The Return Of Daniel Hovsep

Chapter 3: In The Office

Chapter 3

After an hour's drive, the cab that Daniel was inside came to a stop in front of a luxurious building with a large black gate. This was the Royal Garden Hotel.

Daniel stepped out of the car and settled the driver who drove off after receiving his payment. Daniel then turned and stared at the gate.

He looked at himself and he didn't mind the wet clothes he was wearing at that moment. With a composed demeanor, even though he was slightly ashamed of what he was putting on, Daniel approached the gate and knocked on it gently before withdrawing his hand, awaiting it to be opened for him.

Almost immediately, the gate was opened, revealing the gate guard, who looked at him with an irritated expression.

“Good morning, Mr. Daniel.” He just greeted him casually. If not that he knew Daniel to be a worker there, he would have thrown him out without a second thought because his outfits were so dilapidated to the eyes.

Daniel noticed how the gate guard was looking at him disdainfully but he ignored him and headed inside.

Just as he entered and his co-workers saw him, they began to murmur.

“Hey, look at that! The poor thing had just arrived.” Noah said in a mocking tone, characterizing Daniel as a nonliving thing.

Noah had been one of the people who had never loved Daniel even though he wasn't that rich. He hated Daniel so much that made him a laughing stock to others.

“Yuck! He looks disgusting. Doesn't he have good clothes to put on? He stinks the whole atmosphere.” Alexander added, covering his nose tightly. He was also one of them who joined Noah to laugh at Daniel.

Daniel didn't even give a damn concern about all the sarcastic words that his colleagues were throwing at him since he was already used to it.

“Hey, Daniel. How are you doing today? Why are you late?” A chubby young-looking man around the age of Daniel approached him and asked, feeling concerned about him.

“I'm fine, thank you, Victor,” Daniel replied, his tone low. He was weak at that moment because he hadn't tasted anything like food. It has just been work, work, and work.

Victor was the name of the guy that approached Daniel and he was the only one who had always been supportive and caring towards Daniel. He had never joined Noah and Alexander to laugh at him.

He was also his friend in the same University.

Victor shook Daniel's hand and then said, overlooking his shabby dress yet concerned, “You came so late, Mr. Brown had just finished paying everyone their salaries. He mentioned your name but you were nowhere to be found.”

Daniel's face grew pale, his face indicating his frustration, “You should have collected mine from him.” He replied.

“I tried but he refused. He said you must be present to get it yourself and there was nothing I could have done.” Victor said,

“It's okay. It was never your fault.”

“But why are you late? Is everything okay with you?”

Daniel hesitated, then nodded lightly and answered in a weak voice, “Yeah, I was just rounding off with my cleaning in the cafeteria. That's all. Thank you for your concern.” He appreciated, his face filled with gratitude.

Victor placed his hand on his shoulder and said, emotionally, “It's well, man. Just, go to Mr. Brown's office to get your pay. I believe he must be in his office.” He removed his hand from his shoulder.

“Alright, thank you.” Daniel exchanged a handshake with Victor again before heading to the manager's office.

Immediately after he left, Noah and Alexander began to taunt Victor.

“Nothing good can come out of you. Of all people, you choose to befriend that loser.” Noah said,

Alexander added, “As Daniel is useless so will he.” But Victor ignored them and went back to what he was doing.

Meanwhile, Daniel arrived upstairs and stood in front of a well-furnished wooden door with a golden look. “I pray he should be inside or I won't get my payment today.” He mumbled and took a deep breath before knocking on the door after composing himself.

He waited for minutes, but there was no reply. However, he was hearing voices inside the office. He recognized one that belonged to Mr. Brown, the manager, but he didn't recall hearing such a voice from anywhere.

After the wait, he knocked again, and a hoarse and unpleasant voice peered out from inside, “Who's that fool that wants to pull down the door?”

Daniel sighed, hearing the harsh tone of Mr. Brown's voice; he shook his head and replied, “It's me, sir.” Without waiting for any further information, he twisted the door open and walked in.

The office was beautifully decorated with artwork. A large flat-screen TV was hung on the wall and the air conditioner gave the room a well relaxed atmosphere.

“I wish I could have this someday.” Daniel admired the whole place. It was his first time entering the office.

He raised his head and saw Mr. Brown sitting on a swivel chair facing his direction with a man whose face he couldn't see clearly because his back was positioned against the door.

Quickly, he headed to the desk, “Good morning, Mr. Brown.” He greeted and then turned to the man whose face he can now see clearly, “Good morning, sir.”

The man seemed to be in his late fifties, and he was dressed richly with a high-end wristwatch. It seemed like the man was discussing business with Brown.

“What are you doing here? Did I ask you to come here?” Brown shot at him with a disdainful look. He didn't reply to his greeting, and so did the man who was seated there, too.

He was staring at Daniel with disgust with his handkerchief covering his nose.

Daniel overlooked it; he was only there for his salary since Brown had paid every worker except for him, “I'm sorry, Mr. Brown, but I'm here to receive my salary. I heard you have paid everyone theirs.”

He went straight to the reason why he was there without minding the disgusted looks that mounted on him.

“And so? I have paid others, so where were you when they were receiving their payments? Huh?” Brown asked, a hint of anger flashed through his eyes. “Can't you see I was having an important discussion with someone before you waltz in with your stinky lazy ass?”

Daniel felt a burning sensation on his face as he reluctantly replied, “I'm sorry, sir but I need it to get something important.”

“What the hell is going on here?” The man in the office interrupted, standing up angrily from his seat, and shouting. “Brown, how could you allow this dirty young man to come in here to suffocate me with his odor?”