"Thank you, Claire."
Lex was deeply moved.
Claire hadn't looked down on her at all; instead, she had offered advice and
encouragement.
"If I actually manage to start a cleaning business someday, I promise you'll get a cut of the profits!"
Claire waved the offer away. "No thanks. I didn't earn it."
She genuinely wanted Lex to do well.
Lex didn't need handouts; she just wanted to earn her own way through hard work.
That was a great mindset to have infinitely better than those always looking for a shortcut.
"As long as you aren't being bullied, I'm relieved."
Claire thought that if Nanette found out, she would probably be just as worried about her.
Lex offered an honest smile. "The reason I didn't tell you guys was because I was afraid you'd look down on me."
"I'm sorry for making you worry."
Claire shook her head. "I understand."
What Lex didn't expect was that after word got around about her cleaning Zara's shoes, other people would actively seek out her services.
Claire hadn't even left yet when someone approached them.
"Hey, I heard you wash shoes for people?"
"I can pay you too. Could you do mine?"
Lex was taken aback that business was already walking right up to her door.
"I..." She hesitated. Helping Zara was one thing since they were roommates.
But doing it for a total stranger? Would that be okay?
Lex had a mind of her own, but she still lacked a bit of confidence.
She instinctively looked to Claire for guidance.
Claire stepped in. "Sure. It's twenty dollars a pair, and you need to pay half upfront as a deposit."
"Twenty? That's so expensive!" The girl had assumed it would be ten bucks at most.
"Professional hand-washing outside costs at least thirty dollars, and paying up to fifty isn't unheard of."
"Besides, there are no dry cleaners
е.
or shoe-shining services here. Everyone is exhausted after a full day of traming, and she's sacrificing her rest to wash your shoes. Charging a small premium for her hard work is perfectly reasonable."
"If you don't like the price, you can wash them yourself. Business is all about mutual agreement."
"She does an incredible job, too. Just look at these." Claire pointed to Zara's freshly cleaned sneakers.
The girl glanced down and saw that the shoes were indeed spotless.
"If I give you three pairs, can you offer a discount?"
The girl figured she would inevitably need to swap out her footwear later, and since
she was prone to sweaty feet, she might as well hand them all over to Lex.
"I'll just give you the other pairs as I change out of them. Does that work?"
Claire shot Lex a look. "I'm worried she'll be too exhausted if she takes on too many."
She was silently encouraging her friend to speak up.
Catching the hint, Lex finally said, "Fifty-five for three pairs. If that works for you, I'll do it."
Since it was five bucks off and she
wasn't exactly strapped for cash the girl hesitated for only a second
before agreeing "Alright, but you have to make sure they're
completely clean."
"No problem!" Lex promised confidently. "As long as it isn't a permanent stain."
"My shoes aren't cheap. Don't ruin them, or you'll have to pay for the damages," the girl demanded again.
Claire pointed at Zara's sneakers. "Are they more expensive than these?"
The girl was left speechless. Of course they weren't—Zara's shoes cost at least eight thousand dollars, while hers were only a couple of thousand.
"Well, no."
"If she can handle this pair perfectly, yours will be fine."
"Excluding existing damage and normal wear and tear, of course."
Lex added "Make sure to inspect
your shoes before handing themet
over and check them again when return them. I'll also record acvideo of their condition just to be safe."
A two-thousand-dollar pair of shoes was a massive liability, and Lex knew she couldn't afford to replace them.
Unlike Zara, who could effortlessly buy another ten-thousand-dollar pair if something went wrong, this girl might actually hold her accountable.
Still, growing up with limited means meant Lex was a pro at maintaining footwear. Anyone who rarely got new shoes knew exactly how to treat them with the utmost care.