Quest For Acceptance

Chapter One

Third-Person POV

Salvador heads into work at the office, determined to have a discussion with his boss about a raise. He’s been working at the company for ten years and feels like he’s made a valuable contribution, but recently, his wife has been spending more money at home, and he needs to increase his income to keep up. As he walks down the hallway toward his boss’s office, he takes a deep breath and tries to calm his nerves.

When he reaches the office, he knocks on the door and waits for a response. “Come in,” a voice calls out from within. Salvador takes a deep breath and opens the door, stepping inside the office. His boss, Mr. Jones, looks up from his desk and smiles. “Good morning, Salvador,” he says. “What can I help you with today?”

“Good morning, Mr. Jones,” Salvador greets, his voice tinged with a hint of nervousness as he attempts to project confidence. The lighting in the office accentuates the lines etched on his face, evidence of a decade-long commitment to the company. He takes a deep breath, mustering the courage to continue.

“I wanted to speak to you about my salary,” Salvador continues, his voice steady but with a note of earnestness. The office walls seem to close in around him, amplifying the weight of his words. It’s clear that this conversation holds significant importance to him.

Hours of preparation and self-reflection have culminated in this moment. Salvador knows that his contributions to the company are both valuable and substantial. An evident sense of pride radiates from him as he presents his case, hoping to persuade Mr. Jones of his worth.

“I feel like I’ve made a valuable contribution to the company over the past ten years,” Salvador explains, emphasizing his tenure.

He continues, his voice sincere and unwavering. “I was hoping you could consider giving me a raise.” Salvador’s eyes, filled with hope, never waver from Mr. Jones’s gaze, seeking understanding and empathy. The room seems to hold its breath, awaiting the response to his plea.

“I know things have been tough recently with the economy, but I really need the extra money to support my family.”

As Salvador makes his final plea, his voice softens, tinged with vulnerability yet laced with determination.

“Can you please raise my salary to $1000?”

Silence fills the room, the tension mounting as he awaits Mr. Jones’s response.

“And you think you’re in the right place to ask for an increase in salary? How? I can’t increase your salary to $1000. If you want to continue working here, you’ll have to accept a pay cut from $500 to $700,” he says. Salvador raises his head, realizing he isn’t in a position to complain. He decides to accept it as it is.

“I’ll accept it,” he says, and Mr. Jones suddenly bursts into laughter.

Mr. Jones starts to laugh at Salvador’s apparent cowardice, finding amusement in his willingness to accept the decreased salary. However, as the laughter subsides, Mr. Jones ponders the situation further. He realizes that even the proposed salary of $700 is still too high for the underperforming MC.

After a moment of consideration, Mr. Jones decides to take things a step further. He wants to assert his authority and show Salvador just how replaceable he is. With a cruel smile, the boss approaches him and whispers, “You know what? I’ve reconsidered. I think your salary should be reduced even more. Let’s make it $200, and consider it a favor.”

Salvador’s heart sinks as he realizes the boss’s true intentions. The offer of laughter and mockery quickly turns into a ruthless attempt to devalue his work.

“How could you cut my salary down to $200?” Salvador’s voice quivers with a mix of disbelief and indignation, his eyes searching for any sign of empathy from his employer. “I have worked so hard for this place, given my all to this company. Have you forgotten the impact I’ve had? The dedication I’ve shown?”

Salvador’s voice rises with each word, his frustration pouring out. The weight of ten years of hard work and dedication hangs heavily in the air. The prospect of being reduced to such a meager salary is an insult that cuts to his core.

“I deserve to be recognized for my efforts. I deserve to be able to ask for a raise,” Salvador continues, his tone pleading, as if hoping to spark a sense of fairness within his employer. But instead of understanding, Mr. Jones, his supervisor, bursts into raucous laughter.

The sound echoes through the room, reverberating off the walls, intensifying Salvador’s feeling of being belittled. It’s a mocking laugh, a dismissal of his worth and contribution. The frustration within Salvador deepens, mingling with a growing sense of betrayal.

Silence drapes the room as Mr. Jones finally regains control over his laughter. The sound of it lingers, a bitter reminder of the lack of respect that Salvador feels. With a heavy heart and newfound resolve, Salvador knows that his time at this company has come to an end. Gathering the shards of his dignity, he makes his final declaration, his voice filled with both sadness and determination.

“If $200 is what you think I am worth,” Salvador speaks, his words laced with a mix of disappointment and defiance, “then I have no choice but to resign.”

“Wait! Did you expect me to beg you, since you’ve chosen to resign? Well, consider yourself fired,” he says. Salvador takes a final glance at the boss’s office before walking out.

As he walks back to his desk, Salvador feels numb. He can’t believe this is happening. He has worked so hard for this company, and now he’s being let go.

Finally, he can’t take it anymore. He stands up and walks out of the office, finds himself in the parking lot, his chest heaving as he tries to breathe. He feels like the walls are closing in on him, like he can’t breathe.

He leans against the wall, endeavoring to calm himself down. But it’s no use. The shock of losing his job is too much to bear. He feels like he’s falling apart, like he’s unraveling at the seams.

As Salvador stands there, his mind begins to wander to thoughts of his family. Images of his wife, a woman who seems to prioritize spending over their modest income, surface in his thoughts. Perhaps her upbringing in a wealthy family has influenced her behavior. The weight of their financial struggle burdens him, and he wonders if she truly understands the gravity of their situation.

As his thoughts continue to unravel, Salvador can’t escape the looming reality of facing not just his family, but also his in-laws. The thought of his wife’s family, who now seem to have a diminished opinion of him, weighs heavily on his mind. He knows that keeping his current predicament a secret from them is not a wise decision.

His father-in-law, a man whose disdain for Salvador is deeply ingrained, is certain to seize this opportunity to remind him of his perceived inadequacies. Salvador can’t help but feel a tinge of anxiety at the thought of facing another round of scathing criticism and insults.

His father-in-law has never been very fond of him. He’s a successful businessman, and he thinks Salvador is not good enough for his daughter. He has always made it clear that he thinks Salvador is beneath her, and that she could do better. Salvador has tried to prove himself, but it seems like nothing he does is ever good enough.

As he stands there, his thoughts racing, he feels like he’s on the verge of a breakdown. He doesn’t know how to cope with the loss of his job and the feeling of failure that’s weighing him down. He feels like he’s suffocating, like he can’t breathe. He feels like he’s drowning, and he doesn’t know how to save himself. He feels like he’s in a dark hole, and he can’t see a way out.

Suddenly, he feels a hand on his shoulder. He turns to see his friend, Ben, standing there, a look of concern on his face. “Are you okay?” he asks, his voice gentle.

Salvador looks at him, and for the first time, he feels like he might be able to get through this. “No,” he says, his voice cracking. “I’m not okay.”

“I won’t ask you what the problem is, but all I know is that you’ll be fine, Salvador. You’re always fine,” Ben says reassuringly, his voice filled with a mixture of concern and genuine care. Salvador, feeling the weight of his worries, simply nods in response, unable to find the words to express his gratitude for Ben’s support.

With a heavy heart, Salvador turns away from Ben and walks to the garage.

Some hours later, Salvador arrives at the gate. A heavy breath escapes his lips as he faces the seemingly insurmountable task of entering his own home. The weight of past encounters and the knowledge that there will be no respite awaiting him within those walls makes every visit a challenge. The only reason he musters the strength to come home after a long day at work is his love for his wife. It’s this love that keeps him tethered to a place where he constantly has to tolerate the disapproval and resentment from his in-laws.

With cautious deliberation, he turns the doorknob, entering the living room with a mix of apprehension and surprise. His eyes meet the disdainful stares of Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Jackson, and Sandra (his wife). Their disapproval radiates through the room, making Salvador feel smaller with each passing moment. Bowing his head, he continues his slow progress, stepping further into the house as if weighed down by the burden of their contempt.

“Good evening, mum and dad,” Salvador greets, his voice gentle and respectful. Mr. Jackson abruptly rises from his seat, his expression contorted with anger and disappointment.

“Dad? In what way do I look like your dad to you?” Mr. Jackson’s words drip with venom, laced with the bitterness that has come to define their relationship. The cruel reminder of Salvador’s perceived inadequacy stings deeply, a constant reminder of his failures. “I can never birth a son as useless as you. I thought you said they were going to raise your salary?”

The onslaught of criticism, delivered with such spite, leaves Salvador momentarily at a loss for words. The weight of his employer’s decision and the disapproval from his father-in-law bears down upon him, diminishing any semblance of self-worth he clings to.