The General's Forgotten Son

The afternoon sun burns like Hell after Ten rejections from different Firms Benjamin had walked in that day.

"You have a good CV, but we need experience."

"You have an outstanding grade, but there's no vacancy now."

"We can consider you, for the position of the company's janitor."

Benjamin let out a shaky breath after walking out of the tenth company, with sweat beading streaming from his face to his cheeks, his eyes were heavy with tiredness and the grim of the day. The ironed plain suit he wore that morning, the oversized one his friend inherited from his grandfather and gave him that morning for the interview had wrinkled, dust clung to the hem of the pants from trudging the street.

Benjamin collapsed heavily into a roadside bench, the briefcase containing his file clattered beside him. His shoulder slumped, his head dropped like the weight of the rejections had just settled on his head.

"What kind of life is this?" He lamented his voice shaky with exhaustion. He blinked back at the tears forming in his eyes. "Why is everything just different for me?"

After two years graduating from the College with a distinctive degree, he was still struggling for employment, every attempt ending in rejection.

"What else am I going to do now?" He exhaled a shaky breath.

Tears blurred in his eyes as the weight of everything settled on his shoulder. It was frustrating, living life at twenty-four without any job and receiving baseless rejections from every company he applied to.

But Benjamin had swore he wouldn't stop searching until he gets a job in this city. A sleek expensive car sped by, a reminder of the life he was supposed to be living.

His phone buzzed in his pocket and he brought it out. A cracked screen android phone held firmly in place with an elastic band.

"Hey, Ben," Desmond's voice came with excitement. "How was the interview? Good?"

Benjamin blurted, his frustration evident. "It was Bad. Very Bad, Desmond. They aren't ready to—"

"Easy. Easy, Benji." Desmond cut through his words gently with understanding. "Come over to the Grand Palace. We can talk it over here."

Benjamin raised a brow, recognizing the place as one of the most expensive restaurants in the city he shouldn't even dream of walking in. Nonetheless, he said, "Alright.

"I'll be waiting, Pal."

Benjamin exhaled sharply and slipped his phone back into his pocket.

Desmond was the only friend he had. He supports him despite struggling with his own life and encourages him when things get tough.

Benjamin arrived at Grand Palace, an expensive restaurant constructed of glass and steel that seemed to mock his appearance, glistening in the afternoon sunlight.

He walked inside to meet Desmond already waiting at the corner of the restaurant with a plate of food in his front.

"You look like hell." Desmond commented immediately.

"Hell it is!" Benjamin pulled the chair back and sank into it heavily. "You won a jackpot?" He looked around the place. They were surrounded by whispers of conversations of patrons in expensive outfits feasting on expensive meals that probably cost more than what he had seen in his entire life.

"Customers tipped me better today than usual." He opened the plate lid to reveal a plate of fried rice and fried chicken lap that instantly made Benjamin swallow hard. His stomach grumbled. He hadn't eaten that day and even the previous day, he survived with just a plate of pasta. "We can share this. It's not much but.."

"It's not much?" Benjamin raised a brow and leaned in. "You know how much a plate cost here?"

He frowned slightly.

“Dude you know you should have kept the money. You might have a need for it another day."

Desmond frowned "Are you rejecting the food?"

"Oh, no c'mon Desmond. I'm just insinuating.."

Desmond chuckled with a friendly smile and cut through his protest. "Just eat, commando. You're always ready to attack. We better eat before the food becomes cold."

Benjamin released a sigh and pushed his body forward gently. He picked up a spoon and leaned in to scoop the rice when something caught the corner of his eyes ahead. He paused, narrowing his eyes to the distance.

"What is that?" Desmond paused too, following the line of his eyes.

"Juliette." Benjamin mumbled, his eyes flashing with familiarity.

Juliette was his girlfriend and they had been together for the past three years. But at the moment, She walked inside the restaurant with another man. That wasn't what really made Benjamin's stomach turn like he'd just swallowed poison. The man draped his arms on her waist, pulled her closer, kissed her on the lips and then whispered something into her ear that actually made her giggle.

"Heck! She's the one." Desmond gasped softly. "You informed her you were here?"

"I didn't. That is what I'm about to find out." Benjamin stood up to meet her but Desmond held his wrist, pulling him back gently. "Just take it easy." He said, but his voice lacked conviction.

Benjamin pulled away from him gently. "I'm just going to talk to her." Desmond could already sense the tension in the air as Benjamin crossed the room to meet Juliette.

Juliette wore an expensive emerald gown that fitted her body, her beauty stark under the light. She sat sitting across from the man who wore an expensive suit, a diamond watch caught the restaurant light on his wrist and flaunted it loudly.

Benjamin materialized at her elbow.

"Juliette," His voice rasped from the grim of the day. "What are you doing here?"

Juliette turned. Her smile dropped immediately. She blinked in shock, unexpected to see Benjamin in such a place.

"Benjamin..what are you doing here?" She asked, forcing her voice to steady.

"I just asked you the same question." Benjamin said impatiently, keeping his voice calm. "And who is this man?"

"I am his boyfriend." James Sterling's voice came confidently. He leaned in with a razor-sharp smirk, casting Benjamin a condescending gaze. "And you must be the cleaner here? Or another waiter? Hurry up and get the order. Two plates of the best meal you have here and wine that will get my sweetheart lightly tipsy before we get to the hotel."

Sweetheart? Hotel?

The words twisted the inside of Benjamin like a knife.

Juliette had went still on her seat, unsure of how to handle the situation. Inside, She cursed Benjamin for showing his miserable face here.

"What is going on here, Juliette? What business do you have with this man?" Benjamin demanded impatiently.

Juliette's jaw clenched, forcing her composure in place. The shocking expression dispersed from her face, replaced with anger.

"And who the heck are you to ask me such questions? Is this how you stalk customers? How did you even get to know my name? Are you mad?" Her voice was loud enough to make heads turn in towards the scene.

Benjamin stumbled one step back. He blinked in shock.

"What are you talking about? You're speaking to me, Benjamin, your boyfriend like this?"

"Boyfriend?" James Sterlings repeated with a frown. He looked at Juliette. "What is going on? Do you really know this young man?"

Juliette didn't hesitate her response.

"Me? Him?" Her lips curled in irritation. "God, James what do you think of me? He is just a pathetic stalker. One of those jobless street vagrants sniffing around pretty ladies."

Benjamin's jaw dropped in shock then closed. Then Anger flashed across his face. Sweats shimmered on his forehead.

"Are you kidding me right now? You've..you've been cheating on me? How dare you Juliette!!"

Desmond, seeing the questioning turning into confrontation walked towards the scene.

James Sterlings rose to his feet, his expression darkening with anger.

"Who the fuck is this dog barking in my ear? Get the hell out of here before I lose it!"

He sneered.