I Am Back

Chapter 3

Eric's eyes followed the direction from which the voice came, and his eyes widened in shock.

He was bleeding blood from his nose yet all his boss, Alex Bill, could say right now is that he's going to pay and also fired.

“No, sir, I didn't do anything,” Eric said, his voice faint. “That rich, spoiled brat damaged it, and if anyone should pay, he should be the one.”

“And what makes you think I'm going to pay?” Cole laughed at him with a boastful expression. “He knows who I am and can't dare ask me to pay a penny.”

Eric stood up weakly, his eyes dark. “Fuck you! Who the hell do you think you are that you can't pay for what you damaged?”

Eric turned towards Alex, his boss. “You have to hold him, sir,” his voice soft but demanding. “He has to be taught a lesson!”

Alex looked at him indifferently and spoke coldly. “Shut up you bastard! You think I was watching how you tried to attack this young man here?”

“That's because he slept with my girlfriend! They lied to me, believing they had nothing to do together!”

Alex laughed, his tone mocking. “You can't take good care of your girlfriend and you expect her not to cheat on you? Is it being done anywhere? If you need to get angry, then be angry with your miserable self, not anyone.”

Eric's eyes flashed with disbelief and annoyance. His fist clenched, his jaw tightening.

Just when he opened his mouth to speak, Alex cut him off. “Be quiet! I'm not done talking.” His eyes scanned around the place.

Seeing onlookers staring at them, Alex continued. “You see what your senseless action has caused? They now stared at us because of you. I'm sorry but I don't need someone like you to be working here again. You're bringing a reputation here.”

Eric's heart skipped. “No, sir. You can't do this to me. I have always been hardworking. Remember, when you commented about my dedication.”

Alex's face turned stern. “Does that matter? You've got the guts to fight Cole and expect something less? You can't be serious with your life.”

As he dipped his hand into his pocket to take something, realization dawned on Eric.

So, it was because of Cole's status and little prominence that his boss, Alex, is siding with him now?

Unbelievable!

However, his job was still important to him. It was something he needed. Yes, his life depended on it to survive.

Kneeling down, tears began to stream down Eric's face. “Sir, you just do this to me because of him,” he said, pointing at Cole. “You can't allow his influence to make you take a decision you never wished to. Please, sir, I really need this job.”

Cole laughed as he stepped forward. He leaned down slowly to Eric's level, mocking. “You can't be serious right now. A moment ago, you were fighting to have Ivy back, and just now you're begging for you to be retained in your job. What a loser you truly are.”

Eric turned and glared at him. “She should go stay with someone older than him because of money. Besides, my job is better than a slut!”

Ivy's face turned red at Eric's words. Her blood boiled.

Cole's fists tightened. “How dare you!” He was about to spank Eric on the face but the latter held his hand, grabbing him up.

“I have been quiet enough but if you dare lay that filthy hand on me again, I'm going to kill you!”

His face was so dangerous that Cole flinched, afraid.

“Not that I'm useful to society so I don't mind spending all my life in prison,” he said angrily and pulled Cole's hand down. “Don’t cross your line next time!”

Although Cole took Eric as a nobody, he couldn't help but be afraid of him for that moment.

But just as Eric turned to face Alex, trying to soften his expression, Alex tossed coins worth over just $100 with a cold expression.

“Your pay was supposed to be $300 but the damage made is over $200. The damage felt has been subtracted from it. That's over $100 from the ground. Take them and leave,” Alex said, his expression ice-cold.

Eric looked at him with disbelief in his eyes. He was stunned not expecting to hear or receive such an action from his boss.

This is the same boss he had served for years without any complaints from him.

“You can't be serious, sir. You're firing me because of him?” He asked, stammering.

“I'm dead serious!” Alex replied before adding. “I don't see why I'm still here exchanging words with you.”

With that, he turned to other staff members and told them to get back to work before he finally walked away.

Tears started dropping from Eric's eyes as he watched Alex walking away. There’s no way he's going to be earning now that he has lost this job.

No way! He ran quickly and fell at Alex's feet. “No, sir,” he started shaking his head. “You can't do this to me. I have no job except for this. If you sack me, where do you expect me to feed from? Please, don't do this to me. I beg of you.”

Eric pleaded with everything in him but Alex was cold. Too cold that he didn't even listen to him.

“Get out of my sight, you bastard!” He jerked his leg out of his hand. Without a word, he walked away, his step purposefully fast.

Eric remained on his knees, tears blurring his vision, his shoulders slumped in sorrow and he went into deep thoughts.

At that moment, he felt his world had crumbled.

Just then, Cole walked to him, laughing uncontrollably, his voice mocking.

“Young man,” he called sarcastically. “Don't be overpained. Just start picking up the coins and leave. Not that the job you're doing here is a good one. It's just a cleaning thing. Go out there and look for a similar one, you'll get it in no time.”

Eric was sorely upset that he couldn't say a word to him. In fact, it wasn't worth exchanging words with him.

But then, Ivy spoke, her voice causing Eric's blood to boil. “Cole is rich. His parents are wealthy. He can help you secure a cleaning position at their company.”

Eric glared at her and spat. “If it's just their company left in this world, I'd rather die than work there!” He replied swiftly.

Getting up, Eric looked up at Ivy, whose expression was bitter. “After everything I did for you, and this is how you're paying me back? To live with him just because he's rich? I bet you're going to regret this. Trust me!”

“Those are words people say every day,” Ivy replied, chuckling mockingly. “You’re nothing and will forever be nothing!”

“You think so?” Eric raised an eyebrow, asking with a bitter smirk. “Have you forgotten that the crowd is always pregnant and has better things ahead?”

“In your own case, the crowd has already given birth. Nothing good is coming your way. Your life will remain this miserable till your death, Eric. Take that piece of reality and keep it to yourself.”

Cole checked his time and as Ivy was about to continue mocking Eric, he interrupted. “There’s absolutely no time on our end. Why waste it on a loser like him when we can use it for something better?”

He grabbed Ivy's hand, pulling her to himself. She purposefully placed her hand against Cole's chest shamelessly, trying to pepper Eric.

“Let's go back to the house and continue when we stop. That will add value to our time instead.”

Without waiting for any response, he took Ivy away toward his car.

Eric stood there, utterly shattered. But after a few minutes, he wiped his tears, bent down, and gathered the coins.

Despite the gazes on him, he shoved them into his pocket.

I mean, who wouldn't? He earned it so it's nothing.

Without delay, he walked away.