"A part-time job?"
Melissa and Benson both froze. They looked at each other, each seeing a trace of confusion in the other's eyes.
"Yes." Lorne smiled and nodded.
"As everyone knows, almost all the businesses I own are involved in mechanical manufacturing. In fact, I could just about qualify as a reasonably competent mechanic myself."
Lorne paused, then said without a hint of embarrassment, "Quite a few of the firearms currently being mass-produced at the Arms Factory were designed by me personally."
Seeing the surprise, and even greater bewilderment, in the siblings' eyes, Lorne continued in a calm voice:
"Even now, I still do other mechanical design work in my spare time. But as the company's business expands and my responsibilities grow, my energy alone is no longer enough to complete all the drafting and calculations efficiently. So I need a clever assistant to help share the burden."
Lorne looked at Melissa, his voice gentle and sincere. "Benson was full of praise for your academic performance just now. Since you have such outstanding mechanical talent and technical knowledge, Miss Melissa, I wonder if you could do me this favor?"
Seeing Melissa's lips part slightly, he added, "Don't worry. It'll just be some basic work organizing sketches. You can do it on weekends or during other free time outside classes. It won't take up much of your time. And I'm very generous when it comes to compensation. If you don't believe me, ask Benson."
"Of course, if you think this part-time job would interfere with your studies, just treat it as a joke. Don't feel obliged."
"An assistant..."
Melissa recovered from her initial daze. She could tell that Mr. Scott had probably made the offer on impulse after hearing her brother's praise. Yet his tone was inexplicably earnest.
She instinctively glanced