MY WIFE

LUNCHTIME

As the group of friends sat down for lunch, Landon couldn't help but feel the weight of guilt crushing down on him. He knew he had messed up with Scarlet and he didn't know how to fix it.

"Bro, have you tried apologizing to her?" Cole asked, breaking the silence.

"I tried, but she's not even listening to me. She's staying away," Landon replied, feeling defeated.

"Well... would you blame her for it? You started it in the first place," Ryan chimed in, looking exhausted from having to deal with his friends' drama.

Landon knew Ryan was right. He had no one to blame but himself, but it still didn't make things any easier.

"I know... But I don't blame her," Landon admitted with a heavy sigh.

"I think she's married," Cole suddenly piped up, causing the rest of the group to look at him questioningly.

"I think so too. She was addressed differently and if I'm not mistaken, the name sounded too familiar," Ryan added, always being the one to know everything.

Landon's heart sank at the thought of Scarlet being married. He couldn't imagine her with anyone else but him. But then again, he knew she would never love him no matter what. He was a bully to her and She'll always see him that way.

"What do you mean?" Landon asked, hoping to get some clarity on the situation.

"I don't know. It could be just a coincidence, and besides, Scarlet is too innocent to be married to that type of man," Ryan replied, making Landon wonder what type of man he was referring to.

But then, Cole interjected, reminding them of their past mistake of underestimating Scarlet. "Remember the last time we minimized her? She turned out to be the junior sister of the leader of Alpha Three. I'd rather believe she's with the devil than underestimate her, bro."

Landon couldn't help but concede to Cole's point, realizing that he didn't truly know everything about Scarlet. But he didn't want to jump to conclusions either, especially since he was feeling jealous, not that she was his girlfriend but the fact that she was already married before he could determine his feelings for her.

"You both should just shut up! For all we know, it might be an arranged marriage, and she might have been forced into it," Landon snapped, feeling on edge from the discussion.

"Bro, relax. Why would you be so riled up? She isn't married to you," Ryan said sternly, making sure to keep Landon in check.

"I'm going to warn you again, don't do anything stupid. Please, we're already in enough trouble because of you," Ryan added, causing Landon to feel even more guilty.

"Ryan, please keep your temper in check. We don't need you both fisting out," Cole chimed in, trying to diffuse the situation.

"Okay, cool off, you two. We're already in a deep mess. Let's not ruin things further. Landon, please keep your feelings in check too. I wouldn't want things to escalate," Cole reasoned with the group.

As they continued to eat their lunch, Landon couldn't help but feel the weight of their conversation still lingering in the air. He knew he had messed up, but he didn't know how to fix it. All he could do was hope that Scarlet would forgive him for his mistakes.

AFTER BREAK

As the school bell rang, I eagerly got up to head to my next class when I saw Casie standing right in front of me.

"Hey, weirdo!" She sneered, causing my heart to sink to the pit of my stomach.

"Casie," I muttered, turning to look at her, not surprised that she was bothering me again. "What do you want this time around?"

"Are you really married?" she asked out of the blue.

"What is it to you?" I asked defensively, already knowing where this conversation was headed.

"I'm just curious..." She trailed off, her eyes scrutinizing me in disgust. "Who would choose a useless nerd for a wife? I mean, you're all fleshy, not sexy and all, but you ended up getting married. I pity the poor guy, I bet he isn't even good-looking."

I felt a surge of anger bubble up inside of me, but I tried my best to keep it in check. "I may not be skinny like you, but I'm sure I've got what it takes to have the right man. I don't know why you all keep bugging me, but I'll be honest about one thing, get a life and focus on it because I'm very focused unlike you all!" I fired back, my tone firm and resolute.

I couldn't believe that I was speaking to Casie in such a bold manner. It was as if a newfound sense of confidence had suddenly overtaken me, but at the same time, I was tired of all the trouble that these bullies kept putting me through.

But Casie wasn't one to back down easily. "Shocked! Did you just talk back at me?" she asked, her eyes blazing with fury.

Without giving her a chance to reply, I walked right past her, determined to ignore her spiteful remarks.

But as soon as I turned my back on her, I heard her voice grow louder with each passing second. "I'll make you pay! I promise you that!" she swore, her voice carrying down the hallway.

I knew that I had to be careful, for Casie was not one to take things lying down. And as I walked away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, knowing that this was only the beginning of what was to come.

BROOKS CORP

Mav strode into his oak-lined office, where his three associates were already seated, nervously awaiting his arrival. The atmosphere was tense; they knew he was a tough negotiator and that today's meeting could make or break their company.

"Thank you for coming," he said gruffly, taking his seat at the head of the table. "Let's get down to business."

The conversation revolved around a potential deal that could save Wire Corp. from bankruptcy. The associates tried to present their case, but Mr Park cut them off with a stern demand.

"I want seventy percent or nothing!" he said, the intensity of his voice causing the room to go quiet.

The associates exchanged a look, unsure of how to proceed. Mav was known for his unyielding nature, and they knew that if they didn't come to an agreement, the deal would be off.

"Mr Park," one of them began tentatively, "perhaps we can discuss the terms and come to a compromise that works for everyone."

"I have a board meeting in ten!" he interjected, glancing at his watch. "Make it quick!"

The associates exchanged another glance, knowing that their time was running out. They quickly went over their proposal again, trying to find any way to make it work. But Mav remained firm in his demand.

"Fine!" one of the associates said, feeling defeated.

As he stood up to leave, he handed them a folder. "My secretary will see you concerning the documents. You'll find your way out."

The associates knew that the game wasn't over yet, but they also knew that they had a long road ahead of them if they were going to make this deal work. They opened the folder to see the details of the negotiation, knowing that they would have to come up with a creative solution if they were going to give seventy percent of the profit to Mr Park.

phone rings, and I pick it up.

What?!

Boss Ma'am was rushed to the hospital!