JIM IS HIM

CHAPTER 08

“I never wanted to ask for the money I’ve given you,” Jim said with a heavy heart, “but you’re earned a lot through finance, and now you’re very capable of giving me my money. I don’t need any interest. Just give me the 4.3 million dollars, and I’ll sign the documents wherever you want me to.”

Lola could not maintain a straight face anymore. “J-Jim, you gave me money, but I gave you my daughter. I let you live in my home for four years.”

Jim didn’t like her response at all. “Are you saying you don’t want to give my money back?”

Lola didn’t respond this time.

“I worked my ass off in this house, Aunt, even though your husband treated me like shit,” Jim growled, “even though you treated me not as your brother’s son but just as would treat a maid. And I never complained about that, did I? So, stop with your nonsense, and give me money.”

Lola sipped on the coffee that he made and softly shook her head. “Sorry, but my money is spread out, and collecting it from different people and companies won’t be easy.”

Jim ground his teeth. Now, he understood why Anne told him that Lola was more dangerous than Marc. “So you are finally showing your true colors.” As much as he wanted to hit her, he controlled himself. “I can’t believe I trusted you just because you were my dad’s sister. I should have been wiser.” He looked toward the washroom. “Why aren’t you coming out, Rena? Do you also agree with your mother?”

The door opened, and Rena stepped out, wearing a complex expression. Unlike her mother, she looked a bit guilty. “J-Jim, I will give you some money, but since things have come this far, I think we should take divorce.”

Jim’s eyes turned wet. “I don’t need your money. I will send you the divorce papers soon.” He turned and started walking.

“W-Where are you going?” Rena asked, but her mother softly hissed at her, as if telling her to not bother.

Jim went to his room and packed his bag. He only took the clothes that fitted in that one bag, and then walked out.

Seeing him going down the stairs, Rena said, “Mom, this isn’t right. You can’t send him like this. At least give him some money.”

“No matter how much I give him, it won’t be enough,” Lola told her. “He can cook, can’t he? I’m sure he can find a job somewhere.”

Rena pursed her lips. How could Jim, who had been working in the house for the last four years, find a job outside all of a sudden now? He didn’t have prior experience with working outside either because he used to work in his father’s restaurant, so finding a job should be a completely foreign experience to him.

Just putting herself in his shoes for a second made her feel so anxious and scared for her own future.

Seeing the worry on Rena’s face, Lola warned, “Don’t even think about helping him. Just get the divorce and be done with him. I’ll find you a rich, lovely husband in no time.”

Finding another husband was what Rena wanted but not at the expense of leaving Jim with nothing. She tried to get to Jim, but Lola stopped her and hissed at her, “Don’t get emotional, Rena. I’ll find you someone who’s as tall and handsome.”

“Mom, that’s not what I’m worried about,” Rena stressed her words. “He’s helped our family. He’s cleared ‘your’ debt. You can’t just let him go like this.”

“This is his choice,” Lola indifferently said.

“What will the people think? That we used him and then kicked him out after he’s longer of use,” Rena blurted. “Are you okay with others saying such things to your face? I’m not!”

“He said he doesn’t want your money, so what else is there for you to give him, huh?” Lola asked what she believed was a valid question, and this made Rena stop in her tracks.

Jim walked out of the building. He could see the Toyota Camry, but he walked the other direction.

Marc, his father-in-law, was watering the plants not because he cared for the plants but just to show his wife that he was doing something productive. Marc saw Jim walking away with the bag and didn’t smile because he thought that Jim was going out on a trip. So, he hurried off to Jim. “Hey, if you leave on a trip, who’s going to cook food and wash our clothes?”

Jim glanced at him with a bit of disgust in his eyes. “After me, you’re the one that everybody looks down on in this house, so of course, it’ll be you, Uncle. I wish you good luck.”

“H-Hey,” Marc tried to stop him, but Jim just pushed him away and left. “I have to cook and clean now? This has never happened before. How long is he going out on a vacation?” Marc could only wonder. Before Jim entered their family, it was Marc who cooked, but he grew extremely lazy after Jim’s arrival, but now he knew that his wife would unhesitantly make him do all the labor.

Jim was walking out. A taxi came by asking if he needed a ride, but Jim kept walking. The taxi left.

“I have no money to even pay for the taxi,” Jim murmured.

[Nope. You do have the 100 dollars Lola gave you the other night.] Anne reminded him.

Jim checked his pockets and took out the hundred dollar note. He threw the note over the perimeter wall of the mansion. The wind took the note in Marc’s direction. He caught and happily pocketed it, even though he had no idea that it was Jim who threw that note.

[Don’t be down, Jim. All you need to do is find a woman and have sex with her.] Anne said. [Then a whole different world will open up to you.]

Jim kept shaking his head slightly. “I have to find a job first. Everything else comes later.”

Just then, his mobile rang. It was an unknown number calling. His mobile was given to him by his mother-in-law. He wanted to throw it into the mansion, but Anne convinced him that he should at least keep it with him for all the work he had done in the mansion.

Jim eventually called the person back. “Hello, who is this?”

“I’m Bernard Williams. Is this Jim Drake I’m talking to?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“I’m your father’s lawyer and also his friend,” he said. “I have something I need to talk to you about. Can you please come over to my place?”

“Sure.” Jim hung up but his heart started beating fast. “My dad’s lawyer? Did my dad not pay the bills or something? This guy is not going to force me to pay, will he?”

[When it rains, it pours.] Anne commented.

“Shut your damn mouth, please!” Jim felt like it was raining even though it wasn’t. “Ever since I sold the restaurant, nothing has been going well for me. I work out every day to relieve my stress, but now, I’m homeless. And there’s a guy who claims to be my dad’s lawyer. He probably just wants money from me. This is so freaking great.”