Chapter 4 - Someone whom you can't afford to offend

In the Ground…

Brice Turner was running and panting. The squad leader saw him and when Brice reached his location, he was standing in front of the Squad leader.

Brice looked at him and greeted him with Good morning.

"Have you seen the time? Aren't you so early today? You might go back and rest and come after several hours. Will that be fine with you?" The squad leader mocked Brice for being late.

"Well… Last night, I drank too much and due to this today morning I wasn't able to wake up on time.", Brice replied.

"Is that my fault? Am I answerable to that? I have been standing here on behalf of you for last one hour. There will be no if and but, late means late. One hour late means 20% of your month's salary will be deducted. Do you get it?". The squad leader spoke loudly.

"Fine, I got it.", Brice said.

"That's good for you.", The squad leader turned and walked away.

Brice took a deep breath and finally started doing his duty. What does he need to be afraid of? Doesn't he know there is a world outside this campus too?

He started wondering if the experience of his other three friends were better or if they have been in an even more worst situation.

"BEEP…. BEEP…"

A sound of car horn was heard by Brice Turner and he hurriedly turned to look out. His duty was on the company's gate and he was responsible for taking care of the company vehicles.

Brice Turner looked at the vehicle and suddenly he froze, this was the same lavish black car from yesterday.

"Still waiting… Are you deaf or what? Open the gate!", William Carter roared from the car inside.

Brice Turner was keeping his head down and pressed his security hat down as not to be recognized. He didn't open the gate.

"I'm sorry, Only company vehicles are allowed to enter inside the gate.", Brice said.

William Carter wanted to scold again but Lara Jane stopped him from doing so. Although, William Carter didn't recognize Brice Turner but Lara recognized him.

"Honey, it's okay. I can just walk in.", Lara Jane said softly.

William Carter glanced at Lara Jane and then said, "Okay, fine. See you later."

"Watchdog!", Wiliiam Carter reversed his car and said while going back, stretching his hand, showing his middle finger to Brice Turner.

Lara Jane watched William Carter drive away and then slowly walked to Brice Turner.

"Brice, Why don't you accept? We are not together anymore and I have nothing to do with you. Aso, I advise you to not mess with William. He is a person with good connections in the society. You won't be able to afford it!", She said these words calmly but indifferently. Although the words were harsh but according to her it was the truth.

"Thank you Lara for your reminder. Hope… One day I will also be someone whom he can't afford to offend!" Brice said slowly.

Although, Brice said his words very lightly but Lara Jane heard it. She was going back after giving advice to Brice. Suddenly she stopped hearing what Brice said. At first, she was shocked but then she ignored it thinking, anyone can dream big and walked away.

She turned towards the office and walked away. Although, she was late… but she knows how to handle her old and perverted office Director!

Brice was looking at Lara's back while she was walking to her office building.

I am already someone whom you can't afford…..

It's just that you are the only girl whom I ever liked in my whole life!!!

But how pity I feel for myself that you don't even know that.

Before Brice Turner got off the work, he received the penalty notice. The notice stated:

" This is to inform you that Brice Turner, the employee of the security department was late for his work. For this action has been taken and his 20% of the month's salary will be deducted."

Brice Turner looked at the squad leader in front of him.

"Brice, this is just a small warning this time. If you will be late next time…. you can leave the work!" The quad leader warned with an evil smile.

The squad leader turned and started to leave.

"Michael Hendrix, you wait…" Brice Turner stopped him.

"What?", the squad leader turned around and found that there is something wrong with the facial expression of Brice Turner and seeing that he became afraid and took a step back.

Michael Hendrix was able to be a security squad leader in the company not because he was qualified or senior to others. There was only one reason that his brother-in-law is Head of the security Department of the company. This was also the reason why he had always been too arrogant and bossy in front of security guards like Brice Turner.

"Take your words back as a good person, so that there won't be a problem when we meet in future…. Aren't you afraid that someday you will fall and end much worse than me?", Brice looked into his eyes.

"Damn, it…! I thought you dared to beat me, you don't need to think about that. You can rest assured… I have someone above me much more powerful here! An I would never fall like you.", Michael Hendrix said in a frustrated voice.

Brice watched him leaving proudly, he didn't utter a single word.

Damn…. You urged me to buy this company directly in a hurry. You see, I will let you stand in the wild!

At seven o'clock Brice finally returned to the dormitory. His first priority was t get instant food for him to calm his hunger.

"Brice…. Is a part of your salary deducted of this month?", Lucas Wilde looked at Brice Turner.

Brice nodded his head confirming Lucas.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a soft crumpled paper from it and then threw it on the bed in front of Lucas Wilde.

Lucas picked it up and glanced at it once.

"Fuck!!! He is really a bastard…", Lucas Scolded.

"Are you okay Lucas? By the way, let it go, it okay.", Brice asked Lucas with some sympathy. He thought the same happened to him.

For instant food, Brice took instant noodles to eat. How can he eat noodles without hot water? So, He got up to grab some hot water.

"Do you think, it's okay? If he would have deducted from my salary, then I would have killed him." Lucas Wilde's words were ruthless.

Brice who was going to the kitchen to get some hot water for him suddenly stopped. He turned and looked into the eyes of Lucas.

"What do you mean by that? Hasn't the money also been deducted from your salary?", Brice Turner questioned Lucas Wilde.

"Lucas Wilde gestured no by his hand.

"I'm so unlucky. This Michael Hendrix is really a Bastard. He was actually waiting for me at the north gate when he saw I was not present on time today. He wanted to catch me as soon as I reach there. Then he will get a point and finally will deduct it from my salary. My 20% salary for this month is gone." Brice Turner cried and said.

The wages of Brice Turner, Lucas Wilde and others were almost the same. The salaries of all of them lie between $2000 to $3000.

At the same time, there was a knock on the door. Lucas got up and opened the door. At the door, both Ethan Morrison and Gabriel Parks came back with an ugly faces.

By watching their ugly faces full of anger Brice thought of the same thing.

"You guys also…" Brice asked in a low voice.

"He is a fucking bastard…. I really don't want to do it. He knows that we have a very little salary and it's not easy to survive with that. What else is left to deduct?", Gabriel Parks was sad and frustrated from inside.

Here Ethan Morrison didn't speak a word. Although he was also frustrated and unhappy, still he maintained his calmness. He knows that he and the others would not be able to do anything to Michael Hendrix. So, he just drank his anger. This shows how sensible Ethan Morrison was.

But, Ethan Morrison was also a man of wisdom and keep every single details he could gather.

"Do you guys know? I heard that the money which Michael Hendrix deduct from our salary, he doesn't submit it to Finance Department. Instead of that he secretly takes it all for himself." Ethan lowered his voice and said.

"Are you telling the truth? How can he keep that? He gave us notice from the Company. Then, How it is possible for him to fraud with the company?", Brice Turner looked at Ethan Morrison curiously.

"The direct deduction of security guards is used by Michael Hendrix and his girlfriend for themselves. Michael Hendrix's girlfriend work in the finance department of the company. These two make small moves, isn't it an easy way to do fraud with the company?", Ethan Morrison said lightly.

Brice Turner looked at Ethan Morrison with surprise. He started thinking about it, is it really possible?

Anyway, the document which Brice Turner received from Michael Hendrix was also handwritten by Michael Hendrix himself. Also, there was no company stamp or signature of the senior leader on the notice he got. From this alone, it can be concluded that what Ethan Morrison said is true.

"What then? You guys also know we can't do anything about it. Michael Hendrix's brother-in-law is the Head of the security department. Of the company. Isn't it easy for him to make us his meal? My friends $400 or $500 deducted from each of the salaries of you guys was enough for me to reward a good prize for my big beauty. Oh yes…. the big beauty is still broadcasting. I have to view her broadcast quickly!", Lucas Wilde was in distress but within a few seconds after remembering that live broadcast of her beloved big beauty was still going on, he picked up his phone and started to watch it.

Gabriel's only favourite TV series can only be viewed on a laptop. So, for his brother from another mother, Gabriel Parks, this time Lucas started watching his big beauty broadcast on his mobile phone.

"Lucas, I see… You don't send any gifts any day. How do you watch others giving her gifts?" Brice glanced at the screen of the mobile in Lucas's hand.

The woman on the mobile screen was scratching her head like a monkey and shouting at her brother loudly.

"i have painted countless gifts for my big beauty in my mind." Lucas Wilde told about the gifts he thought he gave to that big beauty in his dreams.

When Brice heard it he was too lazy to talk to him. He picked up the thermos and went to fetch the hot water himself.

"Brice Turner…. Hello!"

A girl also came to fetch water and as she saw Brice, she greeted him with a Hello when she saw Brice Turner.

The best benefit of a security guard is the power to open the gate for the employees even if they are late. No one cared about them but when they are late and have to enter they are fully dependent on the security guard whether he allows them to enter after time or not. Since he has been ordered by officials not to let the latecomers enter after time. So, only security guards can secretly let them in.

If you have a good relationship with the security guard, you can just say him/her hello and they will let you enter secretly saving you from punishment for late coming.

"Oh, you are also fetching water." Brice asked.

Brice remembered her name was Alisha. But he forgot her surname.

Alisha Campbell nodded, and she again started chatting on her mobile phone which she was holding in her hand.

"Look here on the mobile screen, this guy is one of the security guards of our company… a little handsome guy, Will you say I want to seduce him?" Alisha Campbell said to Brice Turner.

Brice was stunned and looked at her strangely.

"Hey…. I am broadcasting live." Alisha Campbell winked at Brice Turner.

Brice Turner glanced at Alisha's mobile phone. He usually sees Lucas Wilde seeing these things and through that he learnt a lot about these broadcasting stuff.

"They total sum up to only a few more than a dozen people?", Brice asked.

"Hey, it's not easy to get viewed by a large no. of people when you are not regular. They only distribute tens of thousands of gifts a day. You can see me, I'm exhausted after several days of work… Today only I opened the live broadcast. I will get better and would have more people watching me live in the future.", Alisha Campbell muted her audio while speaking.

Alisha Campbell has an average face, but with the special effects and filters the eyes, beauty, thin face etc make the person more adorable.

"I don't know much about it. My friend Lucas Wilde likes to watch these kinds of stuff. He always views videos and live broadcasting of a girl whose username is 'Big Beauty' and that too every day, never misses any of her live broadcasts. Should I let him watch your broadcast and be your fan?" Brice asked.

"Big Beauty?", Alisha Campbell blinked her eyes.

"Yes…", Brice nodded.

"Do you want to know who that beautiful girl with the username 'Big Beauty' is?" Alisha smiled looking at Brice and asked.

"Who??? I don't know if she is from our company or not but I can't say as anything can happen in this world.", Brice Turner looked at Alisha strangely.

"I'm impressed… You understand the hints very clearly. Okay, fine, I am gonna tell you… But please I request you don't tell anyone.

"Okay.", Brice nodded.

"The girl with the username 'Big Beauty' is Heidi Hudson from the production office! Now the little white beast of the office is playing with one. If you contribute, you can also make some money! Moreover, if you do well you can also earn more than your salary, Ha-ha….. well I won't tell you anymore, I am going back." Alisha Campbell said it mysteriously.

Brice froze on the spot, Heidi Hudson? He knows that girl very well.

He remembers that the girl Heidi Hudson is shy and can be compared to a bubble. But why does she look like an ocean in her live broadcast?