THE CEO's SECOND BRIDE.

"You are so worthless!" The manager said, after giving him a thunderous slap.

The young man couldn't do anything, other than rub his cheek. What did he do? He really could not tell.

The angry manager looked around in satisfaction. He was satisfied with what he saw. His aim was to humiliate him in front of everyone, and he did it.

"Get out of here!" He yelled, glaring at him with a disdainful expression.

Alexander bowed his head, and walked away. He could hear the laughter behind him. He was being ridiculed again, for something he had no idea about.

He seemed to be the only one everyone hated, except Summer. She was the only person who stood up for him, when he was being bullied.

"Alex, I'm sorry. Sorry about what just happened, don't let it get to you, okay?" Summer said, patting his back.

He didn't understand why he was always attacked. He was hard working, and followed all the instructions given. He was even more punctual than any other person, yet he was treated so badly, like he was no human.

He wanted to cry, but men don't cry. He would rather endure all the maltreatment, than be a cry baby.

"I'm fine, Summer. It's nothing. I mean, it happens, everytime, so it's no longer a surprise to me," he said, passing a faint smile.

It was his usual lines, and Summer was used to that response. Even if he wasn't fine, he still claimed to be. Or, maybe he was?

"Are you sure? You don't look okay," she said, still worried about him.

"I'm fine. Just head back to your office, I don't want any troubles," he replied, looking away.

"But-"

"Summer, listen to me. If the manager sees you here, you know what will happen. Just go," he said, sternly.

She reluctantly left. She felt bad for him. He was human, and didn't deserve to be treated that way. He was a married man, and almost the same age as the manager.

Just because he was an employee, didn't mean he deserved to be treated as a slave.

What baffled her most was that he was the only one that was treated that way. Though others were scolded, he suffered much more maltreatment than the others.

Alexander was just a cleaner in the 4-Star Hotel. He was lucky to have gotten a job there, because it was the only way he could gather some money to take care of his wife.

Matteo was just the manager, but he had a rotten character. He often reminded the employees that he was related to the owner of the hotel, and had the power to do anything. Hence, they tried not to make him upset.

Alexander sat on the table, staring blankly at the window. So many thoughts ran through his mind.

Not wanting to dwell on the thoughts, he got up and picked a mopping stick, to continue working.

Despite all he went through in the hands of the manager and other workers, he was still polite, and humble.

He continued his work, cleaning the hotel room.

He wondered why life was so cruel to him.

He had no family or friends. It seemed like he came into this world alone.

Was this really how others, with no family felt, too? If he was financially buoyant, he wouldn't want to watch them suffer that way.

He had finished cleaning the room, and wanted to leave.

He was so lost in thoughts, that he almost spilled the dirty water on the man that was just passing.

"Hey, watch it!" The man said, with a look of disdain.

Alexander apologized, bowing his head, slightly.

"Sorry for yourself! You all are just so careless and incompetent," he hissed, and walked past him.

He picked up the things he had brought, and headed back to the cleaning room.

It was lunch time, and his stomach growled so loudly, that anyone passing at that moment would hear it. He had no money on him, he couldn't afford to get even the cheapest food there was.

The little money he made from other part-time jobs was for his wife, Franca.

It was just a day to her birthday, and he wanted to surprise her with a bouquet of flowers.

He didn't like to depend on her, as she was doing really well in her business. He would rather toil day and night to make some cash, than feed on his wife.

"Alex!"

He heard someone yell his name, and he jerked off, startled by the touch on his shoulder.

He lifted up his head, and found Summer standing beside him with something in her hand.

"I've been calling you, but you were so lost in thoughts," she said, concerned. She knew he was thinking again.

Rather than reply, he looked at the thing in her hand.

"What's that?" He asked.

She had, for a while, forgot why she came to meet him.

"Oh, it's for you. I figured out that you might have been hungry, so I bought you food," she said, smiling, as she handed over the polythene bag to him.

He stared at the bag, and at Summer. She took the stress to buy him food? She seemed to be the only nicest person on Earth.

Every other worker treated him badly, like he was an alien. A few, though. Only a few made him feel like he was part of the human race, though they were not as close to him as Summer was.

"Take it, already. Except you like the sound your stomach is producing," she teased, sitting next to him.

"Tha...thank you, Summer," he said, and frowned as she sat down. "What are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm going to join you. I want to accompany you, so you don't feel bored," she said, taking out her own food.

She didn't mind him, she began to munch on it, and soon, Alexander joined.

He forgot about the person beside him, as he devoured the food, like he was being chased, or in a competition.

Hearing Summer laugh made him feel embarrassed.

"Stop laughing, you scum!" He said, with food stuck in his mouth.

"You should take it easy, else you will choke," she said, but before she could even say the last word, he began coughing hard.

She took out a bottle of water from the bag, and gave it to him to drink.

"Thank you," he said, after he drank the water, and calmed down.

As they conversed and laughed over the not-so funny jokes of Franklyn, one of the staff walked in.

"Hey, Alex. The manager wants to see you."

He expected another piece of humiliation. It seemed like the only thing the man was good at-humiliating and insulting him.

He looked at Summer, who gave him a hopeful smile. He nodded, and thanked the man who came to inform him.

As he got to the door, he sighed, getting himself ready for another round of insults.

He knocked on the door, and was asked to come in.

"Good day, you asked me to meet you."

The manager lifted up his head, and pushed the papers to the side of the table. He was in his late twenties, but at some point, could be seen to have the mind of a child.

He looked at Alex with so much disdain, and asked him to come forward.

"The only reason I employed you here is because of how pathetic you seem, and I took pity on you," he began, and as Alex had thought, he started to rain words on him.

"Your job is only to clean the hotel, and you are not the only one. There are other cleaners here, and yet, you choose to be incompetent. You almost spilled dirty water on someone!

"Do you really not like the job you do here?" He said, and shook his head, "Well, I called you here to let you know that your salary has been cut by 10%. This should serve as a warning to you, to be more careful next time," he said, sternly.

Alex was surprised. Why would he do that? It's not like he had spilled water on the person.

He had also apologized, so why was he making it a big deal?

His salary, though meager, was what he hoped to use to get a gift for his wife. How was he going to raise money, now?

The other jobs he did only gave him a little bucks.

"I'm really sorry, sir. I apologize for my carelessness, but please, do not take away my salary. I have a wife at home to take care of, and I was relying on this money. Please, I beg you."

He had no other choice than to plead. The money was really important to him, and he couldn't just let it go that easily.

The manager laughed, as he watched him plead.

"Sometimes I wonder why you were not a woman. How can a man be so miserable and vulnerable? Just look at you! You should have thought about your financial situation before getting married. I feel bad for that woman, she is suffering. There is absolutely nothing I can do about that. You will receive your salary tomorrow, as it will be the end of the month. Take it or leave it! Now, get out of my office!" He yelled, after insulting him.

Alex had no idea what he ever did to the manager. As he walked out of the office, he began to think that he was cursed. From not having a family, to living in poverty.

Not that he couldn't ask his wife for money, he just didn't like the fact that he was depending on the wife.

He went back home, after closing from work. He had no money to take a cab, so he decided to stroll back home.

It was evening, the cool breeze blew his curly hair to the side, revealing his perfectly aligned jawbone. He was a handsome man, a really handsome man.

He dropped by a shop to get her cookies, as it was her favorite. He smiled at the thought of seeing her happy.

When he got home, it was already past 9pm, but he found out that she was not at home. The door was locked, and he had no spare key with him, nor did she drop the keys under the rug, like she used to.

He had to stay outside, and wait for her to come home. He sat on the terrace, and gradually fell asleep. He looked really tired, and due to the multiple jobs he took, he couldn't get enough sleep.

"Hey! Get up."

He heard someone say, but he couldn't quite grasp if he was hearing it from the Dreamland or in reality. He didn't open his eyes, until he got a kick on his leg.

"Ouch!" He groaned, holding the leg, where he was kicked. He opened his eyes, and saw his wife standing by the door with a frown.

"Ouch!" She mocked, "what are you doing, sleeping outside?" She asked.

"I got home, and the door was locked. I fell asleep, while waiting for you," he replied, getting up from the floor.

"Next time, come home early, else I'll lock you out till the next day," she said, and pushed the door open.

He knew the time she would come home from work, but today, she was three hours late. He wondered why she stayed that long.

"You just got home, but you close by 7 pm. Where did you go?" He asked in a concerned tone.

He was only worried about her, but her response was mean.

She tossed her bag on the chair, and grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator.

"What? Can't I hang out anymore? Just because I close work at 7 pm, doesn't mean I can't have fun," she said, drinking the contents from the bottle.

He sighed, "that's not what I meant. You went to have fun? Where? With who?"

She glared at him, with a frown on her face.

"Since when did you start meddling in my affairs? I owe you no explanation, Alex," she replied.

He bowed his head, and shook the thoughts off.

"Uh, here. I bought you cookies, I hope you love them."

She glanced at the box, and scoffed.

"What do you think of me? A lowlife? Do you want to poison me with street foods? Throw that away," she said, picking up her bag to go to the room.

"But...but I bought it for you. I didn't board a cab, so I could have enough money to get this for you. Why do you treat me this way, I'm your husband!" He said, feeling hurt by how she acted around him.

"I never asked you to get me anything, and if you're worried about the money, I'll give you double!" She walked closer, and shoveled a couple of dollars into his hand.

What she said next, made him stare at her in bewilderment.

"You deserve the treatment you receive, Alexander! Look at you, are you not ashamed? Aren't husbands supposed to take care of their wives, and feed them? Here, it's the reverse. I work to feed you, while you joke around," she sneered, glaring at him.

He was shocked to hear those words from her. How could she say that to him? Was she not the same woman he married? The same woman who married him, despite her family's objections?

How did she turn this way? They were happy together, and she had always appreciated every single thing he did for her. She never complained at all, and even asked him to quit his job, since she was getting better in her business.

"Franca! You know that's not true. I work hard to earn money. I do multiple jobs, and try everything to make you happy. What more do you want me to do?" He asked, almost tearing up.

This was the woman he loved. When she wanted to start up her business, he helped her. He would stay hungry, just to see that she was happy.

"You work? Do not make me laugh. How much do you bring, huh? You leave this house very early in the morning, and come home late with no penny, and you say you're working hard? Spare me that joke, please.

"Listen, Alexander. I have a business meeting tomorrow, and I need to rest. So, do not disturb me. Have a good night!" She spat, and walked in without turning back.

Alexander just stood there, and watched her leave. He was too shocked to even move a muscle. What did he really do? Was he not worthy to be loved?

He laid in the sitting room, on the couch.

He couldn't sleep, he kept thinking about Franca's words, and the memories of the humiliation he faced in the hotel came alive, until he dozed off in the early hours of the morning.

"See what I said last night? You are too lazy! Get up, already. It's almost 8am."

He slowly opened his eyes, and saw Franca standing beside him, already dressed.

He hurriedly got up, and headed to the bathroom. He had slept really late, last night, and now, he would be late for work.

He didn't even say a word to Franca, as he rushed out to have a quick shower.

He kept cursing his existence, underneath his breath, as he dashed out of the house, without having breakfast.

Franca watched him leave, and didn't bother to say a word, as he sat on the table to eat her meal.

He ran as fast as he could, because the money he had was for Franca's birthday gift, and he didn't dare to use it for anything.

Seeing him so helpless, the cab driver stopped, and asked him to get in.

"Don't worry about paying me, get in already," the driver said, and sped off.

He arrived at the hotel, not too long, but he was late.

"Thank you so much for the lift. I really appreciate it," he said.

The driver was just a guy, who lived close by, and though they were not too close, he was someone he could call his friend.

The driver shook his head, pitying him, because he knew all the things his wife did, but how was he going to tell him?

"You come to work like you are the CEO of this hotel. How ridiculous!"

He was expecting it, already. The manager had targeted him, and was patiently waiting for him to come in, so he would strike.

"I'm really sorry, sir. I just.. there was, uh.." he stuttered, not knowing if he should tell him the truth or not.

"Thinking of an excuse? You-" he was about to scold him, when someone interrupted.

"Sorry, sir. You have a call," the man said, and handed him the phone.

He glared at Alexander, and got the phone. He glanced at the screen of the phone. It was the owner of the hotel.

"You are lucky," he said, and walked out of the building.

He didn't mind those around, he went in, and changed to begin his day's work. Summer hadn't been there to witness what happened, so she didn't know how he was feeling.

He didn't want to tell her, either. He hated to bother anyone with his problems.

"Hey, Alex. How are you?" He heard a voice say behind him. He didn't have to turn to know who it was. Just hearing the voice, he knew who owned it

"I'm all good, how are you? I didn't see you in the morning, where did you go?" He asked, as he picked up a towel to wipe his hands.

"I'm okay. The manager sent me on an errand," she replied.

Summer worked as the receptionist of the 4-Star Hotel. He accompanied her back to her office, and stood there to discuss with her.

"Her birthday is tonight, and I really don't know what to get her," he began, scratching his head.

Though her words hurt him, he still loved her. He was willing to work hard and set everything right, despite how she treated him.

"How about you get her a necklace or a dress?" She suggested, and he shook his head.

"I don't have enough money to get that. The manager even deducted 10% from my salary," he sighed.

Summer felt bad for him. She still couldn't grasp why the manager hated him so much.

"Does she like flowers? You can get her that. Maybe, a bouquet of red roses?" She said, thinking about other things he could possibly gift her.

"I guess that will do. I still need to save up for expenses at home."

"Oh, my! Dear Alex wants to surprise his wife with a birthday gift!"

"I really don't know what that woman saw in him that made her marry him."

"I've seen his wife, once. She is really beautiful, and he clearly doesn't deserve someone like her. How unlucky she was to settle for less."

These were the comments from some of the workers, who overheard him talking about getting a gift for his wife.

"Stop spewing nonsense! You don't know anything about me," he said, gritting his teeth.

"I don't? I know that you are a poor scum, that doesn't deserve love from a woman like Franca. How did you even get to talk to her? Man, she is a successful business woman, she should dump you!" The first guy said, bringing his face close, as he spat.

Alex's next move surprised everyone around.

He had given the man a punch in the face!