Well, hostess, get the table ready. Miss Jennifer said as she entered the house and headed to her room. After changing her clothes, she came down to the dining room and seeing the empty table, asked.
Are we not having dinner tonight? Mom. Vivian suggested celebrating my new appointment in a restaurant, Michael said. Why celebrate anything, the woman was surprised.
We’ll celebrate when you actually become a manager, but for now, I don’t see a reason. I don’t understand something. Vivian interjected.
Then, who are you right now? If not the manager? Right now, your husband is an ordinary worker in the workshop, Miss Jennifer explained. A good manager is the one who has risen to their position from the very bottom. The response from her mother-in-law stunned the bride.
At first, she stood there, mouth agape and silent, blinking her eyes, and then she grinned sarcastically. My husband? A worker in the workshop? Yes. Miss Jennifer confirmed.
You can be proud of him. He achieves everything through hard work. Now, I wonder, what were you doing all day? I went to my mother’s place, and then we went to the beauty salon.
We just got back, Vivian replied. I’m very tired and hungry. Maybe we can still go to the restaurant? Michael looked at his mother, but she turned around and went to the kitchen.
Vivian, he addressed his wife, I spent a lot during the vacation. I won’t get paid anytime soon. If we go to the restaurant now, we’ll be broke until the end of the month.
What are you talking about, she asked irritably. I married one of the wealthy grooms in our town, and now you’re telling me we have no money? Well, you know what expenses we had in the last month? My card is not limitless. Then ask your mother.
She won’t refuse her only son. I’m not sure if that’s a good idea, Michael shook his head. We are adults and should provide for ourselves.
She is not obligated to support us. She’s living the good life. Vivian exclaimed, referring to her mother-in-law.
Earning so much money and still living with her son. It was fine when you were single. Okay.
Someone had to take care of you. But now that you’re married, she could at least consider moving out. Move out? Where would she go? Michael asked.
This is her home. Why would she need such a big house all to herself? We are a family, planning to have children. She has more than enough room with just an apartment.
At that moment, Ms. Jennifer appeared in the living room doorway where the newlyweds were. Let’s go have dinner, she called out to her son and his wife. As they sat at the table, she warned Vivian.
But don’t think this will happen every day. In our family, there have never been idlers, and since you’re not working, be kind enough to keep the house in order and prepare dinner. I’m not a maid or a cook.
Vivian retorted. I won’t ruin my manicure and hands by scrubbing your floors. Ms. Jennifer looked questioningly at her son, then at Vivian.
So, why did you get married, she inquired. To support my wife, answered Michael, it’s a husband’s duty. All right.
And what is the wife’s duty then, his mother-in-law asked. The question left Vivian at a loss. She shifted her gaze between her husband and her mother-in-law, trying to find the right words.
Finally, she gathered her thoughts and replied. The wife’s duty is to give birth to and raise children. Very well.
And who will feed and wash them, her mother-in-law questioned. For that, there are maids, reasoned Vivian. But if you haven’t noticed, we don’t have a maid, replied her mother-in-law.
I manage the household on my own until now. I think I can still make myself a bowl of soup and iron a dress. But I won’t be serving my son anymore.
He now has a wife. If you want to hire a maid, I won’t object, but you’ll have to pay for her services yourself. After dinner, Ms. Jennifer washed the dishes and went to her room, leaving the newlyweds alone.
I think your mother doesn’t like me, Vivian concluded. She’s constantly picking on me and trying to put me in an awkward position in front of you. Don’t make things up.
Michael defended his mother. She just wants you to be productive and not idle. I see.
I have a feeling that the two of us won’t get along well in the same house. We need to hint to her that it’s time for us to move out. Maybe you can talk to your mother? It’s not difficult for me to talk to her, Michael smiled.
But what if we end up having to find an apartment? Still sleeping, son? Ms. Jennifer remarked, putting on her jacket and heading towards the exit. You’re leaving already? Michael inquired. Can’t you wait for me? I warned you that I don’t like it when employees are late, and I’m never late myself.
His mother replied and disappeared behind the door. Unhappy, Michael trudged to the kitchen. The table was empty.
There was nothing resembling a prepared breakfast in the fridge either. Deciding to grab a snack on his way to work, he closed the refrigerator door and went to his room. His wife was sound asleep like a baby.
Michael looked in the closet and didn’t find a single ironed shirt. Vivian, he called his wife softly. Can you iron a shirt for me? The girl simply turned over to the other side.
Vivian, he repeated more loudly. What should I wear to work? His wife opened her eyes, stretched, and with a smile replied. Well, just don’t go.
She reached out her arms to her husband and, embracing him, pulled him into bed. Michael didn’t resist too much. He liked it when Vivian was tender and affectionate with him.
Lying in bed with his wife, Michael glanced at the clock and realized that he was now definitively late for work. Everything is just great, he said, getting up from the bed. But my mom won’t be pleased with my absences.
I might end up unemployed. Oh, come on. Vivian smirked.
She might grumble a bit, but she won’t kick out her only son. You don’t know my mother well. Michael replied.
You’re like a little mischievous child, Vivian laughed. Maybe we should go somewhere? You’ve completely stopped taking me out to restaurants. I already explained that we don’t have the money, Michael said.
After hearing those words, Vivian became furious. I don’t want to hear anything. I married a millionaire, and he turns out to be a penniless man.
If you don’t talk to your mother right now and sort everything out, I don’t know what I’ll do. Vivian paused to think of a second scenario. Or maybe I’ll talk to her myself.
Michael only arrived at work during lunchtime. The director immediately called him into her office, and her stern expression indicated that the meeting wouldn’t go well. Left alone with her son, she declared.
You asked to work for me. I kindly agreed, brought you to the company, explained all the rules and procedures. But you decided that they don’t apply to you.
If you’ve changed your mind, I won’t stop you. Write a resignation letter and leave. Michael had anticipated that their conversation would go this way, so he was mentally prepared.
Mama, he calmly addressed her, let’s not be hasty. I’m your only heir. Sooner or later, you’ll have to pass the reins of power to me.
Why go through all this circus of starting as a regular worker, then a supervisor, and so on? Everyone should be in their place. I didn’t study at university just to work alongside ordinary laborer now. If it weren’t for those, as you call them, ordinary laborers, you wouldn’t be living in this huge house and eating caviar sandwiches, his mother retorted.
That brings me to another point, Michael retorted back. I was late today because I spent time making myself breakfast and ironing a shirt. And doesn’t your wife cook for you or iron your clothes? You once said that the husband is the provider and the wife is the keeper of the hearth.
Vivian doesn’t feel like a mistress in our home, Michael complained. And I understand her, but two mistresses can’t coexist in one kitchen. I agree, his mother replied.
That’s why I suggest you think about moving out. Maybe then your Vivian will quickly adopt the qualities of a housekeeper. Michael realized that the conversation had gone in a direction he hadn’t intended.
So he decided to just leave. But at the threshold, his mother stopped him. And think about your work, she said.
And for today’s absence, I’ll deduct from your salary. After leaving the office, Michael let his emotions out. What a mother! When I was a child, she would disappear for days at work, and now she suddenly decides to focus on my upbringing.
It’s too late for that. We’ll see who will come running for help first. You’re not getting any younger, he muttered to himself.
And you can’t take your business with you. When things get tough, you’ll call for me. Are you all right? A familiar voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
Michael looked up and saw Tiffany approaching with a stack of folders and documents. She seemed to look at him as if he were a stranger. Not a muscle on her face twitched.
He even thought she might not recognize him. Tiffany, you look great, he brightened up. How are you? Thank you, she replied calmly.
I’m doing fine. And how about you? I thought you seemed upset. You thought wrong.
All right then, she shrugged and continued on her way. Wait. Michael called after her.
Maybe we can meet in the evening? Hang out and talk? No, thank you, Tiffany firmly said. I don’t date married men. Besides, there’s nothing to talk about between us.
Without waiting for an answer from her former suitor, Tiffany went into the director’s office. Michael stood there, watching her go. She was petite, as if created by a master’s hand, elegantly dressed, in expensive high-heeled shoes.
She walked down the corridor, swaying her hips. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, as if enchanted, remembering the nights they had spent together. Stunning, a strange male voice said from behind him.
Can’t take your eyes off her. Michael looked at the man in work attire with disdain and replied. Well, nothing special.
To close the topic, he added. And you should mind your own business. The married life was becoming more and more tense for Michael, not at all how he had imagined it.
Vivian was constantly demanding money, and his mother stubbornly refused to give him a single penny. Before, Michael’s salary was enough for entertainment, parties, and all other expenses were covered by his mother, but now he had to support himself and his wife. And as it turned out, his salary wasn’t enough for all of this.
Michael. Ever since we moved, you’ve completely stopped spending time with me, complained his wife. Maybe we can go somewhere in the evening? To a club, for example? Vivian.
What club? Michael retorted. I work from morning till evening. We barely have enough money to make ends meet.
And how much longer are you going to be your mother’s apprentice, the disgruntled wife asked. Can’t you talk to your own mother? I already talked to her, he answered with irritation. Didn’t it suit you living in her house with everything provided? Now that we’ve moved out, forget about clubs and restaurants.
Living on everything provided? Vivian protested. Your mother made it clear from the very beginning that we were unwanted there. She deliberately pushed us to move to a rented apartment.
If you did something around the house, none of this would have happened. So, it’s all my fault, right? Well, sorry. Maybe you should have warned me that you don’t need a wife, but a maid.
I’ve never held a cloth or a frying pan in my hands since childhood. And you thought that by marrying you, I’d instantly become a cook and a maid. You were mistaken, my dear.
If you can’t earn enough to provide for your wife adequately, then it’s your problem, and don’t try to shift the blame. After voicing everything she wanted, Vivian immediately made a pitiful face, pouted her lips, and fluttered her long artificial eyelashes. Well, darling.
Maybe you’ll ask your mother for some money, she suggested. Dear, Michael replied, matching his wife’s tone. How about you help me solve our problems? Of course, I want to.
How? For example, by getting a job. What? Are you joking? What will my friends say? Vivian exclaimed fearfully. They will laugh at me.
What’s so funny about someone working? Only losers and peasants work. So, according to you, am I and my mother losers? And was your father, who earned a million-dollar fortune, also a loser or a peasant? Michael’s examples left Vivian at a loss, but she quickly came up with an answer. My father is an exception, but you are a loser.
You couldn’t even negotiate with your own mother about the basics. Now you’re groveling to her like a serf. I can sense that this conversation won’t lead to anything good, Michael concluded.
Whether you like it or not, you’ll have to learn to manage the household. I don’t have a single clean shirt left, the fridge is empty, and there’s a thick layer of dust on the furniture and the floor. This can’t go on any longer.
I completely agree. I don’t want to live in this mess anymore. I’m tired of eating your scrambled eggs and store-bought dumplings.
I’m going to my mother’s. When you become rich, give me a call, Vivian declared, gathered her things, and left, slamming the door loudly. Michael didn’t try to stop her, thinking that it would be easier for him without her, and he could go back to his mother’s house and possibly convince her to appoint him as her deputy.
And he was right. After listening to her son’s tearful story about his wife leaving him, Ms. Jennifer decided to give him a second chance. She entrusted him with managing the company during her business trip.
Ms. Jennifer had been planning to open a branch in another city for several years, and now she was going to sort out all the details on site. She left Tiffany to keep an eye on Michael. The young woman had become well-versed in the production process during her time there and now understood all the intricacies as well as the owner herself.
Sometimes, Ms. Jennifer would say in frustration, Too bad she’s not my daughter. Together, we could achieve great things. After his mother’s departure, Michael returned to her house and immediately decided to share the news with his wife.
Vivian had been living at her parents’ house for several days but didn’t know how to leave. Her mother kept bringing in a new boyfriend, squandering the remnants of her late husband’s fortune. She gradually sold off expensive furniture, her own jewelry, and even mentioned the possibility of selling their cars and the house.
In response to her daughter’s reproaches, she had the same answer every time. First, live with your husband for as long as I lived with mine. Make him earn a fortune like your father did, and then you can manage it.
Upon hearing about the changes in Michael’s life, Vivian rushed to him that same day. We need to take advantage of this situation, she instructed her husband. Now you have access to your mother’s money.
For example, you can transfer a small amount from the company’s account to your own, which will be enough for us at first. Then, gradually gain her trust and take control of the company. So, according to you, it’s that easy to withdraw money from the company’s account? Michael doubted his wife’s plan.
I’m sure it won’t be difficult for you, she assured him. You are intelligent and educated. And who would notice a small amount on such a large enterprise? And then no one will dare say anything to you.
After all, you are the owner’s son and the future director. Michael wasn’t entirely fond of the idea, but he saw some reason in her arguments. Of course, he had the right to access his mother’s money, and this might be the best opportunity.
After pondering for a while, he decided to act. He realized that the old employees who had been with the company since its founding wouldn’t be his allies. However, he found one young man among the newcomers who was eager for a reward.
After a few days, Michael and his spouse were able to afford hiring a housekeeper and making some renovations. They even managed to repay Vivian’s mother’s debt. Now they could visit clubs and dine in restaurants.
When Tiffany asked questions, Michael responded in a commanding voice. Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. This enterprise belongs to my mother, and therefore, it’s mine too.
I think Miss Jennifer should know about this, the assistant shared her thoughts. Oh, she already knows. You’re just jealous.
You didn’t want to date me, and now you’re envious. But I’m not resentful, and my offer is still valid. Want to? We’ll have dinner tonight.
I don’t think your wife will be thrilled about it, replied Tiffany. I doubt she’s expecting me for dinner. With each passing day, Michael settled more comfortably into his role as a boss.
He allowed himself to talk disrespectfully and in an authoritative tone to his subordinates, showing up late for work or not coming at all. A luxurious life constantly required finances, and now he knew where to get them. Michael and Vivian indulged themselves in everything, but their beautiful life as newlyweds didn’t last long.