As Kelvin sat in the corner, he nervously played with the envelope Mr. Wilson had given him earlier. He hadn't checked what was inside yet, feeling a bit scared. "Why am I feeling like this?" he whispered to himself, puzzled.
Suddenly, the phone rang loudly, startling Kelvin. "Kelvin, come to my office now," Mr. Johnson's voice came through the receiver. Kelvin felt a shiver down his spine.
"Yes sir, I'm coming," Kelvin replied quickly, his hands trembling. He slipped the unopened envelope back into his pocket and rushed to Mr. Johnson's office, his mind filled with worry about what Mr. Johnson wanted to talk about.
Kelvin stood in Mr. Johnson's office, his heart pounding with panic. Mr. Johnson extended his hand, silently requesting the envelope. Kelvin hesitated for a moment, wondering what Mr. Johnson was requesting.
Without wasting any time, Kelvin brought out the envelope from his pocket and handed it over to Mr. Johnson. As Mr. Johnson examined the envelope, Kelvin couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension. How did Mr. Johnson find out about the gift? He was certain Mr. Johnson wasn't around when he received it.
Meanwhile, Marcus stood outside Mr. Johnson's door, straining to hear any signs of punishment from inside. Inside the office, Mr. Johnson tore open the envelope, revealing its contents. Kelvin and Mr. Johnson were surprised by what they saw.
"Kelvin, come closer," Mr. Johnson whispered, his voice barely audible. "Keep your voice low. The walls have ears." Kelvin moved closer, his anxiety mounting. "Who gave you this again?" Mr. Johnson asked, his tone tinged with urgency.
Stammering with panic, Kelvin replied, "It's... Mr. Wilson, the wealthy businessman." Inside the envelope lay a substantial sum of money, enough to buy two mansions in one go. The sight of it shocked both Kelvin and Mr. Johnson. Without hesitation, Mr. Johnson tossed the money back onto the table, his expression grave.
Mr. Johnson paced slowly in front of his desk, his fingers pressed against his lips as he thought. "Kelvin, this is a lot of money," he began, his voice still low. "It's unusual for a gift, even from someone as wealthy as Mr. Wilson. Tell me, why would he give you such a sum?"
Kelvin's throat felt dry as he tried to gather his thoughts. "Sir, he's been a regular customer and he appreciates the service. He always leaves a tip, but today, he said he wanted to help me out more significantly. I swear, I didn't ask for it or expect anything like this."
Mr. Johnson's brow furrowed slightly. "And why didn't you come straight to me when you received such a large amount? We need to maintain transparency in such matters."
Kelvin felt a pang of guilt. "I... I was just about to, sir. I wanted to see what it was first, and then I got called here before I could come to you."
Mr. Johnson looked intently at Kelvin. "Kelvin, I hope you're not involved in something dubious behind my back. This amount of money is too much for just a gift. Open up to me; is there anything else I should know?"
Kelvin met Mr. Johnson's gaze, his expression earnest. "No, sir, absolutely not. I was as surprised as you are. Mr. Wilson said it's because he's had a particularly good year and wanted to share some of that. That's all there is to it."
Mr. Johnson nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "I believe you, Kelvin. However, accepting such a large gift can create misunderstandings. It could look like a bribe, and it puts both you and the café at risk. I need to think about how to handle this appropriately. For now, I'll keep this money in the safe."
Kelvin nodded, relief washing over him that Mr. Johnson didn't accuse him of any wrongdoing. As he turned to leave, Mr. Johnson added, "And Kelvin, keep this between us for now. I don't want rumors starting up."
Kelvin pushed the door open and almost bumped into Marcus, who was straining to listen to their conversation. Their eyes locked in a brief, intense stare. "Oh, I see where this is coming from. So it was you, Marcus," Kelvin said, his voice low but firm as he shut Mr. Johnson's office door behind him.
Marcus, caught off guard yet still stood firm retorted in a mix of disgust and hatred, "It was me who did what? Look, let me tell you, in this cafe, it's you and me. I will make sure I see your end. You escaped this one, trust me, you won't escape the next."
With a cold laugh, Marcus turned his back and started walking away. Kelvin watched him go, a mix of anger and determination in his gaze. "You can do nothing; you're just making threats. Your threats are nothing!" Kelvin called out after him, his voice echoing slightly in the hallway.
Kelvin had saved up enough from his job at the Sunrise Cafe to get a small apartment for himself and Michelle. It was a simple one-bedroom on the third floor of an old but charming brick building. The only window in the living room looked out onto a busy street, always reminding them of the bustling world outside.
The apartment was small but well-organized. The living room just fit a couch and a small table, but it felt cozy. The kitchen was tiny but clean and had just enough space to cook. The walls were painted a soft cream color, making the place feel open and light.
As he packed, Kelvin spotted a specific item: his mom's picture. He looked intensely at it, remembering all his struggles with his mom. Alongside the Seraph's Veil on his neck, an old family treasure his mother had given him, he held both in his hands. A tear dropped from his eye as he remembered her words, "This is important. You must always keep this with you, no matter where you go. It's your protection against the dangers out there. Promise me you'll never let it leave your body." He wrapped the picture in soft paper and placed it carefully on top of his other belongings to keep it safe during the move.
"Michelle, take a look around," Kelvin said with a broad smile as they arrived at the apartment and began to unpack. "It's not too big, but it's all ours. Here's to a new life, no more living by the street."
Michelle beamed back at him, her eyes taking in their new surroundings. "It's perfect, Kelvin," she responded, her voice filled with warmth. "It's better than nothing."