Married to the Devil; He Wears Prada

A chorus of melodic bird song drifted in as the rising sun turned the morning sky a rosy hue.

"Where are you, Martini?

Your tardiness to work is inevitable." Maxwell stood in front of his room and yelled.

"I am ready, let us go together," he called out, but no one answered.

He slammed the door, but his voice reverberated back to him with no answer.

The fact that Martinez bedspread was clean and undamaged suggested that he had not even spent the night in his room.

"Where in the world could he be at this hour?

He has a task for me to complete as the company's managing director.

I cannot entrust this kind of task to a stranger." Maxwell muttered succinctly.

After giving it some thought and gesturing to the living room for a glass of water, he saw something that almost made him cry.

He hesitated, unable to speak for a moment. He was disappointed by his words.

At the moment, he was unable to articulate his feelings in words that would be appropriate.

Letting his briefcase fall to the floor, he sat on the couch and pondered aloud.

"Have I made the most significant error of my life?

What did I do wrong by putting my business in his hands? It might have been my fault.

I was too lenient towards him. This nonsense must end before it becomes unmanageable." He lamented.

Maxwell hobbled over to his bar and picked up a bottle of tequila.

Martinez and an unidentified woman who was sleeping on the ground beside him were sprinkled on after Maxwell opened the bottle of tequila.

She wore nothing but a bra and knickers, while Martinez had no shirt on.

Maxwell could tell, without being told, that these two had sex on the couch last night and fell asleep afterward.

"What is this embarrassment, Dad? This is very unjust." Martinez shouted at his father while throwing his foul breath into the air.

"Do you think it is unfair? Care to find out what is unfair? You had sex with a harlot right inside my home.

What's the matter with you?

Today's Monday.

And here you are, sleeping next to a weird girl, while the floor is covered in empty spirits bottles.

Please just act like your younger brother." He lost his temper with Martinez.

Maxwell demanded that the strange lady leave his home, but Martinez refused.

"She is not going anywhere. It is not your place to talk to her like that.

The only person who can decide whether she stays or leaves is me." Martinez defended his mistress against his father.

"This is what I knew it would lead to.

I wish your mother could still see what a beast you have become. Such a pathetic situation.

I should have realized that neglecting your younger brother while constructing my empire around you was the biggest mistake I could have made." Maxwell lamented while expressing his regret over closing Martinez over his kid brother.

"I do not need the sermon.

You need to stop talking about my mum.

She is gone, and she will never return.

I want to explain it to you.

I am not like my younger brother.

"Do you fail to recognize that our lives are different?" In retaliation, Martinez formed a shield in front of his mystery girl.

He is aware of his father's temper and his potential.

Maxwell's anger does not stop him from slamming a bottle on her head.

Narrowing his eyes at Martinez, he leaned forward and muttered something brief. "This will not be amusing to you again. Be careful,"

He said, threatening Martinez before heading to the office.

Martinez was still at ease.

After his Father left, he did not feel the need to get dressed up for work.

His mistress slapped him across the face when he tried to cuddle again.

"Vanessa, you evil bitch. How come you did that? I just want to cuddle," As she stroked his cheek, Martinez groaned.

"You are truly despicable.

Even after what happened, you still want to cuddle?

I assumed you were responsible for your father's business as managing director.

However, you behave so indifferently as if it were no one's concern?" Vanessa blasted him.

She was so disappointed by his actions.

He ignored her reprimands, though.

All he wants to do is cuddle.

"Disregard my father. He is merely an elderly man. We will take care of it."

She shoved him to the ground, but he persisted and tried to approach.

"You idiot, get the fuck out of my sight.

You ought to feel embarrassed by your actions." Before leaving the house, she wore her dress back and flared.

______

Maxwell finally made it to his multi-billion dollar company after a fifteen-minute drive.

The Lead way Gold Mine is a sleek, contemporary, enormous structure composed of advanced steel and glass.

This large space is in the centre of Atlanta, Georgia.

"Hello, Boss. I hope you had a productive night." Maxwell's office assistant, Joshua greeted him upon arrival.

He offered to get the briefcase Maxwell was holding, but Maxwell declined and pointed glumly to his office.

Joshua was not surprised by his attitude. He was already aware of the kind of person he was up against.

A few minutes after that, he called Joshua into his office indicating a briefcase and a brown envelope on the desk.

"There is a one million dollars cheque in that envelope. Proceed to cash it out at the bank.

This briefcase can be used to carry the cash. Do not wait around.

Since Martinez is currently unavailable, I selected you for this task.

I do not want any stories. Now go right away. You would be driven there by my chauffeur." Maxwell commanded.

"I will be back soon," Joshua took the briefcase and the envelope and left the office right away.

And shortly after that, the driver took him to Bank of America a few miles from Lead way Gold Mine.

Joshua gestured majestically to the manager's office to cash the cheque while holding the briefcase in his right hand.

Maxwell only joined the bank a few months ago, but because of the sizeable sum he typically deposits, he has already earned the title of favourite customer.

The briefcase was thrown to the floor by the bank's janitor who brushed Josh's shoulder as he approached the manager's door entrance.

Joshua didn't see that coming as he sparked outrageously at her. "Are you completely blind?

Didn't you anticipate my arrival? Where is the manager? He ought to terminate your employment for your incapacity."

"I apologize for my manners. I was not observing." She apologized and opted to lift the briefcase instead.

"Do not touch that.

Go now before I call the manager to discipline you." He turned down her benevolence and walked her out.

"I am grateful, sir." As she left, she continued to apologize.

Joshua grabbed the briefcase and strode angrily to the manager's office.

"Hi there, Mr. Joshua.

Hi there, this is Bank of America.

I was informed of your arrival by Mr. Maxwell. Get seated, please." The manager, Marcus Emerson welcomed Joshua in a spectacular manner.

However, all that changed when he saw the dejected expression on Joshua's face.

"What is a problem? You do not look content. Did you get offended by anyone?" With much interest, he inquired.

"It was-I do not care! The concern has already been resolved.

I came just to cash in this cheque." Josh felt shivers of fear and reached into his pocket, but he was unable to locate the envelope.

"What are you looking at?"

Mr. Marcus inquired.

"The envelope with the one million dollars cheques in it. It is no longer there.

How could I possibly have lost it? My goodness! My Boss is going to murder me!" Joshua broke down in tears and lost his mind.

He felt all over his body, but he was unable to locate the tick.

"It is difficult to accept this. Do you have the cheque in your possession when you arrived?

These days, I am not even sure what to believe. I do not understand any of this." Marcus doubted Josh's assertions regarding the missing cheque.

There has not been a single instance of a missing cheque in the months that Maxwell has been doing large transactions with the bank.

"What on earth are you talking about? I am not a child either.

The envelope containing the cheque was given to me by my boss himself.

It was impossible for me to lose the cheque like a child. I felt it in my pocket before entering this bank.

What should I do at this point?" Josh threw his hands on the desk in exasperation and wept.

After twenty minutes, they were still stuck trying to come up with a better solution when Maxwell called Joshua's phone.

He whispered while he looked at Marcus. "He is now phoning.

I am destined to fail! What should I tell him? I should have finished cashing the cheque by now."

Joshua complained about his heavy perspiration even though the air conditioner was on.

Despite Maxwell's repeated calls, Josh never once answered.

His boss strongly opposes him making weak excuses, so he would prefer to ignore the calls until he locates the cheque.

"Now, you should have a rest.

When you received the cheque from your boss, what was the last thing you remember?

Do not forget to think!" Marcus proposed and begged Joshua to do so, saying it would help our investigation.

Right now, after the roller coaster, his head is spinning.

He merely hopes that the earth will just split open and engulf him. The burden is too great for him to bear.

"All right, this is how it occurred," Joshua closed his eyes and tried to rack his brain to remember his earlier moments.

"I have a clue now." After a few minutes, he was able to recall what had happened before the cheque mysteriously vanished.

"Let us hear it, please. It may give us the solution we require.

Do not hurry. Calm down, and you will remember everything," Marcus said, attempting to calm Joshua's thoughts as much as possible.

"A middle-aged woman bumped into me as she was approaching your office and flung my briefcase to the floor.

Do you recall that before entering the bank, I had the cheque still in my pocket?

I am not sure if this is true, but I do not believe the woman would have stolen that cheque. Why would she even consider that?"

"We have the information we need now.

It is wonderful how well you describe someone you do not even know.

Trusting anyone these days is difficult, much fewer strangers.

This is our plan of action.

Is this woman someone you have seen before? I am going to call the security department and play the last half hour's worth of CCTV footage.

That would be great." The manager recommended that.

"Sure, undoubtedly.

That will be fantastic. If that will give us a clue," Josh said quietly.

He was so exhausted by the situation that he abruptly lost his voice.

He has an idea of how his boss would be feeling at the moment.

The security department played the CCTV footage after the manager made a single call.

Throughout the video, the same janitor was seen watching Joshua and purposefully running into him.

"Hold on a minute! That's the woman who bumped into you?" Pointing to the janitor at the bank, Marcus inquired.

"Indeed, she is the one.

We must look for her. There is enough proof in this video that she had a secret agenda.

How can we locate her?" Curiosity prompted Joshua to enquiry.

He hoped the odd woman would turn out to be the solution.

"I will just ask the security guard to take her right to my office.

She's our janitor. It is strange to think she will be capable of such," Marcus revealed.

After making several attempts to get the janitor to come to his office, the manager acknowledged. But to his astonishment, she was not present.

According to reports, she called in sick, and someone witnessed her leaving for home.

All of this is beginning to make sense. It is quite odd that someone who showed no signs of illness would return home suddenly.

"Does not this has some significance for you? The cheque was stolen, and she is heading home.

Naturally, no one would be so stupid as to still mop filthy floors after stealing a cheque of one million dollars. I am calling the police right away.

Now that she is the main suspect," the manager declared and summoned the police.

A few police officers entered the office quickly.

"Our main suspect in a theft case is currently at large.

She lives in a place I know." The manager explained to the police.

He also showed them the CCTV footage.

They left immediately and surrounded the Janitor's building.

Luckily for them, she had already begun to plot her getaway.

She went outside willingly, her hands raised above her head.

She was taken aback when she saw the manager at her home.

She was too embarrassed to look him in the eyes and turned to the ground. "I apologize."

Tears fall from her eyes as she apologizes.

"Screw your apology. What happened to the goddamned cheque?" Joshua ignored her sobs. Only the cheque matters to him.

"That is right here." She brought the cheque out of the purse after dipping her hand inside.

"Bring her along.

Criminal activity is what this is.

She must be addressed.

It would be a few years in prison.

Remember to hire a good attorney as well. We are bringing charges against you." Joshua vowed after he retrieved the cheque from her.

When she caused him pain, he wanted her to suffer. Maxwell has countless questions for him now.

Megan was arrested upon arriving at the station.

She was allowed to make a few phone calls while Joshua filed a lawsuit against her, the janitor.

He wants to make sure the law takes full revenge on her.

While he was talking to the police, a person he knew entered the station. Amanda, the secretary of the Lead way Gold Mine.

Joshua asked, shocked to see her. "For what reason are you here? It is expected of you to be at work."

"That is the question I should be asking.

I came to visit my mother.

I was told she is here," With a childlike smile, Amanda replied.

"Oh, I recognize. Would it be possible for us to visit her?" Joshua asked.

"This is your mother?" Joshua pointed to Megan as he inquired.

"Yeah, you have an issue with that?" Amanda's face flushed with anxiety as she answered confused.

"This is not possible. It is unbelievable that this is occurring." To make Amanda feel even more frightened and tense, Joshua sobbed and rapped his hands against the wall.

Thousands of questions tormented her mind, leaving her speechless.

"Could someone please tell me what in the world is happening?" She let out a cry of pain.

"Mom, what is going on? Why am I not receiving any communication? Now I'm slowly losing it." Amanda cried.

Joshua was also hesitant to reveal. He could not even handle the situation.

He stayed silent and deliberated over his words to avoid upsetting Amanda further.

"It is alright. I will speak."

Joshua broke the silence.

Taking Amanda's hands and staring into her eyes, Joshua leaned forward and said, "I do not think your mum would be inclined to admit to what she did."

"Oh! How can I explain this to you? I don't want you to feel sad," Josh halted and faced the ground.

Amanda is his favorite colleague at Lead way Gold Mine.

He did not want her heart to be broken by telling her about the disastrous event.

"What do you mean? Say something, please? I am going crazy." The voice faded as she pleaded.

Her face was slowly flushed, and her ears were widening to make sure she did not miss anything Joshua might reveal.

Megan saved Joshua from the stress just as he was about to tell everything. "I stole a one million dollar check out of his pocket."

"I would act as though I had not heard that. This is a crazy joke.

Mom, tell me you did not do it." Amanda was taken aback and questioned her mother's admission.

"I also do not feel guilty about what I did. I had no other choice.

I did it to keep a roof over our heads," Megan said, denying any regret for what she had done.

"You do not even feel regret for your actions.

You realize you run the risk of going to jail?" Amanda wondered if she had convinced her mother to make such an absurd admission.

"I know I should have mentioned this earlier, but your dad took out a massive loan from the bank when he was alive.

He was unable to repay it.

The bank has returned to seize the home.

I had to take action because I could not bear to see us end up homeless.

Before Josh entered the bank, I overheard him talking on the phone.

I purposely ran into him to make my plans flawless. I do not fear going to jail." Megan confessed with an open heart.

She did not cry or feel depressed about what had happened. Amanda was at a loss for words.

She was completely unaware of her late father's loan application.

Her current predicament appears to be one that she will never be able to escape.

"Now what are we going to do? Are all the charges against her being dropped?" Amanda turned to Joshua.

She was hoping he would comfort her, but he ignored her and said nothing.

"Please do something," she said, dropping to her knees and clutching Josh's trousers.

"Arise! Others are observing. You are making me look foolish," Joshua tried to get her to get up.

She refused and stayed on the ground, begging him to not charge her mother with anything.

"I am unable to! I have outgrown it now. The Boss is already aware of this.

I would rather not tell him."

Joshua crushed her heart and dashed her dreams of ever seeing her mother out of prison alive.

Amanda understands the challenges of working for Maxwell, even without a criminal case like this.

"You have always struck me as a clown. I asked you to do just this, but you decided to ruin my life instead.

I believed that we were the best of friends." Amanda expressed her disappointment at Joshua.

She thought he'd be her mother's easiest route to freedom.

"I would like to.

He has no idea that you are involved in this. You ought to go speak with him.

Excuse me, but I would rather not get involved.

I am leaving this place," Joshua left Amanda alone to confront her fears.

"Are you pleased now? Your attempt to drag me into your mess has been successful." Amanda narrowed her eyes on her mother.

"I apologize for involving you in my personal affairs.

I was unaware of the involvement of your boss.

What can I do to fix it? I genuinely want to make things right." Megan finally realized her mistakes and felt bad about it.

"I am returning to the organization to speak with Maxwell.

I hope he hears me. But if he doesn't..." She paused and reprimanded her mother before leaving the station.

**********

Amanda was shivering when she got to the company.

She has worked for Maxwell for more than five years, but she still does not get along with him.

There appears to be no affection between these two.

He was too egotistical and cruel for her.

Before gently knocking on the door, she made a cross sign and gestured to his office.

"Enter," he said from within.

She discovered some men inside whom she assumed were business associates.

"Well, I apologize. I was unaware that you were hosting guests.

When your associates have left, I will return." Amanda turned around to return.

"No, it is all right.

The discussion is over.

Just as they were about to leave the office, you knocked.

Come sit down," Maxwell said, preventing her from leaving.

He made Amanda participate in the already-concluded meeting.

Shortly after she arrived, the business associates began leaving the office a few minutes later.

"I do not remember requesting your presence. Why did you come to my office?" Almost immediately after his colleagues left, Maxwell turned his attention to Amanda.

"Oh, sir. How do I say this?"

Her voice trailed back.

"I have a lot of work to do today. If you are at a loss for words, I would suggest that you leave my office right away." He was getting impatient.

She sank to the ground on both knees at full speed.

"You must be aware that earlier this morning, a certain woman stole your check.

That was my mother.

I assure you, she is not a thief. Rather, she's a good woman.

All she had to do was pay back the loan my father had taken before he passed away, using our house as a collateral.

She did not wish for us to become homeless.

I am confident that you can drop all charges against her because you are a good man.

The bank has returned to seize our home," Amanda explained, caressing her shirt as if she were a child.

"I have been eagerly awaiting this day.

You remember that I am a good man, and now you need my help." Maxwell giggled.

"I have no animosity towards your mother. The fact that I received my check back is what counts.

But I am not going to let your mum survive this.

She needs some torture to clear her mind," Maxwell declared. Amanda's tears meant nothing to him.

"Please, sir." You are now my best chance.

For my previous unruly behavior towards you, I sincerely apologize.

This is a serious condition, and I cannot stand by and watch my mother go to jail," Amanda sobbed uncontrollably.

She continued to beg Maxwell to give her request another chance.

After letting out a long sigh, he turned to face Amanda and commanded her to rise.

"Take a seat. I want to give you a better choice than what you are asking me right now."

"And what is it about?" She raised her eyebrows and asked confused.

"If I understand you correctly, you said that your mother stole the check because she needed the money to pay off the 500 thousand dollars bank loan?"

"Yes, but what significance does that have in this context?"

"What if I dismiss all the charges and offset the $500k loan?"

"You are kidding? Tell me this is a joke, please," Amanda gasped for Joy.

"Avoid becoming overly enthusiastic. There is a cost associated with it.

Are you prepared for the task ahead of you?"

"What is that?" Amanda asked, still looking clueless.

"The company is about to close a deal with a top company. All they need is to see my son, the managing director of Lead way Gold mine get married," Maxwell divulged.

Despite Maxwell's explanation, she remained perplexed.

She merely sat there, dummy-like, in front of him.

"I have yet to understand.

Why do you tell me this? Go get a wife for your son." Amanda became extremely agitated.

"You are the answer to that.

Only three years will be covered by the contract.

You have the option to file for divorce once the agreement is off." Maxwell added.

Instantly, Amanda refused Maxwell's request, indicating that she was not even interested.

"Even when it comes to your mother's liberty?

I am sure you would rather not end up homeless on the streets after your home is being confiscated by the bank?

The loan can be repaid, and all charges against your mother will be dropped.

You ought to be glad that I am ready to help."

"Never! Good luck finding your son a wife." She slammed the door in the exit.