Chapter 8
The door to the office was opened after a knock came from outside, and a vibrant-looking lady in her professional demeanor walked in, her shoes clinking on the tiled marble floor.
Walking further inside and bowing her head, slightly, she said to a man seated opposite where she stood, "Sir, you sent for me?"
Thomas smiled with a nod, "Yes. A young man by the name 'James Thomas' applied for a job position here, right?" The lady only nodded and he continued, "I want you to call and inform him that he has been chosen with a monthly pay of $9,000."
The lady's eyes flew wide open, looking at her boss with skepticism. Even with her position, she wasn't earning close to the amount mentioned.
"But sir, no interview was conducted. And we don't know if the person mentioned is qualified for the job position or not." She said, masking her shock.
"There's no need for any interview with this actual person." Thomas corrected, "he's my son and I just found out after the incident that happened minutes ago at the lobby. I was able to speak with him, and he was convinced but was mad at me for abandoning him, so he left in anger." He explained.
At that point, the lady then understood why her boss had instructed her about the monthly payment of $9,000. "So, you want us to get him back with this offer?" She asked, politely.
Thomas nodded his head, indicating a positive response, "You can increase the monthly pay amount to even $100,000. I just want him back into my life. That's all that matters. Just do whatever you know best to do but make sure he's convinced."
"I'll do just that, sir." The lady smiled, reassuring him.
Meanwhile, James got upstairs and reached out his hand to the knob, opened it, and walked in, gently closing the door behind him.
He noticed Olivia lying on the bed wearing short pants with a white singlet engrossed in her phone. The displayed light on her phone lit the room a little bit.
She knew when James entered but nonchalantly focused back on her phone, swiping the screen up and down with a smile.
James occasionally looked at her and he ignored her at that moment. Placing his file on the centered table, he went straight to the bathroom to take his bath.
Almost thirty minutes later, he was out with a towel wrapped around his waist. Olivia was still lying on the spot where he had met her, still scrolling on her phone.
James sighed, shaking his head, frowning his face as he stared at her. She couldn't even welcome him or say a word of welcome to him as every married couple could do.
He sighed again and started to oil his body, putting on a new cloth. Just after he finished, he gently tapped Olivia's leg to get her attention.
But Olivia didn't move her body an inch. She did as if she didn't feel anything—no touch.
James heaved a breath before attempting the second time. That was when Olivia threw her phone on the bed and jumped up with sharp and penetrating eyes that almost cut through James' stomach.
"What's it? Can't you see I'm busy or are you blind to see that?" She shot, her choice of words harsh.
James expected that from her, too, "I'm sorry, but I wanted to just tell you that I'm back." He said, his tone calm despite Olivia's sharp gaze at him. He had thought of telling her about how it all went since she contributed greatly to him getting there.
"You're back and so? I should start clapping my hands and jumping up because you just came back from an interview. Are you the first or will you be the last person to go for an interview?"
James shook his head. He had just woken up the devil in her. "Okay now, tell me, did you pass the interview? Were you given the position of a manager or CEO?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm, giving him a fierce stare.
James refused to give in to her sarcastic words, "There was a disruption in the process of the interview and everyone was asked to come back without a specific date given."
Olivia was now livid beyond repair, "And that was the reason why you disturbed my quiet time?" She sighed, annoyed. "You must be very stupid! And next time you try that, you will regret it for the rest of your life." She angrily slumped back on the bed, picked up her phone, and continued with what she was doing.
James shook his head, unbelievably. She never seemed to have an atom of change. Always getting tougher all the time.
"And why are you staring at me like that?" Olivia snapped him, bringing him back to his mind. "Will you get out of there and make yourself useful?"
James was startled at her shout, a bit of frown visible on his face. Shaking his head, he walked towards the direction of the exit door, heading downstairs to have his dinner.
As the door slammed to her face, Olivia's jaws tightened, and her grip on her phone also tightened. "Such a useless being!" She voiced.
****
As James stepped his feet into the dim living room, he could see no one because of the darkness. He carefully walked further and switched on the dining room light.
He staggered back as his eyes settled on a woman who seemed to be in her late forties, seated, "Mother, you're still awake?" He asked, taking a seat.
There was a tray of food already placed on the table in his front but he ignored it for that moment.
"Yes, James. I just wanted to ask you a few questions before going to bed." She said, faintly.
James shifted on the chair, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Evelyn, his mother-in-law's voice sounded strange. "What could that be?" He was intrigued and curious at the same time.
Evelyn noticed his uncomfortable state and gave a faint smile, "Don't worry, it's nothing too serious," causing James to heave a relieved breath, somehow now comfortable.
"Just eat while we talk," she pointed to the meal on the table, and James nodded, uncovered the lids, and began to eat. "How did the interview you went for turn out to be?" Evelyn asked, her voice laced with concern.
James paused, dropping his spoon and slowly chewing the food in his mouth. A flush of embarrassment washed over him. There was a little moment of calmness but he answered, frustrated, "It was canceled for another day."
Evelyn felt the heavy weight James' emotional words carried, and she sympathized. "It's fine. Everything will be in place soon." She softly held his hand, reassuring and James only continued to nod.
"And also, please, don't take whatever treatment you're getting from all the family members to heart. It will only cause more damage to you." She advised, getting on her feet.
"I won't," James replied.
She smiled, "Alright then, goodnight." She walked away and James didn't shift his gaze until she was out of sight. Just as he was about to resume eating, his phone lit up and started to ring.
His eyebrows furrowed, wondering who could be calling him at that hour of the night before he hesitantly pulled out his phone. It was an unknown number.
"Who could this be?" He asked himself, looking around the room and he reluctantly pressed the 'answer' button. "Hello, who's this?"
"Hello, Mr. James Thomas, it's Stella Benjamin speaking," a sweet yet professional voice from the other end started and James' brows remained furrowed, staring at the unknown number in surprise and with a calm demeanor.
She seemed to know much about him.
"I'm calling from Platinum Company Limited and I'm excited to inform you that you have been selected for the office you applied for with a monthly pay of $9,000." She finalized with a joyous voice.
At first, James gasped at the amount mentioned. It was huge, but then he seemed to remember something—it was the same company he met his father, and it belonged to him.
He almost chuckled. Indeed, his father is remorseful about leaving him for years and he's ready to make an amendment.
He sat up on the chair very well, grinn
ing, "My Dad, Mr. Thomas Crag came up with this idea, right?" He asked but there was silence on the other end. And he continued before hanging, "Just tell him, I'll come to see him tomorrow."