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“Idiot! Why haven’t you washed my car?”

Someone yelled at Gabriel, who had just finished cleaning the entire office for the day. He was certain that he had completed the work assigned to him, and it was his right to rest, but as a poor man, he barely had the right to make a choice.

Gabriel looked up from where he had laid down to rest to see Daniel, the company’s manager. Before he could say anything, his face was met with a thunderous slap that rang through his ears and into his brain.

“I have only a few minutes to leave this office, and my car better be spotless or I fire you!” The manager spat.

It was only a few hours until Gabriel’s special day, which was his twenty-fifth birthday and his second wedding anniversary with his wife, Lilly. He had promised himself that no one, including Daniel, could ruin his day.

So he did nothing but smile at Daniel, holding onto his burning cheeks. Daniel felt Gabriel was disrespecting him, and he had no right to smile at him; after all, Gabriel was a wretched cleaner far below his class. So he delivered another slap to Gabriel’s second cheek.

“Don’t you stand there, you dimwit!” Daniel barked, grabbing Gabriel by the collar.

Both Gabriel and Daniel had magnificent physiques, but Daniel was taller and more muscular, so holding Gabriel by the collar hurt a lot. Gabriel struggled to break free, but Daniel would not bulge.

“I am going to wash it; I just wanted to rest. Please let me go.” Gabriel managed to say when he realized that struggling with Daniel was pointless.

“Who said you could speak to me, you filthy thing?” Daniel inquired, tightening his grip. “A poor man wanting to rest; that is not something you see every day.” Daniel said with a demeaning chuckle.

“I can see that you don’t like it here. Maybe I would finally terminate your contract so that you can properly become homeless and dirty like you deserve to, you ungrateful thing!”

Daniel tossed Gabriel aside on the floor and started walking away. Gabriel ran after him, pleading for mercy.

“Please, sir, I will wash it. I will do it for free; please do not fire me. This is everything I have got.” Gabriel cried out, hoping Daniel would change his mind.

It was true Mother Nature was taking its toll on him. He had been feeding hand to mouth since his father was diagnosed with an unusual illness. He lost his mother at a young age, and this was the only way he could support his father, and it was far from adequate.

Gabriel grabbed Daniel’s suit, and Daniel pushed him to the floor. “You filthy animal. Do you know what this suit costs? Even in your lifetime, you cannot afford it!” He yelled, stepping on one of Gabriel’s hands.

“Please, I am sorry.” Gabriel pleaded, trying to get on his feet.

“Who told that you could stand up? If you want this job, you must wash my car for free for one week.” Daniel said, and Gabriel, who had been trying to keep his emotions under control, stared at Daniel, his anger rising.

Gabriel fell to his knees to please Daniel.

He was experiencing a range of emotions, and despite his efforts not to let them overwhelm him, a tear fell from his eyes.

“I will do it.” He said, and then he stood up.

“Who said you could stand? Get back to your knees and kiss my shoes! You are nothing but dust in my presence, and you should recognize this when I am near you.” Daniel said.

Gabriel was about to get on his knees when he heard Brittany speak. “Gabriel, don’t you dare!”

Both Gabriel and Daniel turned to look at her, but Gabriel averted his gaze, whereas Daniel fixed his gaze on her like a predator waiting to devour his prey.

She approached the two of them and looked Daniel in the eyes.

“The only person who needs to acknowledge anything in this situation is you, Daniel. Accept that you are a stupid jerk who should get a life.”

“What kind of disrespect is this, Brittany?” Daniel asked, his face contorted and his fist clenched.

“One that will get your ass fired if you do not apologize to Gabriel immediately!” Brittany said, boring her eyes into Daniels, who wouldn’t stop staring at her.

Gabriel trembled in fear because, while Brittany was the CEO’s daughter, he was aware that Daniel wielded significant power.

“Ms. Brittany, there is nothing to worry about; we were having a little chitchat.” Gabriel said, looking at Daniel, who had his brow furrowed.

Brittany turned to confront Gabriel.

“You do not need to be afraid of anything, Gabriel.” She said, with her arms crossed, “Mr. Daniel was just leaving to finish signing the files on his desk, or he will hear from my daddy tomorrow morning.”

“Have a nice day, Mr. Daniel. Your car will be ready in a few minutes.” Gabriel said, and Brittany grabbed his hands as he attempted to leave.

“You will not wash his car unless he pays you in full. It is not your responsibility to wash anyone’s car at this company.” She said, then turned to Daniel and opened her palm.

After much deliberation, Daniel groaned and took out a ten-dollar bill. Brittany grabbed it and placed it in Gabriel’s hand.

“Was it difficult, Mr. Daniel?” Brittany inquired, and Daniel hissed before turning around to leave because he knew better than to have a falling out with his boss’s daughter.

Gabriel was relieved to see Daniel walk out of the room, holding the ten dollars in his hands and smiling. This was the highest amount he had received from Mr. Daniel. Sometimes he gave him a dollar bill or even cents.

“Thank you,” he muttered to Brittany, who smiled and held onto his hands as he attempted to walk away.

Gabriel, who was shy around women, could not look at Brittany.

“Gabriel, you must stand up for yourself. I have seen how they push and bully you, and I sincerely apologize,” she said, and Gabriel looked at her.

“I can not do that; I am no man in the midst of you all, and I believe I still enjoy this job. This is all I have, and I can not lose it.

Gabriel said in a low, shaky voice. He was grateful for what Brittany had done for him, but he despised his life and the fact that he was a toy boy in the workplace.

“My father has an important party tomorrow, and I want you to attend.” Brittany said something to Gabriel, and his eyes widened.

He didn’t want to be ridiculed by the upper class, and he didn’t want them to mistake him for a social climber.

“Good luck to your father, and I hope it is a success, but I do not think I will make it. I have a lot going on right now.”

It was his birthday and anniversary, so he had an excuse.

“Just in case you change your mind,” she said, slipping a small piece of paper into his hands. “This is an invitation, and I hope to see you there.” She winked at him before walking away.

***

Gabriel had finished his chores and was about to pack up to leave when his phone rang. When he saw his wife’s name, he smiled. His birthday was about two hours away, and he was glad she wanted to wish him early.

“Hey babe, I am almost...”

“I do not care, Gabriel; I want a divorce.” She said…