When Love Pays in Vouchers

On the day we receive our bonus, one of the staff members of the finance department gives me 500 dollars worth of vouchers for the fast food restaurant downstairs.

He tells me that my wife, Jillian Dunn, who is also the company's president, specifically ordered him to do so.

In utter disbelief, I seek out Jillian and question her. "Didn't we agree that whoever secures the project will get a 50,000-dollar bonus? Stop messing around! I still need to pay for Freya's cochlear implant!"

"I'm not messing around with you," Jillian answers seriously. "These vouchers can last you for a whole month. I wouldn't even give them to you if you were anyone else.

"Money is tight right now at the company. Besides, Freya has been deaf for more than a decade now. She can survive being deaf for another decade."

The next day, Jillian gives one of the interns a sports car that's worth 50,000 dollars.

I look at the photo she uploads of her and the intern grinning widely as they sit in the car and give it a like.

Jillian must assume that everything is proceeding smoothly since she has signed the contract. However, she misses the additional condition that's printed on the last page of the contract.

I dial her rival's number, asking, "Ms. Swan, are you interested in Project Charlie?"

I had just hung up when I received a call from Jillian Dunn.

"John works so hard every day. I promised to reward him with a sports car a long time ago, so why are you being weird and liking that photo?"

I couldn't understand her reasoning. I had just liked the photo. Why was she accusing me of being weird for doing that?

Jillian didn't give me a chance to explain. "Freya has been deaf since birth. That's an irrefutable fact, no matter how expensive a cochlear implant is. Instead of wasting money on a useless piece of trash like her, I might as well reward my staff."

Her words made me tremble with anger. Unable to help myself, I sneered, "By 'staff,' you mean only Jonathan, don't you?"

Jillian bristled at my jab. "Am I wrong? John contributed significantly to the company and his colleagues during the bidding process. I kept a close eye on him. Considering how many staff members we have, the fact that everyone got to eat their meals on time was all thanks to him.

"And you, even as the leader, showed no consideration for your team. You were petty and selfish. It's no wonder no one in the company likes you."

Jonathan Porter's voice rang out from beside us.

"I can give up on the sports car if Mr. Lennox isn't happy about it, Jill," he said. "I'm worried about losing my job if he holds a grudge against me. I don't want him making things difficult for me at the company."

Jillian immediately defended him. "Rest easy and accept whatever I give you. No one will dare give you a hard time when I'm around!"

Then she turned to me, her tone sharp and cold. "Don't forget, Felix Lennox, I'm the one who gave you the position of vice president. If you upset me, I'll strip you of it and kick you out immediately."

Her words lodged in my chest like needles, leaving me breathless.

Dunn Group had only reached this level of success because I helped Jillian expand the company little by little. To win the bid for the project, I led our team and worked overtime for a full month.

She was right that some staff members weren't happy about being forced to work overtime, but in the end, they received generous rewards for their effort.

As for Jonathan, aside from ordering food for everyone daily, he spent the rest of his time coming up with ways to coax Jillian. Despite contributing little to the team, he had become Jillian's most valued staff member.

Jillian scoffed at my lack of response. "I wouldn't have given you those food vouchers if John didn't convince me to do so."

She ended the call immediately after.

The last sliver of hope I had for our marriage was extinguished as I listened to the beeping tone on the other end of the line.

Just then, my sister, Freya Lennox's attending physician, sent a message to me, explaining that if we continued to delay her cochlear implant surgery, she would lose her last chance at restoring her hearing. I had to pay the deposit by tomorrow at the latest.

Left with no other choice, I called Jillian again. The call rang and rang, but no one picked up. In the end, I found out from the secretary that she and Jonathan had gone to a newly-opened restaurant for a meal.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I saw Jonathan feeding Jillian a shrimp directly from his mouth.

My stomach turned, and I nearly threw up. However, for Freya's sake, I forced myself to swallow the disgust roiling inside me.