Chapter Six.
Katy
Upset at the scene with Tiffany, I called in for the next few days and didn’t attend work.
Alex also needed me, so I called Aiden, who allowed me some emergency leave.
Alex spoke to those at the shelter and explained he’d come and collect his belongings.
It took some arguing, but Alex finally agreed to move in.
But Alex swore he’d explain his story before he settled properly.
As we sat down to a Chinese takeaway, Alex picked at his food, looking uncomfortable before he spoke. What he told me was heartbreaking and distressing.
“I’d joined up at eighteen, and I was sent abroad several times, and the last one was a clusterfuck. Shit went south, and I was the only survivor. My best friend died on that tour. Katy, I don’t want to go into it; the nightmares are barely held at bay as it is.”
“That’s fine, Alex. Don’t go any deeper,” Katy said, holding my hand.
“When I came home, my family expected me to take over the company business and go back to normal. Their expectations were high, and they didn’t realise what pressure they were putting on me. Finally, I fled after losing my temper at my cousin.” Alex paused and held my eyes.
“Aiden,” I guessed, and Alex nodded.
“In sheer anger, I punched and hurt Aiden in a fight. That night, I left and never returned. The ghosts were stronger than me. Katy, I’ve got to speak to Aiden and make things right.”
“You own the company?” I asked, shocked.
“Yes, Aiden runs it, but the business is actually mine. My parents handed it to me and retired. They expected me to walk into their lives and step into their shoes. They wouldn’t even give me time to adjust to civilian life.
It didn’t matter what I’d suffered. My parents wanted to quit, and I was home.
The temper display didn’t stop them from leaving as Aiden’s running it now. ”
“That’s pretty selfish of your mother and father. But I don’t believe Aiden is angry. Aiden’s shown lots of concern,” I mused. Deep inside, I felt Aiden cared about Alex.
“We were close as cousins. Aiden trying to give you food money was about him looking out for me. He’s older. But I don’t want to run the company. Aiden can have it, but there’s a few things I need Aiden’s help with,” Alex said.
“Then talk to him. Explain what you want, and hopefully, Aiden will make it happen.”
“Will you be angry if I don’t take up the CEO reins? Or work at all? I don’t think I can; I’d feel like I’d be walking on eggshells, in case my temper erupted again.” Alex looked concerned.
“Hell no. I earn good money; we can live decently.”
“You misunderstand, honey. I’ll pay my way. Heck, I’m rich and have a very pretty bank balance. But I can’t work. I’d have strangled that Tiffany bitch,” Alex stated bluntly, and I laughed. He wasn’t alone. It grated on me that Tiffany was still working there.
“Call Aiden. Have a meeting and talk. Anything else can be resolved as we go along,” I said.
Alex nodded, shyly pulled me into a hug, and kissed me. Wow!
Alex
Anxiously, I poked my cheek with my tongue. I’d met with Aiden on Sunday afternoon, and we’d hashed out some stuff. He consented to stay on and run the business. I’d no interest in it. Aiden was also amused by my request for Wednesday morning and agreed.
Later that evening, some of my old clothes were delivered to Katy’s apartment, including an expensive suit.
It probably wouldn’t fit me as I’d lost weight.
Actually, it hung off my frame, and on Monday, I went shopping for a new one.
Katy had returned to work and was grumpy because Tiffany, Sami, and Emily were employed.
Not a problem, because her worry would soon end and she would be happy.
Katy told me the office was flooded with rumours about the company owner coming in on Wednesday morning, and I’d winked.
Katy plagued me with questions, but I refused to answer, knowing she’d love my plan.
When Wednesday rolled around, Katy was pretending to be in a snit with me, which was funny.
We drove into work together, and I left Katy to go in alone, and she just shook her head.
When I entered, Tiffany was sitting at the reception desk. She looked up, and her eyes widened as she checked me out.
“Can I help you?” she purred.
“No, I’m being met.”
“I can call them,” she offered, batting her eyelashes. Annoyed already, I sent her a disdainful glance.
“Do you greet every male visitor with flirting?” I asked coldly, and Tiffany turned red, dropping her head. She pretended to be busy as my eyes drilled into her.
“There you are!” Aiden exclaimed, approaching and clasping my hand.
“Cousin,” I said, and Tiffany’s head lifted with interest again.
“Ready to view your realm?” Aiden teased, and I pulled a face.
“Guess you can take me on a tour. Is the meeting scheduled for this morning?”
“Yes. I’m looking forward to it,” I replied with a glance at Tiffany.
Tiffany was clearly soaking everything up, and there was a glint in her eyes that I hated. She’d soon get hers.
Katy
At eleven o’clock, people entered the main part of the office.
Aiden had called a meeting, and I knew it was something to do with Alex.
What they had planned, I didn’t know because Alex was keeping quiet about it, which was really frustrating.
Even more annoying was Tiffany, Emily and Sami had decided to sit behind me.
Tiffany had been demoted to receptionist, Emily was now the coffee girl, and Sami was the post girl.
All three sucked at their new jobs and bitched about their demotions.
Alex entered with Aiden, and I stared. I was still stunned that this gorgeous man was mine. And cleaned up, Alex was handsome. Alex had cut his hair and shaved, and didn’t resemble homeless Alex at all. They were two different men.
“Yeah, you picked up a homeless bum,” Tiffany said loudly and laughed. “He is stunning, and you should have seen the looks he was giving me. Bow-chicka-wow-wow, the guy’s halfway in love with me.” Tiffany fluffed her hair.
I smiled. If only Tiffany knew. Alex heard the comment because he glanced over.
“Come here,” he ordered.
Tiffany stood up, thinking he meant her, and began sashaying over to him.
“Did I ask you? Why would I ask you?” he snapped. Emily and Sami tittered, and I grinned. The entire office had just witnessed Alex’s insult.
Tiffany paused, then blushed and hurried back to where she’d been sitting with me.
“Katy!” Alex called, and I glanced at Tiffany and allowed a smirk to cross my face.
“That’s my man,” I hissed and walked over to Alex, where he grasped my hand. Alex seemed on edge until I was beside him, and then he settled.
“We shall be opening a new charity department. We will provide a company-funded food truck for homeless people. It will be parked outside the building near the park,” Alex stated.
I glanced around and already saw Tiffany glowering.
“Is that safe?” she asked.
“Did I ask for your opinion?” Alex rudely replied.
Oh boy, Tiffany was being roasted. “No, I didn’t think so.
After all, Tiffany, what’s one more dead homeless bum?
” Alex quoted her exact words back at her from the other day.
Several people hissed, and Tiffany turned white.
“I guess I look different in clean clothes and a haircut and shave.”
Tiffany gaped and Alex smiled coldly.
“Recognise me now? You never know who you’re being cruel too.
” Alex held her gaze and continued. “The company will also fundraise for the local soup kitchens and food banks. And we ask that anyone getting rid of old clothing please bring it here. There’ll be a clothing bin organised.
Aiden will continue to be CEO while I now run the charity,” Alex stated.
“For those who think the homeless are a drain on society,” Alex looked straight at Tiffany, Sami and Emily, which prompted everyone else to look across.
“Or, I directly quote, ‘It just means the streets are that bit cleaner and why don’t you join him?’, when a homeless person dies, you’ll be seeing HR today.
This company has no tolerance for such callousness, spite, prejudice or hate. ”
Alex, still holding my hand, walked across to Tiffany, Sami and Emily.
While Tiffany had finally recognised Alex the other two hadn’t.
“Take a good look, ladies. Imagine overlong hair, scruffy clothes and a beard. Yeah, now you recognise me. The crazy homeless man. Next time you’re bitches to someone down on their luck, you might think again.
Apart from being ex-military, I’m also the owner of this business and fully within my rights to sack the three of you. Goodbye.”
With that, Alex nodded at Aiden. “Blacklist them. Let’s see how they like working minimum wage jobs or being on the streets.”
His speech done, Alex tugged me behind him, and we left the building. Mic drop moment.
Katy - A year later.
“He’s kicking,” I said, laughing and patting my belly.
Alex came over and placed his hand on my stomach.
Our son kicked hard, and Alex laughed. A year had made a huge difference.
We’d left the church hall and had bought a dedicated building with more showers, a bigger kitchen and more room for clients to sit and talk.
We opened at eight every day for breakfast and shut at ten every night.
Alex funded everything with his personal fortune and with company donations.
We’d got a few people off the street, and that was a miracle.
There was help available if they wished to take that step.
We still lived in my apartment but were looking for a house.
Neither Alex nor I wanted anything elaborate, just somewhere cosy with a garden for junior.
Alex had come a long way, and so had I. My parents had quit their jobs and now worked here as paid helpers.
Alex and I both volunteered daily, and I’d also left my job.
Tiffany, Sami, and Emily had all been fired.
The last time I saw Emily, she was a school cleaner; Sami was a waitress. Nobody had seen Tiffany.
I glanced up as, speak of the devil, Tiffany walked in. She looked rough and scared. Her gaze landed on us, and she paled. It was clear she was homeless. Tiffany gazed at my rounded belly. Alex looked down at me.
“Let bygones be bygones,” he said and headed over to Tiffany.
She paled as he approached.
“Come in, Tiffany. Guess you’ve learned a lesson.
Let’s see what help we can give you,” Alex said kindly.
He held a hand out, and Tiffany lifted hers before pausing and looking down.
Hers was dirtier than Alex’s clean one. Alex beckoned with his fingers, and Tiffany reached out with tears in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Come on, Tiffany, let’s get some food inside you and start again,” Alex said.
She nodded and let Alex lead her to a table. Tears were in my eyes as I watched my husband look after a woman who’d spat many times on him. Who could imagine that sharing a sandwich with a homeless man would bring love and happiness? Not me, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
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