[BOOK 1] The Adamahns and the Star Child 🏳️🌈 [boxboy][original]

4. When it starts to fall apart

"You're late!" Ajax's boss thundered.

"But, I'm five minutes early."

"Regular employees need to be here half an hour before their shift. Part-time workers need to be here an hour earlier. You are a part-timer. You are fifty-five minutes late!"

Ajax remained silent. He knew the drill very well. For two years, not a week would go by that his manager would not find something to reprimand him with. Then, after a minute or so, like clockwork, his manager would always get distracted or sidetracked and would leave him alone for the rest of his shift.

Today, his manager's mobile phone rang. He took it as an opportunity to escape and went inside the ticket booth.

He was too elated to let anyone—Silas or his boss, ruined his wonderful day. Finally, after three long years, his work would be serialized and no more ghostwriting, he thought.

Five hours a day, five times a week, he worked at the train station selling tickets to commuters. His job was easy and downright boring. However, it gave him plenty of free time to scribble his stories on his notebook and watched commuters passed by which he drew inspiration for some of his characters. Besides, his job provided him a stable income as a struggling writer.

Half an hour before his shift ended, his mobile phone began vibrating like crazy. His best friend, Huntley, had been sending him text messages, pestering him to follow right away to the restaurant. Ajax had forgotten the whole dinner event with his high school buddies.

Ajax arrived at the restaurant and found Huntley by himself.

"Finally, you came!" Huntley sullenly said.

Huntley had been Ajax's best friend since middle school. Though his best friend acted hurt, it was all just an act. For as long as he had known Huntley not even once had he seen his best friend get mad at him about anything.

"I am so sorry. I forgot." Ajax apologized as he sat opposite Huntley.

"Well, the food is gone. The guys had gone home already." Huntley replied as he gave Ajax a mug filled with beer.

"I have great news." Ajax shared his good news with his best friend. "I am getting serialized!"

"Finally! Your time has come. After what that asshole Silas did to you."

"I ran into him earlier."

"THAT HACK!" Huntley said as he took a big gulped at his drink. "With your talent and luck is finally on your side now, you can beat that bastard, Silas. Put him in his rightful place—nowhere."

Huntley, then, turned his attention to the girls at the table opposite theirs and started bragging about his best friend's good fortune. While Huntley flirted with the girls, Ajax received a text message from his agent.

[I am sorry, but the board decided not to publish your story.]

Ajax said nothing and masked his disappointment with a smile and drown all his frustrations with alcohol.

--- end of chapter ---