Marcus stormed into the Sunrise Cafe, his appearance unkempt and untidy, his clothes rumpled and stained. His eyes blazed with fury as he confronted Kelvin, who was busy wiping down the tables in preparation for the day ahead.
Kelvin glanced up, startled by Marcus's sudden outburst, but chose to ignore him and continued with his task.
"You!" Marcus's voice boomed, cutting through the din of the cafe. "I've had enough of you! It's either you leave or I leave. You choose!".
Kelvin leaned against a nearby table, staring defiantly as Marcus came closer. "Did you brush your teeth this morning?" Kelvin's voice was full of disdain. "Your breath stinks, Marcus. You smell."
Marcus, surprised, brought his hand to his mouth and blew on it, then sniffed. His face twisted in disgust, confirming Kelvin's words.
Marcus's fists clenched at his sides, his face contorted with rage. He was itching to deliver a blow to Kelvin's smug face, but Kelvin's challenging stare held him back.
"Go ahead, Marcus. Do your worst," Kelvin teased, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're nothing but a fool! a ranter. What did I do to deserve this ranting from you this morning? Explain yourself!"
Marcus's fury reached its peak, his fingers trembling with anger as he struggled to maintain his composure. "I'm not your mate, Kelvin," he spat, his voice dripping with anger. "You don't talk to me like that."
With a sudden burst of aggression, Marcus lunged forward, his hand stretched towards Kelvin's face. But before he could make contact, Kelvin's grip tightened around his wrist, holding him in place.
The two locked eyes in a silent battle, the tension between them strong. Marcus's breathing grew heavy as Kelvin's grip felt like an iron vice, sending shockwaves of pain coursing through his body.
Kelvin released Marcus's hand, causing Marcus to hold his hands in pain and frustration evident on his face. Marcus's body was covered in sweat, his anger still boiling beneath the surface.
"I'm sick of your games, Kelvin!" Marcus exclaimed, his voice trembling with hatred. "You think you can manipulate Mr. Johnson into giving you a raise while I get nothing?"
Kelvin's expression hardened as he cut Marcus off mid-sentence, stepping closer to him. "Listen, Marcus," he said firmly, his voice tinged with irritation. "What Mr. Johnson decides to do with his money is his business, not yours. Don't take your grievances out on me!."
Marcus sneered in response, his tone dripping with contempt. "We'll see about that," he spat, his eyes narrowing with determination. "I'll make sure everyone knows who's really in charge around here."
With that, Marcus stormed off, leaving Kelvin to wrinkle his nose in annoyance as he watched him go.
The day at the Sunrise Cafe began like any other, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the sound of sizzling bacon and the chatter of early morning customers.
Among the familiar faces was Mr. Wilson, a regular patron with a warm smile and a hearty laugh. Mr. Wilson was a middle-aged man with graying hair and kind, twinkling eyes. He always greeted Kelvin with a friendly nod and a pat on the back, appreciative of Kelvin's diligent service.
Throughout the morning rush, Mr. Wilson sat at his usual table, enjoying his breakfast and engaging in light conversation with Kelvin whenever he had a moment. As the busy morning turned into a quieter afternoon, Mr. Wilson approached Kelvin with a small envelope in hand.
"Kelvin, my boy, you've outdone yourself again today," Mr. Wilson said with a grin, slipping the envelope into Kelvin's hand. "Consider it a token of my appreciation."
Kelvin hesitated, feeling uneasy about accepting the gift. "Mr. Wilson, I appreciate the gift, but I can't accept this," he replied earnestly, trying to politely decline.
But Mr. Wilson insisted, his smile unwavering. "Nonsense, Kelvin! You've earned it. Consider it a thank you for always brightening my day."
Reluctantly, Kelvin accepted the envelope, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. As Mr. Wilson bid him farewell and left the cafe, Kelvin couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that lingered within him.
Meanwhile, Marcus observed the exchange with jealousy. He seethed with anger as he watched Kelvin accept yet another gift from Mr. Wilson, determined to find a way to turn the situation to his advantage and put Kelvin in trouble before Mr. Johnson.
That same afternoon, Marcus made his way to Mr. Johnson's office with a determination to destroy Kelvin's image. He knocked on the door with a sense of urgency, his knuckles rapping against the wood in sharp, deliberate taps.
Inside the office, Mr. Johnson hesitated at the sound, reluctant to entertain any interruptions during his busy day. But recognizing Marcus's persistence, he reluctantly called out, "Come in."
As Marcus entered, Mr. Johnson's expression was guarded, his brow furrowed in suspicion. "What is it, Marcus? I'm quite busy at the moment," he said tersely, his tone betraying his irritation at the interruption.
Marcus wasted no time, launching into his carefully rehearsed report about Kelvin and the money he had allegedly received from Mr. Wilson. "Sir, I couldn't help but notice something earlier today," Marcus began, his voice dripping with false concern. "That customer, Mr. Wilson, he... he gave Kelvin a rather large sum of money as a tip."
Before Marcus could continue, Mr. Johnson cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Marcus, I appreciate your diligence, but I'll handle this matter myself," he interjected, his tone firm and authoritative.
Startled by the interruption, Marcus faltered for a moment before regaining his composure. "But sir, I just thought you should know—" he started to protest, but Mr. Johnson's stern gaze silenced him.
"That will be all, Marcus," Mr. Johnson said dismissively, his attention already drifting back to his paperwork. "I'll take care of it. Now, if you don't mind, I have other matters to attend to."
Realizing that his attempt to put Kelvin in trouble had failed, Marcus nodded reluctantly. "Of course, sir," he muttered, defeated. Immediately, he quietly stood up, turned on his heel, and made his way out o
f the office, the door closing behind him with a soft click.