92Samantha's face contorted into a mix of rage and indignation. "You think you can just play hero and buy her love? It won't work, Michael. Not with your empty pockets," she spat out, her words dripping with venom.Michael's eyes met Samantha's, unwavering in his resolve. "It's not about buying love, Samantha. It's about showing someone you care, even if it means making sacrifices. Maybe you'll never understand that," he replied calmly, his words holding a tinge of sadness.Emily, stepping forward, let her resolve harden her voice, "Michael is right, Samantha. This bag is just a thing, but his love means more to me than anything else. I won't let your bitterness taint that," she declared.Samantha's face contorted with anger, her eyes blazing with fury. She scoffed and turned to Ryan, a cruel smirk playing on her lips. "Did you hear that, Ryan? Michael thinks his love can replace the value of a $30,000 designer bag. What a pathetic joke."Ryan joined in,"Yeah, what a pathetic guy!" H
93Michael, still wearing his signature grin, looked at Samantha and Ryan with a twinkle in his eyes. "Never underestimate the quiet ones," he remarked, his voice calm but filled with a sense of victory.Emily couldn't hide her pride, a wide smile spreading across her face. She knew her brother was capable of surprising people, but this exceeded all expectations.The woman behind the counter regained her composure, a newfound respect evident in her features. "I apologize for my earlier judgment," she said sincerely, her tone now filled with respect.Michael nodded graciously, the satisfaction evident in his demeanor. "No worries. It happens. But thank you for helping me with the purchase."Samantha and Ryan remained silent, their disbelief still written all over their faces. The shop's atmosphere was thick with tension. Samantha's tear-streaked face contrasted sharply with the defiant glare from Michael. Ryan, standing beside Samantha, was a picture of arrogance, his jaw set in a har
94Michael watched them go, then turned to Olivia. “I’m sorry about all this, Olivia. That was uncalled for.” His eyes were apologetic, but also tired, this was not the first scene of its kind he had witnessed with Ryan and Samantha.Olivia, still shaken, managed a weak smile. “Do you know them, Michael?” she asked, trying to understand what just happened.Michael nodded. “Yeah, we've had a few run-ins before. Ryan’s got a stubborn grudge, and it seems he can’t let it go.”Olivia sighed, her eyes reflecting her worry. “Please be careful, Michael. People like that can be dangerous.”Michael nodded in agreement. “I will be, Olivia. Thanks.” He then turned to Emily, who had been silent the whole time. “Olivia, we were actually planning to have lunch after shopping here. But I understand if you're not up for it, given what just happened.”Olivia shook her head sadly. "I'd have loved to, but this whole affair has spoiled my appetite," she confessed.Michael smiled understandingly. "Maybe s
95The evening was falling when the phone rang. On the other end was Douglas Edward's right-hand man. “Michael, it's time to decide on your position within your father's metallurgy company. your father would like to know what role you want to take in the company. He's ready to arrange everything. What'll it be?"Michael paused, contemplating his options. He knew he wanted to be in a position where he could gather information and uncover any suspicious activities within the company. He wanted to understand the ins and outs of the business, to see if there was anything shady going on. He knew the perfect way to do it. After a few moments of deep thought, he responded, "Tell my father that I would like to start as a simple worker. I want to blend in with the employees, extract information, and discover anything shady going on inside the company." He continued, "I want to glean information from the workers like me and uncover any suspicious dealings. After that, we can reassess my posit
96Once Jimmy made his exit, Michael anticipated a formal introduction to the team, but Brad had other plans. "Look," he said, tossing a helmet, a vest, and a pair of gloves in Michael's direction. "I ain't got time to play tour guide, I don't have time to teach you everything like Mr. Turner wants. You'll learn their names soon enough." "Woow! This guy is really something" Michael was taken aback by this cold welcome."Now you'll have to gather scrap metals and it will be ironed again." Brad authoritatively assigned to him.A few men, his colleagues passed by, shoulder-checking Michael and greeting him with a mix of sarcasm and gentle ribbing. "Fresh meat!" one called out, the others chuckling. "New guy with soft skin!" Another called out.Only one, a burly man named Toby, asked them to lay off. "Come on, guys. Give him a break," Toby said, earning a chorus of " It's all part of toughening him up, he'll thank us later" from the others as they walked away."I'm Toby Stephens," he ex
"You better watch your mouth. I won't tolerate being blamed for something I didn't do."Struggling to catch his breath, Michael attempted to reason with Darren. "Put me down, Darren. I'm not blaming you. Just let go."Toby immediately stepped in, trying to diffuse the situation. "Darren, calm down! Let him go!"With a growl, Darren released his grip on Michael and stepped back, a mixture of frustration and anger still evident in his eyes. "This isn't over, if it happens again i'm going to beat the shit out of you," he muttered before storming away, leaving Michael shaken and bewildered.Toby helped Michael regain his footing and brushed off his coat. "Ignore him, mate. Darren's always been a loose cannon. Just focus on recovering and getting back on track."Michael nodded, grateful for Toby's support. "Thanks, Toby. I appreciate it."As they made their way back to the work table, Toby reassured Michael, "Don't let Darren get to you. We'll handle him if he tries anything again. Just ta
98The next morning at the factory, Michael arrived on time, and even a little early. As he headed towards the elevator, he noticed Toby coming up behind him. He stopped and waited for Toby to catch him up, a small smile forming on his lips.Toby greeted him cheerfully. Michael returned the greeting with a smile."How are you this morning, Toby?" Michael asked with a genuine joy.Toby returned the greeting enthusiastically. "Hey, Michael! I'm doing great!" Toby exclaimed. "I thought it was the end for you here. Glad to see you're still around."Chuckling, Michael shook his head. "No, I'm not going away anytime soon. This place hasn't gotten rid of me that easily."Toby chuckled. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. They laughed together, shoulders shaking with mirth. Their camaraderie was evident, providing a brief escape from the challenges of their workplace.As they walked towards the work area, Toby glanced at Michael's arm. Concern filled his eyes. "Hey, how's your arm holding up Micha
Darren, however, remained unperturbed, savoring his meal and drink. He took another bite of his food, followed by a sip of his beer, projecting an air of complete relaxation. Dismissing Michael, he mocked, "Ooh Toby, the knight ready to help his princess Michael, lol, that's fun." His companions joined in with laughter, further fueling the tension in the room.As Darren's companions joined in the laughter, their mockery towards Michael and Toby intensified. Selena, a close friend of Darren's, chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Oh, Toby, aren't you just so brave defending your little buddy? How noble of you!"The rest of the group erupted into laughter once again. Mark, a longtime acquaintance of Darren, added fuel to the fire, "Yeah, Toby, maybe you should protect Michael with a shield and a sword next time. I bet that would make him feel safe!"Laughter filled the room, but Michael felt his face growing hot with embarrassment and anger. He looked directly at Darren and his