Chapter 1: fall

"This is not my salary; this is not the amount agreed upon; I did not sign up for this filthy amount," Alex Benjamin raged, clutching a few dollars. A fierce-looking lady with a few others wearing construction uniforms with reflective jackets and boots while carrying their helmet in their hands at the Green Network Contractors wage office. They encircled Alex Benjamin and their manager.

"This is too small, you must pay me in full, including my overtime, and I will give you all the time you need to check…" Alex yelled angrily, drawing everyone's attention.

"How dare you question my authority?" Serena, the project manager at Green Networks, interrupted Alex with the question. She was stunning, tall, and had well-defined features. She had recently hired Alex based on the recommendations of an old friend.

"No, but this is half the amount I'm supposed to be paid; there must be a mistake somewhere," Alex replied politely as she turned away from the document she was scrolling through and faced Alex.

"First and foremost, go read the company rules and regulations pasted on the entrance wall. You are always late brat, and I don't have time to explain the company's rules to a moron like you," Serena said.

Alex reluctantly exited the area, leaving his salary on the table. Alex was taken aback when he arrived. The notification he had always ignored was the company's rule stating that for every hour of lateness, the worker's wage would be reduced by 1.6%.

"What! This is not possible, what kind of stupid policy is that?" Alex's eyes widened as he was constantly late for work. His eyes instantly turned deathly pale and filled with fear. Alex never got a chance to read the instructions on the door because he was late and needed to hurry to catch up with his coworkers. He lived in the country side, which is a long way from the Green Networks.

A familiar sensation arose in front of Alex as he skipped inside. "The coward has arrived late today again," one of his coworkers mockingly said.

"Let the scum be, he thinks he's being favored. Grab it over there man, today's target is a long way away. Let Mr Do the Right Thing be!!" Alex never considered why his coworkers mocked him every time he arrived. He assumed it was because he was a professional architec and was used to correcting their mistakes almost all of the time that they despised and humiliated him. Rather, they anticipated what would happen to his pay.

Today was Alex's payday, and he thought he was going to get the required drugs for his dying father and as well pay a portion of his rent, which had been long overdue. He became enraged and kicked the wall, screaming loudly as he inflicted pain on himself. He clenched his teeth and clasped his fists, as if a knife had been stabbed into his chest, trying hard to keep his emotions to himself. Alex is furious as he returns to the office after having his salary cut in half.

When Alex returned to the office, there were more workers present, but he didn't mind as he angrily interrupted Serena.

"What kind of stupid policy is that, you can't do this at all, I didn't sign up for this!!! who does that?" Alex yelled angrily at her. Everyone was taken aback.

Serena picked up his salary and tossed it at Alex as his salary sprayed all over him. Everyone in the office was taken aback.

"ahhhhh," a group of mockers chortled from behind.

"The amount you will be paid is $1,500. That's what happens when you're late and lazy. This is the Green Networks rule: no one is bigger than the company, and everyone is expected to follow it. You barely meet your daily goal and have always been a pain in the a$$," Serena said without remorse.

"This won't pay my rent, let alone my bills; you should reconsider the…" Alex stammered as he spoke.

"The company pays you for the work you do, not your bill. You numbskull, grow up." Serena cut Alex off.

Alex, on the other hand, didn't bother to listen as he began to blab.

"You dare not do this, that is a useless policy for God's sake, I didn't sign up for this at all. This cannot be…" Alex let his rage out as he began to rant, hoping to persuade Serena to reconsider, but this only made Serena angry.

"Pa!" She slapped him before he could say anything else. The print of her hand on half of his face was red and swollen. Alex shivered, a single tear running down his cheek, and bowed his head in shame. This terrified his coworkers who were present.

"A shitlaod like you has no right to work at Green Networks. I should have realized that your suggestion would only impede the company's progress. Your nonsense has exhausted my patience." Serena voice was cold and flustered.

"You've been fired!!!" Serena let out a scream while pointing her hand in the direction of the door.

"What..? You cannot do this, please." Alex begged Serena for an explanation, but she didn't bother to listen or even give him a sympathetic look.

"Get out of here, you scum," Serena yelled.

Alex was at a loss for what to do as series of thoughts raced through his mind. He knew it was all over because no work, no pay, and he was about to face the worst humiliation of his life at the hands of his wife's family.

What in God's name has he done to himself?

How is he going to buy his father's long overdue medicine ?

How is he going to feed his daughter, let alone pay his rent? After a long period of unemployment, the Green Network was his last hope. Despite the fact that Alex Benjamin was a certified architec, he lost his previous job due to laziness and tardiness to work. He got this construction job a few weeks ago after a friend recommended him because it was his area of expertise. Alex wanted to end his unemployment, even if it meant taking a lower-paying job.

"Mr Do the Right Thing is no longer employed!" From behind, a mocking voice spoke up.

"Yes, he deserves it; a frog like him does not deserve a place at the Green Network," a female voice from behind replied.

"A worker like him will only impede the company's progress. He even had the audacity to yell at the manager," another person agreed. Everyone was waiting for Alex's next move, whether he would choose the money or not. Meanwhile, Alex stood there, deep in thought.

A good Samaritan tapped Alex after assisting him in retrieving his money, jolting him back to reality. "Sorry buddy," Alex said as he took out his phone for no apparent reason. He took a deep breath and walked shamelessly out of the building to his old rickety bike.

"Damn it."When he picked up his phone, Alex exclaimed immediately as he discovered several missed calls from Marry.

He dialed her number right away. The call was connected after a few rings. "Alex! " Mary's impatient voice came through. "What the hell is the matter with you? I'm not sure what's wrong with Father; his condition is deteriorating by the minute; you need to come here right away!" Mary hung up the phone before Alex could finish his sentence.