The boy she left behind

The Fight For Respect

Chapter Four: The Fight For Respect

“Okay, ma,” the voice said before ending the call.

Jaden knew the boys Gift had called would come to attack him, so he got himself prepared and focused on the door.

Jaden knew the boys Gift had called would come to attack him, so he got himself prepared and focused on the door.

When he saw the door open, he rushed forward and kicked the person entering.

Unknowingly to Jaden, the person was one of the company’s business partners. He was holding a file and had come to sign a contract with Gift.

When Gift noticed what had happened, she jumped up from her seat and rushed to the man, who had already fallen to the ground, groaning in pain from Jaden’s kick.

Moments later, the boys rushed into the office, and Gift raised her voice. “Deal with him! Make sure you break his bones!”

The boys obeyed and attacked Jaden.

But Jaden was fully prepared. He dodged the attacks of the first two boys and landed heavy blows on the third and fourth. Blood poured from their mouths.

Then he turned to face the first two. They launched another attack, but he dodged both strikes, kicked one in the chest, and gave the second an uppercut.

The one he kicked hit his head on the wall and fainted. Blood came from the mouth of the one who received the uppercut.

The last boy attempted a flying kick, but Jaden bent low to dodge it and struck him in the stomach, sending him crashing to the ground.

The boy struggled to his feet again, but Jaden rushed at him, launched into the air, and delivered a flying kick to his head. The boy collapsed.

Then Jaden turned to face Gift. The business partner had already left.

“Jaden, see what you’ve caused! You’ve made us lose the contract we were expecting!” Gift shouted.

Jaden rushed toward her. He knew that if he didn’t discipline her, she would never pay him. He grabbed her hand and twisted it behind her back.

“What do I care about the contract your company lost? Give me my money, or I’ll beat the hell out of you and make sure you land in the hospital!”

“Please, Jaden, leave me alone. My hand is paining me,” she cried out in pain.

“No! Not until you pay me,” he said angrily.

“Okay, let me go to the table and write you a cheque,” she pleaded.

Still holding her hand behind her back, Jaden led her to the table.

He had already twisted her left hand, so she used her right hand to write a cheque for the full amount she owed him. Jaden received the cheque with a smile and walked away.

Jaden got a cab and went to his friend’s house—the house where he had lived before he met Vanessa.

He met his friend at home, and they talked a lot. He explained what had happened at work and how he had fought with Gift’s boys before collecting his salary.

He stayed with his friend until evening, then took the only piece of clothing he had left in the house. He also took his bike, which he had parked in the compound, and rode it to Trent’s home.

He parked his bike in the compound and entered the house. He met Margaret and Dora in the sitting room. He greeted them and was about to go into the room where he had slept the night before when Margaret noticed his sad expression and called him back.

“Why are you looking so sad like this? I hope all is well.”

“I lost my job.”

“Why? What did you do wrong?” Margaret asked.

“I got to work late, and the manager fired me.”

“Oh, sorry about that. And where have you been since morning?”

“I went to my friend’s house to get my clothes and bring my bike home,” Jaden replied, holding a small bag that contained his clothes.

“Okay, don’t worry. You’ll get another job tomorrow—in my company.” Margaret owned a large company in town, which she and her husband had built together. Vanessa worked there as the manager.

Margaret and her husband didn’t go to work every day; they had handed everything over to Vanessa after she finished university.

Vanessa had finished university two years ago, and since then, she had been in charge of the company.

“Thank you so much. I’ll be grateful,” Jaden said with a smile.

“Alright, you can go. My daughter and I are discussing an important issue.”

“Okay, ma,” he said and left the sitting room.

The following morning, Jaden woke up early and got himself ready for the new job he hoped to get. He had dreamed of seeing himself working in an office, believing this could be his first proper job—even though he wasn’t qualified for it.

Jaden didn’t have any certificate that could get him a good job. He had only gone through college and didn’t have the money to further his education. But he placed his hope in his mother-in-law, believing it was still possible.

After eating, he went to his room, wore a grey shirt and black trousers, then came out, went to where his bike was parked, and rode to the company. He had already been told its location.

An hour later, he arrived at the company and parked his bike beside the building. He looked up and saw the sign: T.M & R Company, which stood for Tent Margaret and Richard Company.

He got down from the bike and walked gently to the company’s entrance. He was about to walk in when a waiter stopped him.

“Hey, stop!” the waiter shouted and ran to meet him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m going into the company, of course,” Jaden said confidently.

“Sorry, beggars are not allowed to enter the company. It’s not meant for people like you,” the Waiter said and pushed him away from the entrance.

The waiter didn’t even know him. If he had known Jaden was Vanessa’s husband, he wouldn’t have been so rude.

“Why did you push me? Do you know who I am?”

“Yes, I know. You must be a thief. You’re trying to enter the company and steal something—but I won’t allow it.”

“What! You called me a thief? What have I done wrong? I’m a gentleman, and you’ve never seen me before. Yet you just concluded that I’m a thief. Meanwhile, I came here to get a job!” he said, making it clear to the waiter why he had come, though the waiter had already wasted much of his time.