Chapter 319 Expulsion
Charlotte's face wore a blank smile. Her once delicate features now seemed dull and unappealing, making it hard for anyone to feel any warmth towards her.
Bella sighed and shook her head, having already made up her mind. She turned to Anna and said, "Alright, here's the deal: put up a help-wanted sign. We need another busboy. It's too much for us to handle all the dishes and cups by ourselves. Also, find a moment to talk to Charlotte and settle her wages for these past few days."
Anna nodded. She knew Bella well and appreciated her efforts to keep the team running smoothly. But Charlotte's recent behavior had been disappointing. It was time to hire a new busboy.
"Got it, I'll handle it right away," Anna replied, and she started preparing the help-wanted sign and dealing with Charlotte's departure.
Bella reflected on her decision. She realized she needed to be more discerning when hiring staff. She couldn't afford to make poor choices from the start. Like Sterling, she needed to select capable and dedicated individuals to join the team. Only then could the café thrive, allowing each employee to contribute their best.
By noon, Anna had posted the help-wanted sign outside. Both Charlotte and Serafina noticed it. Serafina stayed quiet, but Charlotte remarked, "Business is really booming, huh? We're hiring again? I told you, it's too much for one person to handle all the services. We definitely need another person, and a busboy would make things easier for everyone."
Anna's frustration simmered beneath the surface. She shot Charlotte a cold glance and said, "Yeah, business is good, so we're hiring. But whether we hire someone or what job they do has nothing to do with you anymore. Just do your job, and I'll settle your wages later."
Charlotte's smile froze instantly. She seemed to realize something but didn't want to admit it. She pressed on, "What do you mean by that? I've been here a long time. You can't just let me go like that!"
Anna ignored her and went back to her tasks. When the café quieted down at noon, Anna found Charlotte and handed her a termination settlement form.
"Here's your pay for the past few days. If everything looks good, sign here, and you can leave," Anna said calmly and firmly, without a hint of hesitation or regret.
Charlotte looked at the form, panic rising within her. She knew her performance had been lacking, but she never expected to be fired. She tried to argue, but Anna had already made up her mind.
"No need to say more. My decision is final. You should leave and not come back," Anna said resolutely.
Meanwhile, Serafina watched the scene unfold silently. She felt a pang of regret for Charlotte's departure.
Serafina's eyes lingered on the help-wanted sign for the busboy position. The pay and benefits were comparable to those of other employees, sparking some thoughts in her mind. However, she hesitated, unsure how to express her interest to Anna.
As Serafina pondered, Anna turned to Charlotte with a hint of impatience in her voice, "Charlotte, I think you'd be better off in an office job. This place isn't the right fit for you. I'll settle your wages for these past few days."
Charlotte's face turned pale as she realized she was indeed being let go.
Her smile faded as she heard Anna's words. She couldn't believe it and retorted, "What do you mean? Are you saying I'm not doing a good job? This place is a dump, and I've been working from eight in the morning until after nine at night, running around nonstop. Even if I haven't done everything perfectly, I've worked hard. Why are you firing me?"
Anna took a deep breath, trying to stay calm as she explained, "Charlotte, calm down. While you've been busy, you haven't used your time effectively or met our service quality and efficiency standards. We need to hire a new busboy, someone more diligent and responsible for the job."
Charlotte's anger subsided slightly, but she was still resentful. "You can't just fire me out of the blue! I've finally gotten used to this job, and now you're telling me to leave. Where am I supposed to find a new job?"
Charlotte angrily removed the café's apron and threw it on the ground, her voice dripping with disdain and anger. "Fine, I'll leave. It's not like I want to stay here anyway! Give me my money, and I'm out of here!"
Anna watched Charlotte's outburst with a furrowed brow but remained calm and composed. She knew arguing would only make things worse. She took out the prepared termination settlement form and cash and handed them to Charlotte.
"I've had enough of this place! Don't think you'll have it easy without me. You'll regret this!" Charlotte spat.
To avoid a scene at the door that could affect the café's business, Anna quickly counted the money and handed it to Charlotte. "This is it. I've calculated everything based on your attendance and performance."
Charlotte looked at the cash, her brow furrowing. "This is it? You're shortchanging me!"
Anna was prepared. She pulled out the attendance record and showed it to Charlotte, pointing at the entries. "Look closely. I told you when you started that being late would result in deductions. You've been late every day, and not just by a minute or two. Plus, the snacks and coffee you've been taking weren't counted. Those are costs. If I calculated everything, you'd owe us money."
Charlotte was stunned. She hadn't expected Anna to have such detailed records. Though she felt wronged, she couldn't argue with the evidence of her tardiness.
"Fine, whatever!" Charlotte grabbed the money, still feeling resentful but unwilling to argue further. She turned to leave, muttering, "What a dump. Don't expect me to come back!"
Charlotte, still defiant, added, "There's always leftover food. You'd rather throw it away than let employees have it? What's the big deal if I had some? I didn't take that much. Why are you being so stingy?"
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