Levi Lloyd: Race To The Top

002: Shameless In-laws

"But there are no foodstuff supplies at home again and you aren't worth starving for. Get some groceries and come home to prepare dinner."

Levi facepalmed; this is how she is. Nagging him endlessly while shamelessly living off his money.

The only reason why Levi keeps up with her behavior is because of his wife, Zoey.

He and Zoey were college sweethearts who got married as soon as they graduated.

His wife is now a successful CFO and her parents, especially Grace who thinks he isn't good enough for their daughter, are not shy to express it.

Levi thought back to his pitiful bank balance which had zero cents in it and scratched his hair in contemplation. He suddenly remembers the ring on his finger that he could pawn for money.

"Have you gone deaf?" Grace bellowed through the phone.

"I heard you. I'll —"

Levi was once again interrupted. His father-in-law's voice came up the phone,

"Boy, when you get those groceries, don't forget to pick up a brand or two of whiskey. I've run out of the last bottles."

"Father," Levi gritted. "I got ten bottles of whiskey for you just last week and you already finished them all? There is barely enough money for groceries. I can't afford to get any more whiskey for you."

"You riffraff!" His words apparently angered his father-in-law, Caleb who fumed through the phone.

"You are talking so shamelessly about ten bottles which I only managed for you. Your mates open wine cellars for their father-in-laws yet you are there boasting of ten bottles of the cheapest whiskey brand. Shame on you!"

Levi clenched the phone so tightly one would wonder why it didn't crack.

"If you are man enough, you won't deny your parents-in-law anything. Get the groceries supplies and the liquors," Grace added in agreement.

A tut-tut sound followed to indicate they ended the call. Levi stood in silence for a moment still gripping the phone tightly.

When he looked up again, the expression of rage was gone. He took in a deep breath and left.

After getting off work, unlike other colleagues who had cars and bikes to convey them home, Levi held his worn-out backpack and headed home on foot.

He didn't even pay attention to his colleagues who were mocking him as always.

When he got to the street where he lived, he went straight to the grocery store. But as soon as he walked in, the grocer shouted,

"There is no credit today! Credit kills business. Come back tomorrow."

Levi flushed in embarrassment. At this hour, the store was empty and the grocer was already packing up to leave. There was no one else so he knew the grocer was talking to him.

Nevertheless, he walked up to the counter. "Uncle, I haven't come to get groceries on credit today. Look what I brought. I want to pawn this in exchange for some groceries."

The grocer looked at his finger disdainfully but his expression takes a turn when he sees the antique ring on Levi's finger.

He has a friend who is an antique collector and knows he can get a lot of money from selling the ring to him so he looked up at Levi with a smile.

"You came just in time. I was closing for the day. Go ahead and take what you want."

Levi was baffled at how quickly the grocer changed expressions but he didn't think too much and picked out the groceries he needed.

On second thought, he selected three bottles of the cheapest whiskey on sale.

The grocer helped him put the groceries and the liquor in paper bags. Then he calculated everything and saw Levi didn't really get costly ingredients.

However he stretched out his palm to collect the ring. Levi tried to pull off the ring once again but the stubborn object refused to come off.

"I have never seen such a strange ring before," The grocer said as he examined it and tried to help Levi take it off but all to no avail.

"Son, it's getting late. You can take the groceries," The grocer looked at the ring greedily.

He could sense this ring wasn't so simple and couldn't help imagining the figures he would earn from selling it.

"Are you sure uncle?" Levi asked with an oblivious look.

"Yes but you have to pay back as soon as possible or I won't be so kind. I will only accept the ring as your repayment."

"Alright," Levi readily agreed thinking he was going to find a way to get the ring off soon. He took the paper bags and left the store.

The rented two-bedroom apartment he lived in was just down the street so he got home quickly. His mother-in-law's sarcastic voice welcomed him in,

"You finally decided to come home," She was chewing on a drumstick with an empty plate in front of her.

For a minute, he wonders where she had gotten the food she was eating after telling him there was no more foodstuff.

Grace's eyes fell on the paper bags in his hand and she mocked him,

"Did you buy those on credit again? Aren't you tired of that old grocer coming to embarrass us in front of the neighbors? Everytime, my daughter has to pay off your debts."

Levi ignored her words and set the paper bags on the floor. Then he carried the one containing the liquor and went to his father-in-law.

"Father, I—" he pauses mid way when he sees Caleb sipping a very expensive looking whiskey with the label 'Johnnie Walker' on it.

Now he is very confused. Did these two fool him? He grits his teeth in anger. They made him get groceries and liquors despite knowing his financial difficulties just to mock him?

Levi arranges the paper bags on the kitchen island furiously and heads to his bedroom.

If it wasn't for Zoey, he wouldn't tolerate these shameless elders. He sighs with exhaustion.

Now he just wanted to have a nice, hot bath and sink in his wife's softness.

"Aah..."

"Ooh yeah baby, you like it like that?"

"Mhmm..."

These lewd sounds grew louder as Levi walked to his bedroom. Swinging the door open, he stands frozen at the doorway trying to comprehend the scene playing out on his matrimonial bed.