"Mr Bryson, here you go," the manager of King's Paints factory said, shoving an agreement document on his desk to Bryson Wyatt. "If you're okay with the job I've offered, do well to sign the document."
Bryson dropped his gaze at the document. He was speechless and dumbfounded. He didn't know what to do or say.
He had come here for an interview with the hopes of getting the position of the paint factory's manager but was offered the position of a delivery man for the factory.
The manager was getting impatient as Bryson kept staring at the document without uttering a word. He arose, feigning annoyance and said.
"Hey, Bryson, if you are not ready or interested in this job then please leave my office. I am sure there are many other men out there who would gladly come in after you go to take this job offer. You are actually wasting my time now, Mr Wyatt."
"I am sorry, sir. I am just a bit surprised because I had come for an interview for the position of a manager in this factory. I had no idea that…"
"Excuse me, Mr Wyatt," the manager cut in abruptly and gave a stifled laughter. "I think you got it wrong. The manager position was never Vacant."
"But someone told me it was some weeks back when this factory was opened and I took the chance to apply and I was called in last week to have an interview."
"Look, you were called in for an interview for the position of the factory's delivery man. As you can clearly see, I am the manager of this factory," the manager said. When Bryson still gave him a doubtful look, the manager angrily motioned at the plaque on the front of the table which had his full name and his job position stated but Bryson only glanced at the plaque and stared at the man's forehead.
"Mr Wyatt?"
"Sir, please is there no other position available other than this position of a delivery man?"
The manager thought for a few seconds, staring at the door and said.
"I think the position of a cleaner is still available. We are looking for two more cleaners to employ and add up to the current cleaners available. I can consider you too since male cleaners are acceptable here."
"Um, sir, I was talking about a bit of a higher position. What of the position of an assistant manager?" Bryson asked with lit up hope in his eyes.
The manager shook his head. "Not available. You are dreaming high, I think. I offered you the available position which I think will fit a man like you but it seems you've got your eyes elsewhere."
"Sir, it is just that…"
"Oh, tell me. Should I give up my position for you then since you were expecting the position of a manager?"
"No, sir. I'm not asking for that."
"I see you don't want this job. Now kindly leave my office. Don't upset me any more, Mr Wyatt."
"No, sir. Please don't get upset. I'll take the job," Bryson said. The man hissed and tossed the pen to him on the table.
Bryson leaned forward and took the pen on the table. He opened the document and went through it for the next minute. When he saw the salary that was offered, he became more reluctant to sign the agreement document. But when he raised his brows and glanced at the manager, he went on to sign the document.
"Good," the manager muttered as he took the document from Bryson and went through it. "Alright, so you can resume immediately, right?"
"Tomorrow morning will be okay for me, sir."
"Alright. See you tomorrow then. When you arrive, you should get the key to the delivery van from my table."
"Alright sir." Bryson arose and left the office of the man with a long face, trying to hide his disappointment.
Bryson's wife, Ainslie, was in the living room of their apartment, talking to her friends, Julie and Dora about her family.
"You went on to marry him without your father's approval, Ainslie, isn't that wrong?" Dora asked.
"Oh please. I don't regret getting married to Bryson. We love each other so why should we stay apart because my father refused to approve of him?" Ainslie asked.
"You know why your father refused to approve of Bryson. He has nothing to offer. Look at you, your family is the top affluent and influential family in New York City but you overlooked where you came from and went on to marry a lowlife, Bryson," Dora said. Ainslie stiffened her jaw, feeling insulted but she managed to cover it up with a smile.
"Bryson isn't a lowlife," she defended.
"You shouldn't say that about him, Dora," Julie reprimanded. "Ainslie and Bryson have always loved each other since they were In the university. You should be happy for her instead of condemning Bryson."
"I know that she'll soon regret marrying a worthless wretch like Bryson for he's way below her family's class and he certainly has nothing to offer," Dora said.
"Enough, Dora. Don't say things you're uncertain about. You don't know Bryson and you don't know what he's going to become today. He's going to be really rich soon," Ainslie said.
"Just look at your ring," Dora said and Ainslie glanced at her ring, knowing what Dora was going to throw at her next. "It looks damn cheap and simple. I'm sure that not even the staff in your father's mansion can wear such a ring."
"Well, fortunately for me, I won't be wearing it anymore. Bryson already promised to get me a new ring. A ring with a diamond stud for that matter."
Dora chuckled and asked. "Is he going to rob a bank to get it for you?"
Julie gasped and shook her head in a dismissive manner. "Stop demeaning him, Dora."
"For goodness sake, I'm not. I'm just stating a fact here. We all know Bryson's class and worth. He won't be able to afford the best things for Ainslie."
"Dora, you're wrong. He would. I'm.so confident he would, you know why?"
Dora shrugged. "You tell me, why?"
"He had gone for an interview today for the post of a manager of a paint factory and I'm sure he's going to get the job."
"Really?"
"Oh, Dora, you know how brilliant Bryson was in the university," Julie said. Dora rolled her eyes.
"I'm certain he got the job and he'll get me a new wedding ring with a diamond stud on it," Ainslie shrieked. They heard a knock on the door and she exclaimed and jerked up to her feet. "I'm sure Bryson is back." She rushed to the and opened it. Her smile reduced a little when she saw him at the door with a long face.
Bryson walked and glanced at his wife's friends in the living room, and he brightened his expression a little.
"Bryson, you got the job, right?'m" Ainslie asked impatiently in a whisper.
Bryson nodded. "Yes, I got the job…"
"Yay!" She exclaimed and hugged him.
She turned to her friends and grinned. "My husband got the job, girls." She clapped, excitedly and Julie smiled.
"Congratulations, Bryson," Julie said. Bryson forced a smile. Dora faked a smile and muttered congratulations to them.
"Look, darling, I made your favorite food for lunch," Ainslie said and patted his cheek. "Go freshen up and come have your food."
"Okay," Bryson said and left for their room.
"I told you my Bryson would get the job. He's not useless," Ainslie boasted and giggled as she went to take her seat. She continued her conversation with them regarding the good things she was going to buy when Bryson gets his salary by the end of the following month.
After her friends had left, Bryson came to the dining room and sat down. He saw the plate of food and when Ainslie returned from seeing her friends off, she saw he hadn't started eating.
"What's wrong, baby? You've not started eating yet?"
"Hmm, the food is cold," Bryson said. She gasped and quickly took the plate of food.
"I'm sorry. I'll go heat it up for you." She pecked his cheek and went to the kitchen.
When she returned with the heated food, she placed it right in front of him.
"Bryson, I really believed in you, you know. I know you'll get the position of the manager of that paint factory," Ainslie said, filling a glass with water for Bryson.
"Uh, well, Ainslie."
"Yes?"
"I didn't get the job of a manager," he said and she dropped the jug of water and gave him a strange look.
"What are you talking about? You told me you got the job when you returned."
"Yes, but it was another position I was given."
"Which is?"
"I got the job of a delivery man."
He watched as her mouth fell open in astonishment. Ainslie didn't believe what he said.
"Wait, a delivery man? You didn't take it, right?"
Bryson shook his head and she widened her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I did."
"You stupid piece of shit!" She groaned as she grabbed the glass of water and splashed it on his face.
Bryson slowly arose as water droplets dropped from his face. He couldn't believe that his wife who was just loving and sweet a while ago was the one who poured water at him.He looked at her and wondered what got into her that made her do what she just did. He saw gee fuming and breathing fast and he knew she was greatly upset."You took the job of an ordinary delivery man? Are you crazy?" Ainslie asked in astonishment. "I can't believe you would be so foolish to take such a low job.""I'm sorry, Ainslie but I had no other option. I sincerely hope that you still believe in me and that you are not disappointed in me.""Disappointed in you? Hell yes! I'm greatly disappointed in you, Bryson. How could you do this? You know what I've done for you? The sacrifices I have made for you? And what I've left for you? I went against my family and decided to marry you. We got married last month and now this? You took the job of a delivery man? Are you mad?""I'm sorry, my love. Please don't get up
Bryson was shocked by what his wife, Ainslie, did. He couldn't believe she would utter such hurtful words to him and act so inhumane."Is that really Ainslie?" He found himself asking the question to no one else other than himself. He was really marveled by the way she had acted towards him earlier and now. He thought for a while and shook his head. "That is not my Ainslie. She is not like that," he said to himself. He did not believe that whatever Ainslie did or said was intentional for he knows she's not like that.He recalled the food times they had had and how he had come to know of her.Years back, he had only gotten a scholarship to study in one of the prestigious universities in New York and that's how he came to know of Ainslie. He was the brightest and brilliant person in their classes back then and that's why every other student, especially the guys, disliked him. Though Ainslie was part of the people who looked at him in a wrong way, that changed when he helped her with an
After over three minutes of silence, Bryson watched his wife sit down. He thought she had cooled down and so he put on his socks. He stood up to talk to her and she jerked up like a plane taking off, startling him."Where the hell are you going to? You want to go to work for a meager three thousand dollars a month?""Come on, Ainslie, we've got expenses to make…""I see you want to humiliate me more. I won't let you do that! I feel there's something dancing in your brain or maybe they are some insects in your head but I don't give a damn. Honestly, all I know is that I won't let you go work there. Get that into your thick skull.""Enough, Ainslie, please. I'm sure the neighbors are hearing you yelling and it's not proper.""Really? I'm yelling, huh? Why won't I? Tell me Bryson? You've shattered my hope. I'm suffering now because I married a pauper like you! Now you want to take up a job where you get only three thousand dollars a month. That's nonsense. You know I'm going to be earnin
Ainslie sprang up to her feet after dwelling on what kind of outfit to wear. She thought of what party her family was hosting and went on the internet to check on it. She learnt that her father's international shares company had come up top two of the year of share sellers and was very excited. She rushed to her room and went through her clothes in the closet. She couldn't find anything new to wear but picked on a blue dinner gown which she had bought some months back.By 6 pm, Bryson walked into the house and saw Ainslie appeared, looking all dressed up and ready to go out. He wondered if she was going to the bar again to get wasted."Ainslie, you're going out?""Obviously. I'm sure you're not blind.""Where are you going? Please, don't tell me you're going to the bar to get wasted.""You don't deserve an explanation from me. By the way, I'm actually going to a party my family is hosting tonight."Bryson's lips parted and he stared at her, dazed."My father's international shares com
Bryson felt hurt by what his mother-in-law said. He understood well what she meant by his bank account not being 'handsome', she ironically stated that he was poor and he felt more hurt when he saw his wife still smiling like her mother hadn't said anything wrong."What do you mean, Rose?" Her mother's friend asked and looking at his mother-in-law, he knew she really wanted to tell her friend that he was a pauper and humiliate him more but she couldn't because she knew her image would be stained too. "Don't mind me," his mother-in-law simply said and smiled."Hello, how're you?" The woman said to Bryson and he glanced at his wife."Good evening ma'am. Nice to see you. I'm Bryson," he introduced himself."Nice to meet you, Bryson. Uh, tell me. What do you do?""I'm actually a deliv….""He works as a manager of a company," Ainslie interrupted him and when he looked at her, astonished, she gave him a you- must- be- crazy look. He couldn't believe she would lie about his job."Oh. You've
Bryson could see the big fear in his wife's eyes after what Miranda said. He knew her sister wanted to humiliate them the most and that's why she had come after them and overheard what Ainslie had said."I feel father would congratulate you, Ainslie. What do you think, Bryson?" Miranda asked and he ignored her. "This is a very good news. I'll go tell father and…""Please, don't, Miranda," Ainslie said, grabbing her sister's hand. "Do not do that, please. I would owe you for life if you just keep this one big secret from the others."Bryson was stunned by his wife's request. He couldn't believe that she wanted to keep on lying about his job position. He felt more annoyed when she clasped her hands in front of her sister."What's wrong with him being a delivery guy? It is a good job, Ainslie. Don't worry. The others would be happy to know your husband's job.""No! He's a common delivery guy working in a new paint factory. It's going to get really bad for me if the others get to know abo
Aislie stepped on the lawn and looked around for a good table. She saw her parents and other relatives standing by different tables, welcoming and having a light chat with some of the guests. She couldn't bring herself to go and mingle with them let alone go and say hi to some of the families she knows. Her eyes caught a table in the middle of the lawn and she went there to sit.When she sat down, her eyes wandered around and when she saw her sisters almost looking in her direction, she ducked her head and let out a curse word. She looked up and saw her friend Julie. Julie walked up to her and took a seat with a frown on her face."How're you doing, friend?" Aislie asked but Julie simply rolled her eyes, ignoring her. "What's wrong with you, Julie? You know I'm really upset now and you better not anger me the more by giving me that ugly look. What's your problem and what are you doing here?"Julie flicked a stare at her and her frown deepened. "What do you mean by 'What are you doing
Bryson couldn't believe what was happening. He looked around and caught Dulgad and Miranda laughing at him then it struck him. It's possible that they could have been keeping a close eye on him and sorting out the right opportunity to humiliate him. He couldn't believe they would go this far as to give him a public disgrace.When he arose, looking at his wife, he could clearly see the lines of fury in her face. He just didn't know what to say or how to convince her at the moment.As the murmurings and mocking chuckles increased, Ainslie prayed so badly within her that the earth shattered and swallowed her. She couldn't face the shame."Oh, Bryson." Both heard Miranda say and shifted their gazes to her as she walked up to them with Dulgad. "What got into you?" She asked."I guess you didn't have much. Tell me, are you really hungry?" Dulgad asked, scornfully."Come on, brother, look at him. Does Bryson look well-to-do to you? He doesn't. He looks like a real bum who couldn't wait to sa