Chapter Four: Looking for a New Job
Jaden turned and swung at the second guard. The man dodged, and the punch landed on the third guard instead—who collapsed instantly.
The second guard tried to kick Jaden, but Jaden caught his leg and countered with a sharp kick to the stomach, sending him flying backward into the fourth and fifth guards. The three of them tumbled—some hitting the wall, others crashing to the floor.
The last guard, stunned by the scene, opened the door and ran—probably to get backup. Jaden didn't wait to find out.
He seized the opportunity and grabbed Clara by the wrist, twisting her arm behind her back.
"Agh! Please, let me go!" she cried. "I'll pay you! I'll give you your money!"
"No," Jaden said coldly. "Not until I have it in my hand."
Just then, a young man—about twenty-three—entered the room. His name was Jude, one of the junior staff. He froze, stunned by the chaos.
Still wincing in pain, Clara barked out an order. "Jude! Get me the checkbook. Let me settle this man and end this madness."
Jude hesitated, then obeyed. He pulled the checkbook from the drawer and handed her a pen. She quickly scribbled out a check for the amount she owed—three months' salary—and passed it to Jaden.
He glanced at it, confirming the amount. Satisfied, he released her, took the check, and walked out of the office without another word.
That evening, Jaden got home after spending the day with a friend. It had been rough—he'd just been fired.
As he entered the sitting room, he found his mother-in-law, Margaret, and his wife, Vanessa, chatting quietly. He greeted them briefly and walked straight into the guest room where he had slept the night before. Lying on the bed, he stared at the ceiling, troubled.
How do I tell them I lost my job?
After a few moments of restless thinking, he finally summoned the courage to face them. He walked back into the sitting room and stood beside the sofa where Margaret was seated.
"Jaden, how was work today?" she asked, turning toward him.
"Not that good," he replied, his face clearly weighed down with sadness.
"Why? You don't look happy. What happened?"
Margaret could be kind to Jaden from time to time, though her affection was always stronger toward her daughter. She adored Vanessa deeply.
"I... I was fired today," Jaden stammered. "Because of my lateness."
"Oh, I'm sorry, my dear," Margaret said with genuine concern. "Don't worry—I'll help you get a job at one of my companies." She smiled softly. Margaret owned three successful businesses in the country, and she meant what she said.
Jaden's face brightened slightly. "Thank you. I'd be very grateful."
"You can go and start dinner," she added.
"What should I cook?" he asked.
"Check the kitchen timetable and prepare what's listed there," she said.
Jaden nodded and headed to the kitchen. As he cooked, his mind wandered.
If one door doesn't close, another won't open, he thought.
Maybe getting fired was the only way I'd ever get this new opportunity. And maybe it'll be better than the last.
Certainly! Here's a line-edited version of your chapter, with smoother flow, cleaner sentence structures, and improved clarity while preserving the original tone and intent:
The next morning, Jaden woke up early. He completed all his chores diligently, then got ready to visit one of Margaret's companies—T and K Company—where he hoped to get a new job.
T and K was a renowned business empire that catered mostly to the wealthy. Jaden had never been there before, but he'd heard plenty of stories.
Despite the way he was often treated in his in-laws' home—like a servant, unappreciated, and overlooked—Jaden remained focused. His wife, Vanessa, barely helped around the house, yet he never complained. He was determined to succeed, move out, and build a life of his own.
After preparing breakfast, he ate quickly, grabbed his bike, and began the 30- to 40-minute journey to the company.
When he finally arrived, he paused in front of the impressive building. The exterior alone was enough to stir something in him.
One day, I'll be sitting inside one of those offices, he told himself.
He didn't have a certificate, but he had something else—vision.
As he approached the entrance, a man in uniform stopped him.
"Hey, stop there. Where do you think you're going?" the man asked, stepping forward.
"I'm going into the company," Jaden replied confidently.
The man scoffed, eyeing Jaden's modest clothes. "You can't just walk in like that. You must be a beggar."
Jaden felt a surge of anger. "What?! How dare you? Do you know me?"
"I don't need to know you to guess what you're here for."
"Mister, if you don't want trouble, let me in," Jaden warned. "Or else—"
The guard interrupted with a mocking laugh. "Or else what? Even if you turned into a lion, I still wouldn't let you in."
Before Jaden could respond, a sharp voice rang out from the left.
"What the hell is going on here?" The tone was loud and authoritative. Another man in uniform walked briskly toward them—clearly another staff member.
"I came here looking for a job," Jaden explained quickly, "but this man wouldn't let me in. He even insulted me—called me a beggar."
The second guard stopped in front of Jaden, gave him a slow, judgmental once-over, and shook his head in mock pity.
"You're looking for a job, and you show up dressed like that? You don't look serious. Honestly, it looks like you stole those clothes."
Jaden's eyes narrowed. "Don't talk to me like that. I'm not a thief."
The guard smirked. "Then get out of here. Now. Or I'll call the police to deal with you."
He wasn't bluffing. His brother was a police officer, and he often used that threat to intimidate people.
One guard, one problem. Two guards—double trouble, Jaden thought bitterly. There was no point in arguing further. He needed help—and fast.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Margaret's number.
Thank God I have her contact, he thought. Otherwise, I'd have been forced to return home humiliated.
The phone rang once before Margaret picked up.
"Jaden, how far? Have you reached the company yet?"