His Forgotten Legacy: Cash Redemption

Chapter Seven

Cash trudged down the street of the estate, occasionally sighing as he did, cursing his life and the path it chose. His face was caked with tears that had dried from his eyes. Seeing a bench in the distance, he dragged himself towards it, reaching it, he folded his weary body unto it, and slouched on the chair, his head propped in both hands. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't find it in him to cry anymore, even tears, his sole companion had left him. 

The street was practically deserted with only a few cars driving by. Slouched on the bench, Cash slid his hands into his pocket, to bring out his old and overused phone. He had nowhere to go, but he hoped to God that George, his friend and colleague would be willing to put a roof over his head for the night. 

Dialling George’s number, he waited as the phone rang at the other end

“Hey my man, what's up?” George's voice picked up over the phone. Biting the inside of his cheek, with his head swaying both Cash kept quiet at the sound of his friend’s voice

“Hey Man, you there?”

Closing his eyes briefly, Cash cleared his throat and responded to a waiting George

“Yes, I am. Sorry I was zoned out for a bit” 

“No problem dude, happens to the best of us. What can I do you for my man?” he chuckled lightly at his own joke. The silence that greeted him from the other end had George creasing his face into a frown, his eyebrows creasing together. 

“Dude, you ok?”

Cash deeply exhaled, scratching his head he responded to the question

“Not really man, I need a place to stay.”

“Whoa, what happened dude? Trouble with the fam again?” George questioned

Running a hand through his face, Cash exhaled once more 

“It's a long story, man. I just need a place to sleep for tonight” 

“Well, my place isn't close to as grand as your in-laws, but you can come crash at my place tonight.” 

At those words, Cash breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the gesture

“Thank you, George, I'll be there in a few” Not giving George a chance to change his mind, he cut the call and slid the phone back into his pocket, standing up, he hurried towards the bus stop to catch the last bus for the night. 

                            ****

The next morning, a weary and tired Cash, clad in his cleaning uniform kept at his assigned duty of the day, cleaning the hallway. Last night, he had slept over at George’s shabby one-bedroom apartment and had explained to him all that played down in the Kenton’s mansion. 

The both of them had drowned their sorrows into a stupor with cheap beer, and Cash was currently bearing the consequences of his actions. He felt like he had been hit by a bus, his eyes sensitive to the lights in the hallway, almost blinding his eyesight. 

A splitting headache and nausea were dealing with him, he feared he lacked concentration to do his work, but having no choice kept at it. He tried hard to fight the aftermath of his decision, after all, he was cleaning the hallway of Katrina’s floor and knew woe would betide him if he was caught not being in the right frame to work. 

He had been tempted to call in sick to his supervisor this morning, to avoid coming to work, but knew that doing so would be asking for trouble. Blinking his eyes to try to clear his head, he continued mopping absentmindedly. 

Outside the Kenton’s Company, Justin and his father Victor Dane were headed for Dame Katrina’s office for a business matter. While at dinner the previous night, after they had sent Cash out, Dame Katrina had managed to subtly talk Justin into making his father come around and inspect their factory, in the hope of getting the bid. 

Father and Son were walking towards Katrina’s hallway, on the topmost floor of the office. The trio had planned on visiting the factory after their visit. Victor Dane, a suave man and a womaniser even in his old age, had dressed in one of his best outfits, having heard Katrina was a beauty and a widow. 

“How do I look, Son?” pausing to adjust his collar, he glanced at Justin who rolled his eyes in response and scoffed. 

“She's supposed to be the one worried about her looks and all” Victor smirked and waved him off

Humming to himself he kept on walking, with Justin by his side. A few feet away, Cash whose back was turned on them was busy with his mopping and was unaware of the the two people approaching from behind

Not realising the duo had almost stepped up beside him, trying to concentrate on his job, with his back still turned, Cash removed the mop from the bucket and without squeezing it placed it on the ground, causing the mop to splash some of its retained water. 

The next thing Cash felt, was a whack on his already splitting head, causing him to lose his footing slightly, regaining his balance, holding the side of his head in one hand, he turned to the direction where he felt the blow to his head from, and was greeted with an intense gaze of Victor’s eyes. He stumbled backwards again; it was like staring into a mirror image of his nemesis

“Are you blind or something!? Do you not know how to get your job done you bastard?” Victor bellowed and glanced at his trousers. Dazed, Cash looked down at Victor’s trousers and realised that little water had splashed on the helm of his trousers, which wasn't noticeable. 

 Cash looked back up to apologise and met Victor’s still glaring one, and Justin’s knowing smirk, to avoid trouble, he readily bowed his head and quietly apologised

“I'm sorry Sir, I didn't see you coming” 

“Your apology is of no use to me fool. I have a meeting to attend, and you've ruined my outfit. Why is someone as inept as you are, employed in such an establishment?” perplexed, Victor frowned at him 

Realising the trouser was drying, Cash raised his head slightly to apologise once again

“Your tr…” but before he could complete his statement, Victor once again landed a slap on his face, causing Cash’s eyes to sting and his ears to ring, holding onto his cheeks. 

“I didn't say you could speak” Victor snapped at him, scowling still. Nostrils flaring, his teeth gritting, Victor took a few steps forward, realising his son wasn't following, turned sideways and snapped at him

“Let's go, Son!” 

Lips curling, Justin shook his head as he made to join his father. He roughly brushed past Cash as he did, a few steps away from Cash who wasn't looking in their direction, Justin paused and with an evil gleam in his eyes, turned back towards Cash, still smiling maliciously, he bent and picked the bucket of mop water, and promptly doused Cash with it.