DECEPTION: A Stolen Legacy

John looked into the eyes of the woman he loved. "Yes, I did. I cannot explain what the dream means, but it always makes me feel like I have lost something precious, like I have lost people really close to me, and I may never get it back. Whenever I look at you, that is how I feel too. I feel like I will lose you, like it is just a matter of time before your dad turns up at the door and take you away from me permanently. 

Sarah looked at the love of her life "I have told you many times that it will never happen. I am not a little girl, I am a fully grown adult who can make her own decisions. I have made my choice, and it is you. Never forget that." Sarah gave John a smile that lighted up his world. "Get dressed dear, I have good news for you, but first, let me make breakfast."

After breakfast, Sarah looked at her husband and sighed. She didn't want to do this, but she had no choice. 

"Darling, our electricity bill is due, and we need to get groceries. We do not have any more food in the kitchen. Also, the...."

John let out a groan. "How do you expect me to pay all these bills? I feel like you want to hear it. Fine, I have no job! I'm jobless and broke! There it is, you've heard what you wanted to hear." 

John felt a bomb going off inside him, but as he looked at his wife and saw a tear stream down her cheeks, he realized he had overreacted. It wasn't her fault. 

"I'm sorry love. It's just, it's just...…" 

Sarah cut in. "I understand love, we're in this together. I will not stop repeating it until you get it into your thick head. You are not alone, we are in this together. I have an idea that can solve our problems, but I am not sure you would like it."

John chuckled. "I like any idea that can solve our problems dear. I don't need to like it."

Sarah was rubbing her hands over each other, a sign John knew from experience meant she was nervous. 

"I spoke to my father last week and asked him to give you a job, he said he didn't have any opening, but he could employ you as a cleaner in the company." At the sight of her husband's scowl she quickly continued. "Look, I know it's small, but it can pay our bills, and that is all that matters. However, he said there was one condition but he refused to tell me. He said he would tell you if you went to see him today."

Silence ensued for a while. Sarah was muttering words of encouragement, but John wasn't hearing anything. He knew it was a trap, but he could not tell his wife. He was certain Mr Lance was just looking for an opportunity to embarrass him and tell him to leave his daughter.

He could not bring himself to tell her that he had been to the Lance mansion - the home he grew up in - multiple times to beg for a job, but he had met with varying degrees of insults ranging from mild to wild insults and then to becoming the recipient of cold water seasoned with loud cries for him to leave their daughter. He had lied to her that he was drenched while passing by a car wash. He looked into her eyes again and decided he would go to his father in law. 

In the worst case scenario, he could not experience worse than what he had previously endured, and who knew, maybe Mr Lance had finally come around and would actually offer him a job. 

He looked at his wife and shrugged. "Fine, I will go see him today."

The smile on Sarah's face was one of the few things that convinced him that life was worth living. He was wondering what made him agree to visit hell when Sarah's inquisitive eyes met his. 

"What? I've agreed to go." Sarah took his hands and whispered her reply. "Yes, but you know my father always fixes his meetings in the evenings."

John raised his left eyebrow, his characteristic trait when he was amused. "So?"

Sarah smiled. "Go now, so he doesn't reschedule your appointment for tomorrow. Please."

John started to protest, but he found that he could not. "Fine, I will get dressed."

Sarah smiled even more, revealing her dimples as she did so. "I love you babe. When you come back, we will celebrate. I have good news for you." With that, she left the room, leaving John to brood on what he had just agreed to do. 

John began his thirty-minute walk to the Lance mansion. He could have taken the bus, but he needed to think. He knew he was paying a visit to hell, and he was not happy about it. He wished he did not have to go, but he had no choice. He had searched in vain for a job for over a month. It was both surprising and frustrating that he had been unable to get a job, because on more than one occasion he could swear he was among the most qualified, if not the most qualified applicant for the job. 

On one occasion, he had applied for a job in a company that had twenty openings. The company had been quite tight-lipped about the vacancy, but he had been told by a manager in one of the companies he had previously applied for a job in. He was very disappointed not to have gotten the job, as he had been told during the interview that he was the most qualified applicant for that particular position. 

He had been very optimistic about his chances but had been utterly disappointed to find out that the job was given to someone without a college degree, whereas he had two. He broke down when he was told, but one of his interviewers had run after him to console him. He admitted that he had lobbied for him to be employed, since he was the most qualified, but the matter was 'out of his hands' as there were 'higher powers' involved. 

However, the manager told him about the top-secret vacancy in the other company, and said he was certain he would be employed, since the company had over ten openings. He had gotten there with much optimism, and was even more optimistic when he found out that they had twenty openings. He made a quick count and found out that there were twenty applicants aside himself, but he liked his chances. Four hours later, he found out that he was the only one who was not accepted, despite the fact that he boasted of more credentials than any of the other applicants. He was heartbroken and miserable. One of the other applicants pitied him and offered to decline the appointment, since he had another job and only applied because he thought the new position offered more financial incentives. He concluded that the difference was not much and would gladly decline the appointment so John could be employed. 

John had fallen at his feet in gratitude and was thanking him profusely, only for the supervisor to come and 'apologize on behalf of the company' for their mistake. Apparently, they had nineteen openings and not twenty, and despite the good intentions of the man who rejected the appointment, they would still not be able to hire John.