The Chosen Heir

The small living room buzzed with laughter and joy, a rare sight in the humble home that had seen more tears than smiles in the past year. Asher sat on the couch, arms around his wife, Tessa and his daughter, Nora his eyes glistening,not from sadness, but from a happiness he had almost forgotten existed.

He had gotten the job.

After months,no, years, of looking for jobs, facing countless rejections, and enduring embarrassing moments where he begged his best friend, Brooklyn for money. He finally saw a text, " Congratulations, You've gotten the job."

At first, he had stood frozen in disbelief, clutching his phone tightly. Now, seated between his wife, Tessa, and their 5-year-old daughter, he couldn't stop smiling.

"I still can't believe it," Ash murmured, brushing a strand of hair from Tessa’s face. "I keep thinking I’ll wake up and it was all a dream."

Tessa leaned into him, her smile soft and full of love. “It’s real, baby. It’s finally happening. You did it.”

Nora, who had been busy twirling in circles with a pink ribbon, paused and jumped onto Ash’s lap. “Daddy got the job!” she squealed, throwing her arms around his neck.

Ash chuckled, lifting her up and spinning her around. “Yes, I did, my little princess!”

The celebration was small, no fancy meals, no decorations, they didn't even have the money to afford such things. It was just the three of them, a pot of jollof rice, and a bottle of orange soda. But it felt like a grand festival.

Tasha stood and walked to the kitchen, her eyes misty as she stirred the pot. “Do you know how long we’ve been praying for this?” she called. "Thanks for not giving up, darl"

He looked down at his hands, calloused from doing odd jobs just to make ends meet. “There were days I wanted to. Trust me. But you... you kept believing in me."

She turned and smiled. “Because I knew what you’re capable of. And Nora did too.”

Nora beamed, lifting her teddy bear. “I told my teddy bear that Daddy was gonna get the best job in the world!”

Ash almost choked on air but he just laughed. "And you were right."

After dinner, they sat on the floor around the low wooden table, the light from the small ceiling bulb casting a warm glow over their faces. Nora was scribbling on her drawing book while Ash and Tessa were leaning on each other.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked softly, her fingers laced with his. He sighed, not out of worry, but maybe a little bit of worry. “About how this moment right here... this is everything. The job means we can breathe again. No more hiding from landlords. No more beg...." He paused realizing Nora was still with them.

Tessa nodded, her thumb brushing over his knuckles. “We’re proud of you, Ash. No matter how things were, we never stopped being proud of you.”He swallowed hard. “I know. That’s what gave me the strength to keep going.”

Nora looked up suddenly. “Daddy, when you start work, can I tell my teacher that my daddy is a boss?”Ash chuckled, if only she knew her father was only an ordinary driver she wouldn't be stabbing him like this. But she was still a child, she wouldn't know. “Not exactly a boss, sweetheart, but maybe one day.”

“You already are,” Tessa said with a grin. “You’ve always been the boss of this family. And now, you’re just finally getting paid for it.”They all laughed, and for the first time in a long time, the sound didn’t feel forced. It was genuine. It was free.

Later that night, after Nora had fallen asleep with her arms around her teddy, Ash and Tessa sat outside on the small front porch, watching the stars.“I want to build something better for us,” he said. “A home with more rooms. A fashion store for you. A playground for Nora ”Tessa rested her head on his shoulder. “We’ll get there. One step at a time. This job is just a sign of good things coming”

Ash looked up at the night sky, a soft smile playing on his lips. The future now felt like a promise. For a moment his mind slipped to the landlord. He silently prayed he'd understand when he told him he'd pay his rent as soon as he got his salary.

Ring! Ring! The doorbell rang. They were wondering who would knock on their door on such ungodly time of the night. "Who's there?" Ash shouted from inside. No response. He went to check for himself. As soon as he opened the door, he was met with the angry glare of his landlord.