His Forgotten Legacy: Cash Redemption

Chapter Two

Cash was exhausted, following Dame Katrina’s orders of the previous night, he had seen to cleaning the offices of over five of his in-laws, the offices had been in a terrible state, with papers strewn in different areas of the room, coffee stains on the desk and rotting food, it was as like they had all planned to make their office in that state. 

Wanting to avoid Dame’s wrath, he had thoroughly cleaned all offices, leaving them spick and span. He was left with Vivian’s office, and he had purposely kept it last; saving the best for last. 

He had a gift for her, a nice bracelet he had been saving for from his meagre salary, he had seen it displayed at a shop window and had instantly imagined it on Vivian’s beautiful wrist. He hoped to God she'd like it, he wanted to give it to her as a peace offering after last night’s incident. He didn't like it when Vivian was angry at him. 

The urge to please her and give her the gift surged a renewed energy and life into Cash’s former self, and he happily walked down the hallway, whistling as he did; without minding that he was in a formal and office setting. He ached to see Vivian’s pleased reaction when he presented the beautiful bracelet to her. 

With a wide smile on his face, he proceeded to her office, patting his trouser pocket to ensure the gift was intact, he wheeled the mop bucket and mop in one hand, with his broom and napkins bunched under his arm. 

“Vivian is going to flip when she sees this, I'm sure she's going to love it. Hopefully, this will ease her mind and help our relationship to be better” he spoke to himself, hurrying down the hallway amidst the work tools he carried. 

Just as Cash rounded the corner to Vivian’s office, he began to hear strange sounds, his eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. Listening, he realised the sound was coming from Vivian’s office, and he hurried down there. Worried, he abandoned his cleaning tools and ran to help his wife out of whatever trouble she might be in. 

Muttering assurances to himself, he reached her door and discovered it to be slightly opened, his brows drew together, lines forming between them. Not giving into any thought or hesitation, he pushed open the door with a bang, and as the door opened widely, Cash faltered in his steps, staggering to a halt. 

Closing his eyes in disbelief, and in hope that what he had encountered was only one but a dream, willing for it to be a dream, he opened his eyes and once again staggered backwards, his jaw dropping, Vivian locked lips with another man, and they were still oblivious to his presence. 

They were both passionately lost in a deep kiss, their tongues fighting dominance, the man’s hands roaming and caressing Vivian’s body in passionate embrace and familiarity. Cash shuddered, tears gathering in his eyes, his heart raced and pounded within him like it would burst and give way at any minute. 

The pain and grief made way to anger, his cheeks were a burning red, with his fist clenched. This wasn't a dream but a reality, his wife was kissing another man that wasn't him so passionately. 

Unable to watch them any longer, he spat out her name

“Vivian!!!” even his voice sounded alien to him, dripping in venomous rage, anger and disbelief 

His scream broke the couple apart, pausing their entanglement, Vivian had the decency to look guilty, embarrassed and remorseful, albeit for a second, before remorse and guilt masked into disdain and anger. The man, on the other hand, smirked at Cash and wiped at his lips slowly with his thumb, winking at Cash as he did, his arm still holding Vivian’s waist in an intimate embrace. 

Finding his voice once again, Cash tried to demand of his wife 

“What the heck is happening here Vivian, who is this man, and why are you kissing another man who's not your husband, or have you suddenly forgotten that you're a married woman!?” Cash managed to utter the words, his voice trembling with anger, pain and disbelief. 

Before he could go on, Vivian sneered at him and scoffed loudly

“I dare to because he is twice the man you'll ever be, in deeds, money and even in bed. I do not consider you to be my husband, you are just a burden, a load my grandfather put on me and nothing more. So to answer your question, no I do not consider myself to be a married woman, just one ladened with a poor bastard who is inept at everything!” Chin held high, Vivian shot back at him sneering at him with unhidden hatred

Tears spilled from Cash’s eyes, with each hurtful and heartbreaking word she threw at him, and he angrily wiped at it with his fist, his head hanging, he could feel her hot glare on him. 

He couldn't and would not stand still as another man kissed his wife, even if she wasn't remorseful, narrowing his eyes, he stomped over to the man with the smirk on his face and grabbed him by the collar

“Who are you, and what are you doing with my wife you shameless man!?” he spat into the man’s face as he questioned him. 

The man hadn't made to reply, still smirking at Cash. Vivian, in a flush of anger, grabbed at the hand that held her lover’s collar and jerked it away, in shock, Cash stumbled backwards, while trying to gain his balance Vivian landed a heavy slap on his cheeks. His face swayed to the other side with the force of her slap, hands covering his mouth, he gaped at her

“Y-you sl-slapped me?” stammering, he muttered out loud

“And I will do it again if care isn't taken, the shirt you're rough handling is more than enough to pay for your whole year’s salary with extra, yet to treat it as though it is the rags you wear.” she retorted, her voice laced with contempt and disgust.