Charismatic Shoemaker Lloyd

Chapter 2

*Charismatic Shoemaker Lloyd*

Benton’s hand shook as he pushed open the car door and stepped onto the dusty street. His eyes, red from tears, fixed on his small shoemaker shop, its faded sign swinging in the breeze. The street hummed vendors yelling and carts creaking but the Tysons’ betrayal weighed heavy on him.

His phone buzzed on the seat, Avery’s name lighting up the screen.

“Just landed. Can't wait to see you.” His heart twisted with concern. He was supposed to play the good husband, fetch Avery like a loyal dog. Unsure of what to do, he raised his head and stuffed the old phone into his pocket.

Thomas' nasty voice broke through. “Look at the dirty dog, slinking back to his den!” Thomas jeered, his voice loud enough to turn heads. “Bet the Tysons kicked that flea-bitten dog to the street right where he belongs!”

Benton’s chest tightened, but he trudged toward his shop, head down. Thomas had hated him ever since Benton’s leatherwork beat him for a Tyson job that he was not only rewarded but became their son in law in the process.

“Hey, street rat!” Thomas shouted, tossing a rotten peach that splatted near Benton’s boots. “Scurry back to your hole! No fancy mansion for a sewer animal like you!”

Thomas taunts hit like punches. Benton’s fingers curled, then grabbed a bottle from a crate. He whirled and smashed it on Thomas' arm, glass flying. “Shut up!” Benton yelled.

Thomas cursed, swinging a fist, and his friends jumped in. The street turned chaotic, punches landed, shouts rang out. Benton ducked a blow, his knuckles grazing Thomas' chin before he broke free and stumbled into his shop.

He slammed the door, with Thomas' voice chasing him: “Run, you dirty rat! Bark for your masters, dog!”

“Trash!” Thomas yelled, throwing anything at the Sedan parked outside.

Benton sank onto a stool at his workbench, the shop's quiet environment wrapping around him like a blanket. Dusty tools, leather scraps, and half-made shoes stared back, mocking his shattered dreams. This place used to feel like home. Now it was a cage.

He pulled out his phone, Avery’s text glowing: “Landed. Can't wait to see you.” He let out a sharp and bitter laughter. Was she in on her father’s plan, ready to flaunt his stolen designs? The thought burned worse than Thomas' words.

Despair swallowed him whole. Benton’s eyes landed on a chisel blade shining on the table. Maybe it was better to end it here, where he had poured his heart. He grabbed the chisel, his hands trembling, and held it to his chest. “I’m just a pushover,” he whispered, all the taunts echoing in his head. “A rat. Nothing.” Tears fell, blurring the blade.

The doorbell jingled, and Benton’s head snapped up. A man stood there, tall in a shiny suit, his polished shoes screaming money. “Fix these,” he said, holding up a scratched shoe. “Have it done by tomorrow.”

Benton’s laugh was raw, like broken glass. He wiped his eyes, hiding his hurt, and set the chisel down. “The sign says closed. Can’t you read?”

The man didn’t blink. “I’m in a hurry for a big meeting. Are you going to work on it or waste my time?”

The man’s smug tone, his fancy clothes, lit a fire in Benton’s gut. Rich people always acted like they owned him. “Shop is closed,” Benton said, voice hard. “Dont disturb me. Go.”

“I’ll pay double,” the man said, tossing a fat stack of cash on the table. “Money fixes everything, right?”

Fury exploded in Benton, clenching his jaws he lunged, grabbing the man’s collar. “Money doesn’t buy me!” he shouted, face inches from the stranger’s.

“Not my designs! Not my skill! You’re all the same, calling me a dog, a rat, thinking I’m dirt!” Tommy’s taunts, Harris’s smirk, the Tysons’ sneers poured out, his voice shaking with rage.

Sirens wailed outside, and Benton let go, stepping back. The man smoothed his suit, his hand teacher to a thin scratch on his neck. “Fix that shoe by tomorrow,” he said, ice in his voice. “This scratch could put you in jail if I want.” He dropped the shoe on the table and left, the door swinging shut.

“Because there is no law to protect me? How is the scratch any of my business?” Benton refuted.

“You're so smart, fix it to avoid being locked behind bars.”

Benton sighed as he rubbed his hand across his face.

…

Benton snapped back to reality when he grabbed his car key from the counter and rushed towards the car. Upon getting to the Tysons glass company eyes were etched on him.

Looking to his right he realized Avery had gotten in without him picking her up at the airport but he kept his face passive.

Avery walked up to him, Benton forced a smile on his face attempting to greet her. “Avery—”

A nasty slap cut across his face. He couldn't explain the feeling but it was something else. “What were you thinking? You think delaying me will stop the product launching event.”

Benton felt a sharp blade slashed across his heart, he had told himself that Avery could be a sharp mouth, arrogant but she will support him no matter what, or did her father threaten her.

“Avery tell Benton about the launching event,”

Benton looked at Avery hoping she would not say anything but instead she looked at him in the eyes. “The launching event was a success and Tysons company will be getting a big collaboration with Hulda company. You know what that means for us? It's a great change.”

Benton stood unable to speak.

“Avery.” he called softly but she rolled her eyes, the compassion that he once knew was cold and vivid.

“With that said, we need to get strong backing and expand our scope.” Tyson turned to his daughter, “Avery, tell Benton who you'd be marrying next week.”

“Because you've served our family you have the grace of today to sign the divorce paper, well, to be a lion we must lose appetite for rats.”

Avery left him without concern and she walked towards her car. Benton watched as she left then turned to her father, Tyson, “Avery, did your father threaten you! You can be honest with me.”

Tyson cleared his throatpunchingBenton in the gut. “That is enough. Respect yourself and stop humiliating my daughter in front of investors.” Tyson whispered in a gruesome tone, Benton was shattered that he couldn't believe his eyes.