Robert stood at the convenience store counter, his remorse showing clearly on his face.
Last night had been a disaster.
His wife had apparently caught his favorite part timer giving away product for free and had fired her without even consulting him.
He grimly looked towards his wife who was happily playing on her phone nearby. He loved his wife, but he wished she could be more charitable at times.
He knew Adelina had a hard life, and he wanted to help her. He could see how she radiated kindness, and if he had been in her shoes last night, he probably would have given food to the young man as well.
His wife only had half of the story. Robert knew Adelina wouldn't give out product for no reason, it would have to be a severe situation that called for it.
Robert sighed as he wiped down the counter. He heard the small chime of the store door and put on a friendly smile.
An Adonis with black hair and ocean eyes walked through the door. As soon as Robert laid eyes on the man, the air inside the store dropped 20 degrees and Robert shivered.
The attractive man walked swiftly towards the counter with the confidence of a King. Robert gulped as he sensed the intimidating aura that radiated from the man.
"Hello Sir. How can I help you today?" Robert greeted with an intonation of kindness. Silas glowered at the store owner, making him shift in discomfort.
Silas evaluated the man in front of him. According to the cruel woman's rant last night, Robert seemed a good enough man to not be the recipient of his rage.
"Oh my goodness!" The black haired wife came up behind her husband. "We humbly welcome you to our small store. How can we assist you today good Sir?" She shrieked and bowed in respect.
Robert just stared at her in confusion. Why was she acting like this towards a customer? His wife glared up at him and quickly kicked his shin. "Show him respect you idiot. That's the CEO of Night Corp." She hissed under her breath.
Robert was astounded. What was the CEO of Night Corp doing in this rundown convenience store?
Robert bowed.
"It's a pleasure to have you visit our small store." Robert offered glancing his eyes up warily at the powerful man.
Silas was not impressed with scene of bootlicking before him. He scoffed in annoyance and raised his eyebrows.
"I see. Do you tend to treat all customers this way?" Silas taunted the groveling pair.
"Of course we do." The wife nodded quickly beaming up at the handsome man with a grin, showing her crooked teeth. They matched her crooked personality, Silas noted in irritation.
"We always display kindness to our customers. We treat them like royalty." The woman went on.
Silas looked at the wife in disdain at the show she was putting on.
"Sure. I have business here today so let's make this quick." Silas ignored her, turning towards Robert.
"I've come to repay a kindness shown towards me." He declared while slamming a handful of bills onto the counter.
Robert stared at the bills. This was enough to buy half the things in the store! He gawked at Silas.
"What is-" Robert began but was interrupted quickly by his wife snatching the bills to count them.
Silas scowled at her greed.
"That is to pay for a meal I was given by one of your employees. I was in severe pain from not eating and she was kind enough to give me a meal for free due to my forgetfulness." Silas growled.
The wife stopped counting the bills and gaped at Silas.
No way. She thought in anguish.
"But this is way more than enough for one meal." Robert urged as he plucked the money back from his wife and tried to hand it back to Silas.
Silas shook his head. "I am well aware. I expect you to give the excess to the kind employee who helped me yesterday evening. She had golden eyes and was a good person. Although, she was harassed unjustly by a certain person." Silas shot a cold look towards the person in question.
The wife began to sweat. No way. A powerful person like the CEO of Night Corp couldn't have been the hooded man from last night.
"Last night? Are you sure?" The greedy woman fretted, desperately avoiding the cold glare that was thrown in her direction.
Silas narrowed his stormy eyes. "Quite positive. I do hope that the employee would receive an apology and proper treatment after saving me from a bad situation last night." He seethed, turning back towards Robert.
The blood drained from the woman's face.
Robert glanced between the two and was quick to understand the situation. He noticed his wife's pale face and the animosity that Silas clearly held towards her.
What had his wife done to make such a powerful man so angry.
"Of course. I'll call her in later and have her pick it up. I'll thank her in your stead." Robert tried to appease.
Silas nodded, expressing his approval. He turned back to Robert's wife. He towered over the woman, making her seem smaller than an ant.
"You said you treat all customers like royalty?" He began through clenched teeth. "Well I failed to be the recipient of that last night. I believe the word you used was stray?" Silas thundered.
The wife kept quiet. Her eyes darting to the ground. She cursed her actions last night, and resented the golden eyed girl even more for getting her into this mess.
Silas unleashed the full might of his rage filled stare. "Next time you treat a customer or employee in that manner, I'll cut out your tongue so you won't be able to use that rotten mouth of yours again." Silas threatened.
The wife shivered from fear as she fell to her knees.
"Please I didn't know. It won't happen again." She sobbed as she pressed her forehead onto the dirty convenience store floor. "I apologize Mr. Night. Please forgive me." She pleaded her eyes filled to the brim with unshed tears.
Silas only looked down with contempt.
The tension in the room was palpable.
Silas finally broke the silence with a humorless chuckle. He leaned down towards the woman. "You told that employee last night to know her place. However, I don't think you fully understand your own." Silas jeered.
"Let me explain where people like yourself are categorized in this world. You see there's powerful people, good people, normal humans, animals, dirt, worms, fecal matter, diseases, flesh eating bacteria, criminals and then at the very bottom there's you." Silas hissed. "You aren't even worth the gum on the sidewalk."
"The young employee you demeaned last night is leagues above you, so keep that in mind next time you try to hold your head high in front of someone who's place is far above your own." Silas taunted, the threat of his words clear as the blue morning sky.
The wife continued to kneel, she was mortified. Tears sprang from her eyes in humiliation and terror.
"I apologize Sir. Please forgive me." She blubbered.
Silas stood once again looking down at the woman. "I'm not the one to grant you forgiveness." He turned away coldly.
"I'll apologize to that girl and beg for forgiveness. Please forget about what happened yesterday." She cried and grabbed Silas' ankle. She couldn't afford to have the CEO of Night Corp as an enemy. One snap of his finger and he could have her blown to oblivion.
He shook her off in disgust. He turned to a speechless Robert who had witnessed the entire ordeal.
"I expect you to make things right. I will check later to make sure the tasks I've assigned you have been completed." Silas commanded.
Robert nodded his head. It was best to just do as the man said. He looked over at his wife who was still kneeling on the ground in humiliation.
"Also keep your wife out of your business. Her terrible personality could ruin everything you've set out to accomplish if you're not careful." Silas suggested, the promise of a threat lacing his words.
Robert nodded quickly again, compelled to do whatever the man asked. The CEO was intimidating and powerful, Robert would hate to be on the receiving end of his fury.
Silas turned to walk out of the small shop but hesitated as he reached the door.
Blue stormy orbs met Robert's gaze. "Do not inform anyone I was here today. I suggest you keep this matter confidential from anyone and everyone. For your sake." Silas finished and walked out of the door.
The chime of the door broke Robert's wife free of her internal strife as she quickly grabbed her husband's shoulders.
"Get that girl over here now! We can't afford to make that man angry." The wife screeched, her pride all but decimated.
Robert agreed and quickly brought out his phone. Internally, he was a bit happy to have his greedy wife brought down a notch.
He was also thrilled that he was able to have Adelina come work for him again, she was his favorite part timer after all.
Adelina immediately sensed trouble when her mother walked through the door, carrying a new large bag of stuffed animals she had brought back from the shop. Her mother's face was pale and she breathed heavily as she lugged the bag inside the apartment.
Adelina quickly ran towards her mother and helped her bring in the large bag. "Mom are you alright?" She worried, quickly putting down the bag and helping her mother to the nearest chair.
Her mother huffed tiredly.
"Please tell me you at least took a car back home." Adelina fretted. Her mother gave a sheepish look as she poured herself a glass of water.
Adelina frowned and grabbed the thermometer. She gasped. Her mother's fever was extremely high.
"I'm fine, I promise." Her mother reassured Adelina.
"No you're not! You're fever is so high. I told you it doesn't matter how much it is, you can't exert yourself like that. You should've called a car." Adelina lectured as she grabbed the medicine.
Her mother took the medicine quickly. "I couldn't do that, it was too much. I know you're struggling as it is right now and me taking money for cars won't help." Her mother explained.
"You resting and recovering is more important than anything. Over exerting yourself isn't helping either." Adelina chided.
Her mother looked sullen as she closed her eyes. Small tears began to peek out of the corners. "I feel so useless. I just want to help my family yet all I do is worry you." Her mother murmured.
Adelina felt a knot bulge in her throat as tears of her own began to pool.
She threw her arms around her mother.
"Mom you are the glue in our family. We want you to rest and recover. When you're better you can help. But for now, just let me do the worrying and the work. I love you. I don't want anything to happen to you." Adelina whispered to her mother.
A moment passed as the two found comfort in the embrace.
"Let's get you to bed for right now." Adelina scooted and gently brought her mother to her room.
Adelina closed the door quietly. She furrowed her brows in worry as she plopped down onto the couch.
She just wanted to take care of her family and for her mother to finally be healthy once again.
She let out a tired sigh as she was trapped in her thoughts.
All she needed was to nail her interview tonight and a lot of her worries would cease.
A loud ring resounded from her phone. Adelina was startled out of her thoughts.
Just who was calling her right now?
She swiped and put the phone to her ear.
"Hello?" She answered.
The voice on the other end was not one she had expected.
"Adelina. My favorite part timer. Can you please come over to the shop for a bit my dear." Robert's wife cooed on the other end.
"Huh?" Adelina blurted, surprised at hearing the warmness in the greedy woman's voice.
"I need to talk to you about last night. Please come quickly." The wife begged.
Adelina went into a spiral.
What was wrong now?
Why was Robert's wife calling her? And why was she acting so warm?
"Adelina dear?" The woman questioned from the other end of the phone, pulling Adelina out of her head.
"Ah yes. I'll be right over." Adelina agreed.
"Great! See you soon my dear." The woman responded happily before ending the call.
Adelina quickly headed out the door towards the shop. She wondered what could have possibly happened since last night to warrant a call like that.