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