The Son-in-law's Wealth System

Chandler Logan's POV:

The office is dimly lit with the huge fluorescent lights hanging on the ceiling as I enter the security office at New Leaf Corporation. I come here and expecting a normal meeting with Julius Mannell, my manager and discuss my monthly performance. I am also hoping for a promotion since I know to myself that I did a good performance on the last project that I handled. But as I get inside the room, I quuckly feel a tense atmosphere around me.

Julius is lounging in his chair while his feet are propped up on the desk. His fingers are flicking the end of his cigar and letting the smoke curls up toward the ceiling. He doesn't bother to look at me as I stand in the doorway. The air around us is almost suffocating. Even without saying anything yet, I can already sense that something is wrong.

“Mr. Julius, I heard you wanted to see me?” I said after clearing my throat.

Julius looks up and meets my gaze with disdain and amusement in his eyes.

“Chandler Logan” he said while dragging my name out in his mouth. “Starting today, you are no longer an employee here. Take off your uniform and get out of this building right this instant.”

I stop for a moment and process what he just said. His harsh words are hitting me like a punch to my gut. Fired? Me? My brain is having a hard time to make sense of the sudden shock.

“W-What?” I stammered. “You’re firing me? But why?! On what basis?!"

Julius lets out a mocking laugh and leans back in his chair. He looks like someone who is enjoying my confusion. After huffing a smoke from his cigar, Julius gives me a malicious look.

“On what basis, you say? Why don't you ask your wife?"

"My wife?"

"Heh. Your wife is now making waves all over the city. The news about her romantic affair with Hansel Renver is now spreading in the whole city like wildfire!"

I cannot move my body as I hear his words.

“What are you talking about?” I asked in a hollow voice as if it's not me who is speaking right now. “Jannica? No! Jannica will never—"

“Oh? But what will you do now? She already did." Julius cuts me off before leaning his body forward on his desk. There is a smug on his face that is too much to my liking. “It's now a huge scandal, Chandler. And with that, do you think New Leaf Corporation is still going to keep you here when your wife is having an affair with the richest businessman in the Denver City? You're now a threat. Your personal issues will surely affect the reputation of this company and none of us wants that to happen.”

“Are you kidding me?” I asked while trying to keep my voice calm. “You have no right to do this—”

Julius slams his fist on the desk and cuts me off with a sneer.

“Don’t you dare question my decisions, Chandler. This is about the company’s status and future. Hansel Renver is a big deal. His wide connections can make or break us. With your wife’s scandal, this can become a threat to all of us.”

I can feel the hard pounding of my heart. His words feels like they are coming at me too fast and my brain cannot comprehend it all at once. But I still cannot accept in my head the main reason why all of this are happening right now. Jannica... my wife... Having an affair? With Hansel Renver?

It doesn't make sense at all!

I never see any signs of it. Jannica and I are suppose to have a happy life. We are building our future together. We love and care for each other. So why is she doing all of these?

"Anyway, pack all of your things and leave this company as soon as possible." Julius said before huffing another smoke from his cigar.

“Wait. You’re telling me I’m fired because of some rumors about my wife?” I asked while barely trying to hide the anger that is bubbling up inside me.

Julius looks at me with that same smug expression on his face.

“The rumors are more than that, Chandler. If you didn't know yet, this news has been circulating for weeks now and everyone is talking about it. You are quite popular too, you know? A husband who have a cheating wife probably because he's a sore loser. Heh."

I can feel my stomach churning as he continue speaking. But when I thought I'm about to puke in too much emotion, something unusual happens. There is subtle shift in my vision. At first, I thought it is just my imagination. But there is like a small glitch that is happening around me. Then suddenly, there is a small window that appears in the corner of my vision. It looks like a game notification that pops up in a game.

[Reputation: 0/100]

Seeing it makes me feel a prickling sensation crawling up on my spine. It is not a physical feeling. It is more like the world itself is slowly changing somehow. I shake my head and tries to clear it. Am I losing my mind now after hearing the news of my wife's infidelity? What the hell is this? When I look back at Julius, he is still talking making me forget the things I'm seeing right now.

"This is not just about you, Chandler. This is about your wife and the way it’s affecting the company's reputation. If you still have shame in your body, get your things now and get out.”

His words are hitting me harder than I expected. My whole career at New Leaf Corporation is slowly slipping through my fingers. But the worse is I am being discarded over a rumor. A rumor that can be a malicious lie being spread to ruin my reputation.

But with Julius keeps telling me to leave, I decided not let him step my reputation so easily. I take a step forward and ignores the anger in my chest.

“If you’re firing me because of these rumors, then give me my severance pay now. I will leave but I will get what's for me.”

The smile on Julius's face falters for a second. But he soon recovers and sneers at me in disgust.

“Fine. You will get your severance pay. But don’t think for a second that I’m going to pay you for this month's payroll, you hear me? You should know your salary is not enough to pay for the disturbance your wife is doing right now to our company."

I balled my hands into tight fists and feel my nails digging into my palm. I want to lash out and burst in anger while demanding answers. But I still want to keep calm so I can think rationally. As much as I hate to admit it, I need to get away from this situation for now. But I also promised to myself not to let this slide for a long time.

I turn around and goes straight to the door. But there is something weighing on my chest as I walk out of the security office. I can feel the cold air as I step into the main lobby. And soon, I finally discover the reason for the heavy feeling on my chest.

Several of my coworkers are now standing near the reception desk. They are whispering to each other while their eyes are flickering towards me. Their murmurs are loud enough for me to hear. But I did not expect their words will hurt me deeper than the words I heard from Julius a while ago.

“Did you see the news his wife? She is now Hansel Renver’s famous mistress.”

“Yeah, I saw it too. The whole Denver City is talking about it. Chandler is probably too stupid to even know about it.”

“I bet he is just too weak to stand up for his wife. What a pity though. Chandler is quite handsome."

"So what? You know what they say, right? Beauty cannot pay for your bills. No wonder his wife left him for someone with real power and money.”

I can feel a knot in my stomach as I listen to their words. The hushed words of my co-workers are too cruel in my ears. But what hurts me the most is that they are too informed with the rumors about my wife. The things that I want to believe as a rumor has turn into a reality. But the worst is, I am the fool at the center of it.

I feel like being trapped in a game I cannot understand. As I continue walking, I remember the system prompt I saw earlier.

[Reputation: 0/100]

Is this what it feels to be humiliated? To have your life turn into nothing more than a stat? A number that can return to zero after a few careless words and actions?

When I step outside of the building, I pull out my phone and dials Jannica’s number. I need to talk to her. I can hands are trembling while waiting for her to pick up. When Jannica picks up the call, there is a long pause before she speaks in a cold and distant voice.

"Why are you calling? I'm busy right now."

“...Where are you?” I asked while keeping my voice calm.

“At work."

“Really? Then I'm coming over. We need to talk."

"Wait!"

I can hear the panic in Jannica's voice. But before I can end the call, I heard another voice on the line. It was Danica, my mother-in-law.

“Chandler.” Danica called my name. “Jannica is with me. Come to Room 404 at the Scarlet Hotel and be quick."

“But why?”

“It’s time for us to talk seriously this time. Now come here and Jannica will explain everything to you."

Danica ends the call and I stand there and letting her words to press me down. This is it. This is the end of my life. I am not just losing my job. I am not just losing the life I'm building.

I am losing everything.

I feel like my world is getting smaller every second. I have no idea how to deal with. I also have no idea who should I blame for these things.

But I am not going to walk away without a fight. Not this time. Taking a deep breath, I quickly hail a cab to bring me to the Scarlet Hotel. I desperately need to get the answers to my questions.