Chapter One

Where is this useless fellow that calls himself a son-in-law!? Where has he disappeared to again?” From where he stood, Cash Morgan could hear Dame Katrina bellow from the dining area and he shivered to his toes, he couldn't imagine what he must have done this time to warrant her screams. 

Wanting to avoid further trouble, he hurriedly rushed towards where her voice echoed from, as he got to the dining area, he faltered in his steps at the glare she threw at him, his mother-in-law and father-in-law with some of his other in-laws sat all sneering at him, he shuddered inwards. 

“I'm sorry grandmother I wa…” 

“Don't you dare call me that you bastard! I'm not your grandmother” Katrina bellowed angrily as she interjected Cash, looking at him with disdain in her eyes. 

“I'm sorry Dame Katrina” Lowering his eyes, Cash mumbled instead, Dame Katrina gave a loud hiss in response

“He's such a low-life Mother, I wonder what made Grandpa force Vivian into marrying him, he's of no worth” Cassie, his wife's sister whispered loudly to her mother, and as she did she stared contemptuously at him. 

His mother-in-law, on the other hand, snickered behind her hand at her daughter's statement, she loathed Cash and hated her father-in-law for roping her precious daughter into a marriage with the fool. 

He couldn't imagine why his family hated him this much, he had been a dutiful son-in-law, in law and husband all the while he had been married to Vivian Kenton, but nothing he did was ever right in Kenton’s eyes, the one ally he had, the patriarch of Kenton’s family had unfortunately passed on a few years ago. 

Cash sighed to himself, there was no need to try to defend himself from these ones, who were hell-bent on being his everyday crucifiers. 

“I'm talking to you, you bloody fool! When I talk to you, you respond and look at me, you aren't permitted to look away from me!”

“Sorry about that Dame” he muttered once more, Katrine tsked and ignored him

“Your stupidity and incompetence have made me forget the reason I called you here, you fool!” she blurted loudly, glaring at him as though he was dirt she wanted to get rid of badly, she took a quick glance at her manicured nails and exclaimed loudly, 

“get out of my sight you low life” Stumbling on his feet, he made to quickly leave their presence, until the sound of her voice had him stopping in his steps 

“Hold it right there! Now I remember why I called you fool. Care to tell me why my office was not properly cleaned and dusted today you moron!?” looking at him contemptuously, she demanded answers

Confusion filled Cash’s eyes at her question, lowering his gaze with his head hanging, he answered in a low voice

“I was not the one in charge of your floor today Ma’am, I'm not awa…”

Splash

With the transparent-flavoured liquid streaming down his face, Cash was unable to explain himself, his heart ached at the humiliation while his eyes stung at the alcohol that had entered his eyes, as he made to wipe off his face, Katrina’s billowing voice had him pausing his hand midway, 

“How dare you talk back at me, how dare you tell me you aren't in charge of my office you fool, aren't you a cleaner of the office anymore? Yet you stand there spewing trash from your mouth. No surprise there as you're thrash yourself” 

The people present at the table, snickered and guffawed to their heart’s content, seeing how their family head had dealt with the low life. 

Cash didn't know how to respond, his head hanging, he apologised once more

“I'm sorry Dame, I'll personally clean your office tomorrow Ma”

At his utterance, he heard other members began to murmur among themselves, Jason Kenton, his wife's cousin was the first to speak up, looking sweetly at his grandmother, 

“Mine as well grandma. I want Cash to clean my office, that's what he's employed for anyway”

If he could, Cash would yell and refute the employed claim, he was paid less to nothing, and he was sure his earnings were the lowest in their office, even George his friend who was lower than him, earned way higher than him, in all Cash couldn't talk, as he was at least grateful for a roof over his head and food in his tummy.

Dame Katrina’s voice broke through his thoughts,

“You heard my precious grandson, you'll be cleaning the offices of each person seated here tomorrow, are we clear!?” she demanded of him, contempt lacing her eyes. 

Cash attempted to nod his head in response, but thought better of it, lifting his head slightly, he responded with

“Yes Dame we are”

He could still hear their snickering and sniggers and willed the tears in his eyes not to drop if they did, he wouldn't hear the last of it, of that he was sure

“Better. Go now and get me a glass of chilled water, anything less than chilled and you are done for.” 

“Ok Ma” he replied and hurriedly proceeded towards the direction of the kitchen. Hurrying to the kitchen, he failed to see the arrival of Vivian, his wife and rammed into her, causing her hand-held bag to drop

Mumbling his apology, he bent to retrieve the bag and some of its discarded items off the ground, placing them back into the bag, rising slowly, still muttering his apology, Cash lifted his eyes and was met with the cold and hateful gaze of his wife. 

Extending the bag to her awaiting hand, it hung between them as Vivian hadn't received it, still looking at him with disdain-filled eyes. He was certain those seated at the dining were craning their necks, to watch the looming drama. Wanting to avoid the said trouble, Cash audibly apologised

“Sorry about that Viv, I didn't see you com…” 

Smack

Cash stared at Vivian, as he rubbed at the sting on his cheeks, the slap she landed on his face, had him pausing his apology midway. 

Grabbing her bag out of his loose grip, Vivian sneered at him, and in her venomous voice informed Cash, 

“Learn to watch where you're going to bloody fool!” and without a backwards glance, headed to join her family at the dining table, leaving a gaped Cash still rubbing at the sting

Wrapping himself in self-pity, he heard Dame Katrina as she bellowed once more, 

“My chilled water will not fetch itself, nincompoop!”