my return will be your downfall

NEW JOB

The following morning, Adrian woke up before his alarm rang.

For a few seconds, he remained on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His body was still tired from the previous day's work, but he could not afford to spend another minute lying down.

He turned toward the small table beside his bed and picked up his phone.

There was no message from Vanessa.

Adrian stared at their conversation briefly before locking the screen.

He had hoped she would contact him during the night, but she hadn't.

Nevertheless, he wasn't ready to give up on their relationship. He still loved her, and despite their recent disagreements, he wanted to make things right between them.

His eyes moved toward the small notebook on his table.

Inside it, he had written down his monthly expenses, the money he needed to send to his mother, and the amount he hoped to save.

At the bottom of the page, one item stood out.

Vanessa's designer handbag.

Adrian had visited several shops recently to check the prices. The particular bag she wanted was expensive, and buying it would require him to sacrifice a significant portion of his earnings.

He had considered purchasing a cheaper alternative, but he remembered the disappointment on Vanessa's face when he told her he couldn't afford the original one.

He didn't want to buy her something she would immediately reject.

He wanted to give her the exact bag she had asked for.

Adrian opened his wallet and counted the money inside.

After setting aside what he needed for transportation and food, he had very little left.

He sighed.

"At this rate, I'll never save enough," he murmured.

Then he closed his wallet and stood up.

He couldn't afford to complain about his circumstances. If his regular salary wasn't enough, he would have to find another way to earn money.

He washed, dressed, and prepared a simple breakfast before leaving the apartment.

As he locked the door behind him, he glanced at his phone again.

Still no message from Vanessa.

He slipped it into his pocket and headed toward the road.

Today, he intended to work harder than he had the previous day.

He had no idea how he would manage everything, but he was determined to try.

---

By eight o'clock, Adrian had arrived at Harrison Cole's residence.

The large house stood behind tall iron gates, with security personnel stationed at the entrance. A gardener was trimming the hedges near the driveway, while another worker carried several boxes toward the garage.

Adrian greeted the security officer and proceeded to the parking area.

He inspected the black sedan he usually drove, checking the tyres, mirrors, fuel level, and interior.

He had learned that Harrison expected everything to be perfect before entering the vehicle.

A dirty dashboard, an empty fuel tank, or an unnecessary delay could earn Adrian a sharp reprimand.

Harrison Cole was a man who valued time and efficiency above excuses.

If he instructed someone to complete a task, he expected it to be done. If a meeting was scheduled for nine, he expected everyone involved to be ready before nine.

He didn't care whether an employee had slept poorly or encountered difficulties at home.

Business came first.

Adrian understood that well enough to avoid giving him reasons to complain.

He had barely finished inspecting the vehicle when Harrison emerged from the house, speaking on his phone.

His expression was stern.

"Move the meeting forward by thirty minutes," Harrison instructed whoever was on the other end. "I don't want to hear that the arrangements aren't ready. Make sure everything is in place before I arrive."

He ended the call and approached the car.

Adrian immediately opened the rear door.

"Good morning, sir."

Harrison glanced at him.

"Good morning. Is the car ready?"

"Yes, sir."

"Fuel?"

"Full tank, sir."

"Good."

Harrison entered the vehicle, and Adrian closed the door.

After checking that his employer was comfortable, Adrian returned to the driver's seat.

"Where are we going, sir?" he asked.

"First, the office. I have several documents to review before my meeting."

"Understood, sir."

Adrian started the engine.

As they drove away, Harrison began reviewing the day's schedule on his tablet.

For the first part of the morning, everything proceeded normally. Adrian drove him to the office, waited while he attended to a few matters, and later transported him to a business centre where he was expected to meet representatives of another company.

When they arrived, Harrison checked his watch.

"Listen carefully, Adrian."

"Yes, sir."

"I have a meeting inside this building. It is scheduled to last three hours."

Adrian nodded.

"All right, sir."

"I may need you to move the vehicle at short notice, so keep your phone on. Do not leave the area, and do not make me wait when I call you."

"Understood, sir."

Harrison adjusted his jacket.

"If anything changes, I'll contact you. Until then, remain available."

"Yes, sir."

Harrison walked toward the entrance.

Adrian watched him enter the building before returning his attention to the car.

Three hours.

He checked the time on his phone.

It was 10:17 a.m.

If the meeting lasted exactly as scheduled, Harrison would emerge at 1:17 p.m.

Adrian sat quietly for a moment.

Then he remembered the construction site.

It was a few minutes away by car, and the supervisor there sometimes accepted casual workers who needed temporary employment. Workers could complete whatever amount of work they could manage and collect their wages before leaving, provided the supervisor had agreed to the arrangement.

Adrian had worked there briefly on previous occasions when he needed extra money.

The work was physically demanding, but the payment was immediate.

He had been considering returning for some time.