Chapter seven
Three months ago was when it all happened. Yes. Exactly three months, two weeks and six days. Nobody but Brian could remember this, for it was a day he would forever remember.No. Not just a day he would remember but a day that changed the course of his life. And that was something he must deal with."Where to, restaurant boy," came a voice.Brian ignored the voice and continued his quick steps. He didn't even turn either, for he recognize the voice. And soon, he existed the porch of the main villa.Words like this meant nothing to him anymore. He got use to it three months ago. In fact, it became a must if he must survived the harsh environment his marital vows plunged him into.And why shouldn't he?Ethan was the guy who spoke, the guy Ana had ditched. He wasn't just any guy but a rich guy that had vowed to make Brian's life a living hell. And so far, he was doing a pretty good job.Brian let himself into a separate section of two-bedroom apartment where he saw Ana, who busied herself with some makeups."Hey, you are back!" she exclaimed."Yeah. And here is what you asked for." He handed her some files so she could review. The first Diamond Corporation was about to launch a new product that would attract more investors, and Ana would not leave anything to chance. She needed to make sure she understood every detail.Brian glanced through the mini-sized sitting room. Not big, but he was still grateful to have a roof over his head. The place was purposely built for the guards but Mr Danley found no difficulty when he asked his son-in-law to move in. That, he thought, would stop the incessant insults Brian got.But it turned out that Mr Danley was wrong because the insults never stopped. In fact, it compounded when Ana, who thought it unwise to stay away from her husband after being married, decided to move in with him.Ana noticed the look on his face, the look he bore whenever he was angry about something and she asked, "Is something wrong?"Brian shook his head, but he knew far too well that the woman he married four months ago would not back down.Sensing his worry, Ana put down the papers. Despite her brother trying to keep her at bay at the company for marrying a restaurant boy, Brian was still her number one priority.She paced towards him and dropped a gentle kiss on his lips. "What's wrong," she asked, taking a seat on his thigh.Brian sigh. "It's Ethan.""What is it about him. Did he do something wrong?"Brian was now uncomfortable with the worry that seemed to hover on her face."No. No. Nothing. It's nothing really. You know Ethan. He would always be Ethan," Brian said in an attempt to divert the conversation.Ana rubbed his chest with her left palm and said, "You know he is just jealous. I always told you to ignore him." She reached and kissed for another around but Brian was quick to pull back."What!" she exclaimed."Not now, we are gonna be late. Y. O. U are gonna be late," Brian jerked to his feet in protest.Ana released a sigh of defeat."Henry would already be there, and you can't let me him keep you on the sidelines," Brian explained, but he still deemed it fit to console her with a kiss.They sucked each others lips for a few seconds.Ana could feel bad, but she knew that Brian was right. Her father trusted her to run the company and if she is not careful, she may find herself floating down the river.The kiss lighten up her mood. "Now, go finish reading the files," Brian said, patting her two shoulders.The product launch was to take place at the main event hall of the First Diamond corporation building and few hours later, they arrived at the venue."Hey, you finally made it," Ethan appeared from nowhere, his face with a sinister grin as he spoke.Ana and Brian both paused, hoping Ethan would not create a scene."Hey dumass, I didn't expect to see you here," as expected, Ethan mocked. Seeing Brian lock arms with Ana was unacceptable. He could not understand in the least possible way what Ana saw in a lowlife like Brian.The world was certainly crazy.Brian's organ rearrange. Ethan deserved a punch but he would not cause a scene."Why don't you just go away, Ethan," Ana suggested. She clung tightly to Brian's arms this time around."Ethan, don't bother yourself with my sister. She is just blind," Mira, the talkative, said from behind. "Who would marry a poor restaurant boy," she smirked.'Boy' she did say. Brian could be anything but a boy. As much as Brian hated he was being talked to that way, he was grateful that Mrs Johnson is still alive. He got her a new home from the money. Maybe the insults he got was the price he must pay.Ana signaled to Brian and they strolled into the hall. The CEOs from the entire city were already present and Ana found her seat. The other CEOs all sat as couples and she was surprised to find herself all alone, but flanked by Henry to the right and another stern looking man to the left.Brian found his seat at the rear end, where he thought he always belonged."Ladies and gentle men, welcome to the product launch of the First Diamond Corporation…""Pardon me, I just couldn't afford to see that restaurant boy beside you," a voice whispered.Ana's thought drifted when she saw her mother."What! Did you do this?" she exclaimed."Of course. And you should be grateful for that," Mrs Danley affirmed, and disappeared to find her seat.Ana maintained composure. She was here to ensure a product lauch and nothing must distract her. And soon, it was time for the CEO to take the stage.Ana glanced through the documents before her, going through the speech Brian had spent the entire night preparing. She took a deep breath and sat up right.It was now or never."Ladies and gentle, let's welcome the CEO of the First Diamond Corporation…"Ana already found her feet, but the feet couldn't move an inch for her entire body was buried in embarrassment when she heard the name: 'Henry Danley'Chapter eight.Brian wasn't bothered with the fact that he was seated at the back. No. He enjoyed the serenity the atmosphere presented him but the first sign of trouble he saw was when he found his good-for-nothing mother-in-law whispering only 'God knows what' to his wife.Yes. His mother-in-law was good, but for-nothing; and Brian had no apologies for calling her that. In fact, he thought she deserved worse.But when he heard Henry Danley rather than Ana Danley, he knew something had gone wrong. And he confirmed it when his eyes caught Ana excusing herself from the hall.Brian quickly followed her.There she was, seated on the stairs and all curled up. Her eyes could not but be teary at the disappointment.A clunking sound, more like a metal hitting a surface, fell on his ears while taking off his jacket, but Brian could not be bothered with anything except the sobbing lady in front of him. She must be cold. He moved and dropped the jacket on her shoulders."Darling, those tears ar
Chapter one16th Broadway street. A very busy street located in the suburbs of Koplin city. Just a normal street with some bunch of crazy lowlives, crappy-looking people trying to earn a living.Nothing special about the street, except the fact it was where Brian Fineman bolted to every morning of his miserable life.In fact, he was one of those lowlives who was trying to earn a living in a God forsaken street.And he was fed up, way too fed up, but who was he to quit the job?After leaving the crappy-looking-single-room apartment he called home, he saw himself at the train station. 6am never saw him on bed but at the train station, trying to catch the next train to Lousy Lou Restaurant, the next place he called home.But Lousy Lou wasn't his home in the real sense; but since a guy like him spent fifteen of the twenty-four hours in a day taking orders and serving food in one of the most famous restaurants at Broadway Street, you could call it his home.And just like every other day, B
Chapter two.The baseball bat dropped, rolled a few times before coming to a stop by the wall. Brian's feet couldn't move an inch, for he was in absolute dismay at the sight. He was right to have suspected he wasn't the only guy in the picture. And the sight before him proved everything right.Rebeca. His girlfriend of five years, all wrapped up with sheets and faking to have some decency even though she had none left. Her hair, in the roughest condition like someone who had been in bed throughout the week.To her right was a guy with some dark-curly hair. His no-shirt condition revealed his sand-brown skin, and his physique could be compared to Brian, who was still trying to figure out what the fuck was going. He just couldn't wrap his head around the whole thing."Is he your boyfriend?" the intruder asked in a tone a little bit above a whisper.Intruder?Yes. And that was how Brian saw the guy who made his girlfriend moan. His eyeballs narrowed. He must have interrupted a very stea
Chapter threeOne week later.Yes. Exactly one week it was since Brian rid himself of his good-for-nothing girlfriend who was now ex. He could now focus on his work and also got some personal space. So far, the problem was how to raise the the down payment for the surgery.The doctors had made it clear. To pay, or to stop the treatment. No long story.Brian poured himself some coffee and took a few bites from the sandwiches.That was his regular breakfast. He could afford to prepare it during his rush hour.Work.The only thing he thought about as he strolled towards the door. A work that could not afford to take care of his sick mother. Well, he had no choice because he still had to pay his bills.Brian froze when the door swung open.A gray-haired man with some wrinkled face came to sight. The veiny hand became more veiny when the fingers rested on the wooden door frame.Mr Andrews. The least person Brian expected, stood with both arms resting on each side of the door frame.No. Not
Chapter four.Confused.That's what they say when a man can't come to a conclusion among a list of options—not-so-good options by the way.Call it indecision if you like, but none explained the condition of a man who paid his rent five days ago, but came back from work and was denied access into the apartment he paid for.Confused?Hell no.Maybe a stalemate would best explain Brian's condition when he came home and found a chain anchored to his door. A huge padlock hung at its edge.Mr Andrews.His only thought. In fact, they only explanation he found for his plight. No other person in the world would do this but the sixty-five year old retired army captain.Brian kicked, but the century old door wouldn't give in. As far as he could remember, he still owned the place.Once again, he needed an explanation. He reached for his pocket and flipped open the Motorola cell phone. Mr Andrew should better have a good explanation."Hello, Mr Andrews, what's going on?""What do you mean by what'
Chapter five"Where did you get this?"Brian pulled his finger from the seemingly wrinkled grip of the old man sitting across the table.Brian never liked to talk to the customers directly, or serve their orders. That wasn't his duty. He was to make sure that all the customers got what they ordered for, and as fast as possible. But since Jessica and the other workers seemed to have succumbed to the flu, he had no choice.And here was a man, whose face was difficult to put an age on, asking him how he got the ring on his forefinger.Brian had no business answering the question. He had done his job by serving the coffee, and he moved to the next table.The world would have been a better place if people learned to mind their business, at least that's what he thought as he took the next order from two tables away.Few minutes later, Brian was done. He perched his aching ass on a stool to observe the happy customers as they continued their chit chat. Some bunch of happy customers with nowh
Chapter sixBrian wasn't left out of the list of surprised people. First, he was asked how he came about the ring; then, an invitation to dinner he almost regretted coming; and now, he was to become a son-in-law?Surprised!But Brian was more than surprised. Everything was happening fast, indeed too fast for him to keep track of. And Mr Danley, the man who dropped the marriage bomb, held the key to his answers.Brian excused himself, shuffling his feet as fast as his twenty-eight years old self could muster. He need to speak to Mr Danley, at least for some clarification. Marriage was the least of his concerns right now. Not with his mom dying at the hospital."Hello sir, hello sir, excuse me," Brian said, trying to put a stop on the man. Despite being sixty-five years old, Mr Danley still had the strength to move quickly. And it was not until he got outside did Brian finally catch up with him.Mr Danley screeched to a halt suddenly, "Yes. Something you want to say?"That question, aga