Tiffany was clearly soaking everything up, and there was a glint in her eyes that I hated. She’d soon get hers.
Katy
At eleven o’clock, people entered the main part of the office. Aiden had called a meeting, and I knew it was something to do with Alex. What they had planned, I didn’t know because Alex was keeping quiet about it, which was really frustrating. Even more annoying was Tiffany, Emily and Sami had decided to sit behind me. Tiffany had been demoted to receptionist, Emily was now the coffee girl, and Sami was the post girl. All three sucked at their new jobs and bitched about their demotions.
Alex entered with Aiden, and I stared. I was still stunned that this gorgeous man was mine. And cleaned up, Alex was handsome. Alex had cut his hair and shaved, and didn’t resemble homeless Alex at all. They were two different men.
“Yeah, you picked up a homeless bum,” Tiffany said loudly and laughed. “He is stunning, and you should have seen the looks he was giving me. Bow-chicka-wow-wow, the guy’s halfway in love with me.” Tiffany fluffed her hair.
I smiled. If only Tiffany knew. Alex heard the comment because he glanced over.
“Come here,” he ordered.
Tiffany stood up, thinking he meant her, and began sashaying over to him.
“Did I ask you? Why would I ask you?” he snapped. Emily and Sami tittered, and I grinned. The entire office had just witnessed Alex’s insult.
Tiffany paused, then blushed and hurried back to where she’d been sitting with me.
“Katy!” Alex called, and I glanced at Tiffany and allowed a smirk to cross my face.
“That’s my man,” I hissed and walked over to Alex, where he grasped my hand. Alex seemed on edge until I was beside him, and then he settled.
“We shall be opening a new charity department. We will provide a company-funded food truck for homeless people. It will be parked outside the building near the park,” Alex stated.
I glanced around and already saw Tiffany glowering.
“Is that safe?” she asked.
“Did I ask for your opinion?” Alex rudely replied. Oh boy, Tiffany was being roasted. “No, I didn’t think so. After all, Tiffany, what’s one more dead homeless bum?” Alex quoted her exact words back at her from the other day. Several people hissed, and Tiffany turned white. “I guess I look different in clean clothes and a haircut and shave.”
Tiffany gaped and Alex smiled coldly.
“Recognise me now? You never know who you’re being cruel too.” Alex held her gaze and continued. “The company will also fundraise for the local soup kitchens and food banks. And we ask that anyone getting rid of old clothing please bring it here. There’ll be a clothing bin organised. Aiden will continue to be CEO while I now run the charity,” Alex stated.
“For those who think the homeless are a drain on society,” Alex looked straight at Tiffany, Sami and Emily, which prompted everyone else to look across. “Or, I directly quote, ‘It just means the streets are that bit cleaner and why don’t you join him?’, when a homeless person dies, you’ll be seeing HR today. Thiscompany has no tolerance for such callousness, spite, prejudice or hate.”
Alex, still holding my hand, walked across to Tiffany, Sami and Emily. While Tiffany had finally recognised Alex the other two hadn’t. “Take a good look, ladies. Imagine overlong hair, scruffy clothes and a beard. Yeah, now you recognise me. The crazy homeless man. Next time you’re bitches to someone down on their luck, you might think again. Apart from being ex-military, I’m also the owner of this business and fully within my rights to sack the three of you. Goodbye.”
With that, Alex nodded at Aiden. “Blacklist them. Let’s see how they like working minimum wage jobs or being on the streets.”
His speech done, Alex tugged me behind him, and we left the building. Mic drop moment.
Katy - A year later.
“He’s kicking,” I said, laughing and patting my belly. Alex came over and placed his hand on my stomach. Our son kicked hard, and Alex laughed. A year had made a huge difference. We’d left the church hall and had bought a dedicated building with more showers, a bigger kitchen and more room for clients to sit and talk. We opened at eight every day for breakfast and shut at ten every night.
Alex funded everything with his personal fortune and with company donations. We’d got a few people off the street, and that was a miracle. There was help available if they wished to take that step. We still lived in my apartment but were looking for a house. Neither Alex nor I wanted anything elaborate, just somewhere cosy with a garden for junior.
Alex had come a long way, and so had I. My parents had quit their jobs and now worked here as paid helpers. Alex and I both volunteered daily, and I’d also left my job. Tiffany, Sami, and Emily had all been fired. The last time I saw Emily, she was a school cleaner; Sami was a waitress. Nobody had seen Tiffany.
I glanced up as, speak of the devil, Tiffany walked in. She looked rough and scared. Her gaze landed on us, and she paled. It was clear she was homeless. Tiffany gazed at my rounded belly. Alex looked down at me.
“Let bygones be bygones,” he said and headed over to Tiffany.
She paled as he approached.
“Come in, Tiffany. Guess you’ve learned a lesson. Let’s see what help we can give you,” Alex said kindly. He held a hand out, and Tiffany lifted hers before pausing and looking down. Hers was dirtier than Alex’s clean one. Alex beckoned with his fingers, and Tiffany reached out with tears in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Come on, Tiffany, let’s get some food inside you and start again,” Alex said.
She nodded and let Alex lead her to a table. Tears were in my eyes as I watched my husband look after a woman who’d spat many times on him. Who could imagine that sharing a sandwich with a homeless man would bring love and happiness? Not me, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
