Chapter 1 - Struggles

“Alex, may I have a moment of your time?” Mason Reed asked, his voice trembling slightly in the Department's head office.

The Department Head, engrossed in something on his computer, barely acknowledged Mason's presence. The explicit sounds emanating from the screen hinted at an inappropriate video that clashed with the professional setting of the office made Mason shift uncomfortably, wondering if this was the right time to bring up the sensitive topic of a salary raise.

Clearing his throat, Mason continued, "I wanted to discuss the possibility of a salary adjustment. I've been putting in extra hours and taking on more responsibilities."

Alex finally tore his gaze away from the screen, a dismissive look in his eyes. "Not now, Reed. I'm busy," he muttered, his tone indifferent, dragged his computer, and resumed watching his p**n video.

Undeterred, Mason pressed on, "I understand, sir, but it's important to me. I’ve been working for this company for the past ten years and still, I’ve not achieved anything good in life. All my mates whom we graduated from the university have all settled down with a family after two to three years. I've not been able to do that because I only get a little pay from my work as a technical staff. You of all people know how professional I am, right? Besides, I’m the one shouldering my family bills. I've been struggling with medical bills for my sick mother who kept changing her urine bowels since she cannot respire without help every day–”

Alex’s eyes narrowed, and he looked up with a cruel stern. "Family, family, family. I have a family too. And I manage to solve my shits and not blackmail people with it–this is emotional blackmail. Listen, you're pushing your luck, Reed. Keep this up, and you might as well find yourself without a job."

Mason felt hopeless, and clenched his fist, striving with the tears that pricked his eyes with his head lowered.

Apparently, he has been one of the most diligent and capable staff recruited since ten years ago. Mason has never failed when it comes to anything technical. He is renowned for his outstanding work in the tech company.

But, the salary he earns is meager which cannot sustain him in buying a car, owning a house in Toronto, not to talk of getting married. Getting the same salary over again for the past ten years made him remain in the same position—and this pushed him to request a salary raise.

Even though Mason’s father works every day and barely comes home, the little he sends is not enough to carry the liability of his family. He works for a whole twenty hours a day to make sure he makes ends meet. But still, nothing was working fine for them.

After a few minutes of not moving from where he was, Mason’s boss thought Mason had gone but he was shocked to see that Mason was still fixed on a position.

“Mason” Alex called.

“Yes, boss,” Mason answered.

“You really need to take your leave, as you can see I’ve got something important to do and your presence here is causing distractions.” Alex lashed and gestured for Mason to leave.

“But…” Mason stuttered and went silent.

“The only solution to your problem is if the company gets to make more profits. You should be able to get a raise of about $100.” Alex replied.

“Wh–what? A $100 what?!” Mason exclaimed.

“And yeah, you should try and put more effort.” Alex shrugged and approached the restroom.

How can a man survive with barely $700 in the city of Toronto which is known for its expensiveness?

Alex was about to enter the bathroom when he looked back at Mason who was still battling with his tears. "Mason? C'mon, don't be such a crybaby. You are a man, act like one." He patted his shoulders.

"Yes sir." Mason clenched his fist and replied amidst gritted teeth, reached for the door, and left for the general staff office.

“Hey, man!” Mason’s colleague approached with Alex’s PC in his hand.

"Hey, man. What’s up?" Carl walked up to his desk and placed Alex’s expensive PC on his table. Not just anyone could afford it. It is one of the most expensive brands in the city of Toronto and could buy Euclid Ave.

Euclid Ave is one of the most expensive homes in the city of Ontario which is constructed for a cost of over $4000 and more.

"Since you are a computer expert, I kind of need your help in fixing this. I would have done it myself but I have a lot to do–I need to leave the office now for an important meeting. Alex said he downloaded a video from a site and it corrupted some of his files, probably you could help me out."

After Carl left he sank back in his chair and started to fix the PC. Alex is one of those guys who buy expensive things but has never helped anyone in times of need. He likes watching others suffer and drown in their sufferings.

Mason heaved a sigh lost in his thoughts he started to fix Alex's PC while he thought about his girlfriend as well as how to satisfy her for her upcoming birthday and how to propose to her.

Now that Alex has refused to increase his pay, his girlfriend will be disappointed in him.

They had met on an online dating app and since then they've been in a relationship.

She had called a few days ago to let him know that if he didn't marry her on time she is going to end things with him.

All of this had made Mason down and instead of fixing the virus on Alex's PC, he was busy scrolling through his folders which contained different forms of sex videos.

"This guy is such a weirdo…" Mason paused and enlarged the screen to see the lady whom Alex was having sex with in his office and it was no other person than Judith.

"Don't stop. You promised to get me a Lamborghini for my birthday, remember?" Judith smiled and shamelessly opened her legs more in the recorded tape.

Alex smiled and dragged Judith closer before speaking against her lips "Didn't you say that useless Mason is your boyfriend? Are you okay sexing his boss?!"

Mason watched while Alex spanked his girlfriend from behind.

"Ah. Yeah. Like you said. He's useless. I'm breaking up with him soon. So fuck me harder!" Judith giggled.

Wham!

Mason punched Alex's PC and the whole screen came crashing down.

Mason clenched his fist and hit his hand on the table out of frustration causing other staff to freeze.

How did Judith become entangled with Alex?

Was it the day he lent her his phone to call her friend? Could she have stolen Alex's number since he talks to her about him every time being a millionaire who can buy anything expensive?

Exactly! That is how they clicked! She stole Alex's number from his phone.

Damn!

Fuck her!

He stood up from his seat and approached the shelf where he hid a knife he used for opening up a PC sometimes for fixing. This is exactly what he needed to carry out his murdering plan.

He was about to dash out of the office when his phone rang–it was his mother.

"Hello, Mason,"

"Hey Mom, are you okay?" He spoke out of turn but he could hear something that seemed like a sob.

"Your father got involved in a ghastly motor accident. The victim had fled the crime scene.

"What the—?" He stuttered, feeling a bit faint.

"Hey, baby, just calm down. Your father has been rushed down to the hospital by a good samaritan. The issue now is that the doctor proposed a sum of 30,000 dollars before they could commence his surgery. He has just twenty-four hours to live, if not…"

Immediately Mason held his chest and gasped for air.

Mason had nothing and the remaining 300 dollars he had was what he sent to his mother as of yesterday for her upkeep.

"Mason, I know I’ve not contributed something tangible to your life as a mother. I…I’ve been so useless all my life and..and…I’m so sorry I became…" his mother started.

Mason's heart sank as he held his chest tightly.

"Mom, just stop, okay? I'll do something. Just stay at the hospital and hold on."

Mason hung up the phone and tears rolled down his face. The whole world was against him in that instance. If only God could intervene in these circumstances.

He forgot he was holding a knife which fell to the ground when his boss dashed into the staff office to ask him how far he had gone with the PC.

"What the fuck?! Mason! What did you do to my PC?!" Alex was angry when he saw how wrecked his expensive PC had ended.

Alex dealt Mason a blow instantly sending him against the couch not too far from them. "Do you know how much this PC cost?! It can buy you and your entire generation?!"

Mason was furious and the urge to pick up the knife to deal with Alex for what he had done to his girlfriend came crashing back. However, he thought if he could leverage that with a little plea to get money from Alex to assist him with his father's treatment maybe he'd assist.

He gave up and lowered his head. "Alex. I'm sorry about your PC. It wasn't intentional. But can you lend me a sum of 30,000? It's urgent. Please."

Alex looked at Mason with scornful eyes and laughed maliciously.

"You fucking bastard! You ruined my expensive computer worth 100,000 dollars and you stand here to speak thrash from that gutter you call a mouth asking me to borrow you some money?! That's worth a life of luxury here in Toronto you wretched bastard! I demand you pay me back or rot in jail for all I care!"

"Alexander Sawyer! I know you fucked my girlfriend okay! I will set this aside if only you can just lend me this money! Else…"

Mason's eyes were already red with a hint of madness.

Alex rushed to his PC and checked it out only to see the paused sex video still on display and he burst into laughter.

"Fool! You dare to threaten me in my own company?!"

He launched Mason a blow, took the cup of water from his table, and poured it all over him. Mason unexpectedly tumbled backward and mistakenly held the PC to steady himself.

His body reacted weirdly and he felt a vibration from his head to his feet sending him into a paralyzed state.

He blacked out.