CHAPTER 138: THE WEBSITE

Marcus Chen was trying to shake off the boring day. His counterpart was preparing for his meeting with Alexi Gurbanov while he had worked all night trying to make a website. He had bought a custom website from an online shop site and tried to set up and list everything Irene had designed.

"He must be going to his meeting with Alexi," Marcus muttered, looking at the clock on his laptop.

"Who?" Irene asked. She was looking bad today. Side effects of giving up were ruining some days for her. Her face was pale and she kept rubbing her temples.

"Well I just woke up to Marcus's plans in New York. He found an actual anthropologist and must be going to meet him." He observed Irene squirming with discomfort. "Do you need painkillers?"

"No I need to withstand this today. Don't expect too much from me." She lay down on the couch. "Did my dad call you?"

"For what?" Marcus asked, feeling a spike of dread about another argument about Irene.

"For the last month's check." Irene gestured vaguely.

"Well no let me check my messages." He picked up his phone and saw a message suggesting Marcus come and collect his last check. He needed money and he was in no place to act morally superior and refuse.

"Okay since Tyler is at school and you will lie down all day I am going to Pressley and Guns." He hinted to Irene to see if she would be okay if he left.

"Go go. Get me a giant cup of ice cream though. Mint and chocolate." Irene suggested weakly.

Marcus looked once again at Irene and got up. "Okay then I am leaving." When he was about to go he turned back. "By the way I bought a premade website and customized it for your designs. Take a look."

"No way." She raised up on the couch. "When did you make all that? You are a workaholic."

Marcus smiled and waved goodbye. He took Irene's car and the ride to Pressley and Guns was tense. He didn't know what to expect. But he had a plan. Take the check. Leave as soon as possible. Then go to Mr. Hudson's workshop for Irene's custom designs.

When he entered the gun range he saw nothing had changed. He greeted his old work friends and chatted small talk so as not to seem impolite. And when he entered Mr. Pressley's office, Alex was there as well.

"Well well look who is back." Alex said with a sinister tone. His arms were crossed. A smug smile played on his lips.

"Not now Alex. Leave us please." Mr. Pressley's voice was tired.

Alex left the room with a spiteful look, his shoulder brushing Marcus harder than necessary on the way out.

When he left Mr. Pressley gestured for Marcus to sit.

"Here is your last check." He handed him the check but it was missing a thousand dollars. Just two hundred dollars.

When Marcus made a puzzled face Pressley explained.

"Since you will not be working for us I am cutting the whole security course payment all at once." He seemed stern.

Marcus was hoping to get all twelve hundred. Especially seeing other Marcus trying his best to preserve money in New York. But he had to accept the consequences of his actions.

"Unless," Mr. Pressley continued. "If you and Irene come back to work again." He suggested.

"Sir. This place and these workers are clearly triggering for Irene." Marcus answered carefully.

"Nonsense. None of my workers are using. She is just acting like a spoiled kid." Mr. Pressley's voice raised. "Sorry. Sorry I am not accusing anyone. For the last few months I got to know you. You are a good kid. And that expulsion from college could have been a simple slip up."

"Sir," Marcus tried to intervene.

"I heard you and Irene went to Hurley Hudson to start some jewelry business." He took a water bottle and before opening offered it to Marcus. When he declined he opened it and took a huge sip.

"These kinds of starts without zero expertise or knowledge of marketing or business will only end in failure." Mr. Pressley ended his monologue.

"Sir.." Marcus started to answer but Mr. Pressley cut him.

"Don't start with the 'sir I know what I am doing' thing. I saw enough that you are a smart kid and a hard worker. I can offer better positions for you. I just want to be close to my daughter."

"Sir. You can always visit your daughter and take her to places she wants to visit if she wants. But I am no longer able to work for a paycheck. I..."

"What do you mean you can't work for a paycheck? You are not poisoned with this stupid hustle mindset are you?"

"Not that sir I.."

"Just say it."

"I need money soon. After that I can find more steady jobs."

"What does that mean? You have a debt? What is it?"

"It is something I cannot explain but it will not affect Irene. Don't worry. If you need help connecting with Irene I can always help but for now I need to leave. Good day."

"Wait I can find good paying jobs with bonuses on your sales."

"Sorry again I need to leave." Marcus leaned to the desk and took his two hundred dollar check. He remembered the desperation. These jobs, this business, cannot help if money doesn't come in time. They needed to give orders for at least mind freeing machines and there wasn't even a prototype yet.

He bit his lip leaving the office. There was only one route and that was begging his father for a loan.

When he was lost in thoughts leaving he felt a pang of pain in his shoulder and stumbled. Alex had given him a shoulder bump to get a rise from him and was now laughing in his face.

"What is it? You didn't get back your stupid job for your addict girlfriend?" He was smiling cruelly.

Marcus wanted to land a fist on his face but he felt sorry for the man. This insignificant small man. His pettiness and small grievances were too small for the intergalactic broke hero and his struggles.

Marcus instead smiled and bowed his head. "Sorry Alex. I must leave now. I have a meeting. Catch up with you later."

He saw while walking Alex's fury. Why was he so spiteful toward the world Marcus would never understand. Was he in love with Irene? Was that it? He would never know because there were more important things that needed to be taken care of.

When he was about to open Irene's car he noticed Alex's motorcycle. A green Kawasaki.

Why not, he thought. I can't be a good guy every day.

He looked around. Gave the finger to the camera looking at him. And broke one mirror off the bike.

Then he drove off to meet Mr. Hudson.