."

"How much do you have left on you contract?"

"A thousand caps." Janet winced.

"Ouch." Madeline sighed. "I guess I can go talk to this Ms...Alice McLafferty. Maybe I can convince her."

"Good Luck." Janet said disheartened before showing Madeline where Ms. Alice McLafferty's office was. It was at the main Crimson Caravan Office and when Madeline poked her head inside all was quiet besides an older female with short cropped white hair behind a desk. She was wearing a black suit and tie. If the woman hadn't had feminine curves in her thin build she might have mistaken her for a man at first glance.

"Who are you?" the woman said sharply as she stood to her feet from behind her desk.

"Ms. McLafferty?" Madeline asked shyly.

"I am she. What is this about? Who are you?" she commanded more than asked.

"My name is Madeline Blackwater. One of your workers--Janet--she well..." Madeline considered for a moment under that hard look of McLafferty then continued "She would like to be free of her contract so she can be with her lover."

"Hah." McLafferty laughed "A lover? Bah. She is STILL under contract Ms. Blackwater and I am afraid this is Crimson Caravan and not some local mom and pop Brahmin hauling company."