Secrets of the Cactus Men
12| A sheet of self-esteem

Jay’s Brother's. Los Angeles, United States.

“I want to meet Mr. Jayden.” Philip handed over his business card. “Please say, his friend wants to return something to him.”

The woman in front of Philip nodded. He smiled kindly. “Mr. Jayden is in an important meeting with investors from Germany. Do you want to wait for him in the room?”

Philip just nodded his head. The distance between Jay’s Brother and his workshop and home took quite a long time, it would be useless if he just went home. Philip also did not want to leave the expensive suits and watches he borrowed from Jay's employees. He put his manners up here. Jay has been kind to him, so Philip should respect that.

“I wait in the lobby only.” Philip took back his business card. “Please let me know if he is finished.”

Philip went to the company lobby, the place he liked the most when visiting Jay’s Brother. Jayden is very careful about maintaining the image of his company. The man built a company lobby that was so luxurious and modern.

“Philip?”

Philip was about to sit on the sofa when someone called his name. The voice ... Philip knows him well. When Philip turned his head, Rares— his sister-in-law— came along with some men in neat and formal suits.

“Wah! I didn't expect we'd meet here, Sister-in-law!” rares said familiarly. He even hit Philip on the shoulder, like meeting an old friend.

Philip smiled as he could. He saw some of the men behind Rares. “While running a business, Rares?” tanyakanya.

Rares turned his head, making sure his business friend was not distracted by this sudden interaction.

“Only meet with some important people.” Rares introduced one by one. “There is a shareholder of Campian Club, CEO of Sunday Entertainment, a foreign investor from Malaysia and .... “Rares returned his gaze to Philip. “My own.”

Philip nodded. “Definitely important people meeting.”

“Of course. I don't hang out with just anyone,” said Rares with a petty smile. “That's why we're not close, Philip.”

Philip was about to reply, but the stocky man beside Rares interrupted. “Is this your sister-in-law, Mr. Rares?”

Rares just nodded.

“Home from Miss Flores Lottie?”

Rares grinned as he scrutinized Philip's appearance. Of course, contrast with his appearance.

Philip loves classic and old-fashioned styles, simple but comfortable to wear. She likes to wear blue jeans combined with plain shirts and leather jackets. A pair of cheap, unmarked shoes was enough to disturb Rares's current view. If factored in, Philip's clothing price was on par with the socks he was wearing now.

“Come,” replied Rares. “My sister just picked her up from the streets and married her.”

Philip heard the insults. No one was surprised, they laughed.

“He is only a repairman, his salary is lower than the maid in our house.” Rares. He interjected with laughter followed by laughter belonging to his co-workers.

Philip exhaled. He had expected it to end in ridicule and humiliation.

“Why not give him a job, Mr. Rares?” A man interrupted the laughter. “She is your sister too.”

Rares grinned thinly. “Flores. Though I was kind to him first.”

“You give him a job what?” ask again.

Philip turned his face away. He had been humiliated by those men in front of him.

“Parent dog at my house,” says Rares with a joke. “She is equivalent to a pet in my house.”

Philip only heard the sound of laughter belittling him. There was not a single person who defended her, or at the very least, did not voice that annoying laugh to insult her.

A man came forward, standing right before Philip. “I have a job in my office, Mr. Philip. Would you like to receive it?”

Philip was angry, really. But he has to control his emotions. Everyone in front of him did look the same age as Rares, meaning that it was not much different age with him. However, their position was too high to be juxtaposed with Philip.

Just by snapping at him, Philip would screw things up.

“What job is it, Mister?” philip asked kindly. “If I can meet ...”

“Tubers workshop.” The man cut Philip's sentence, then invited laughter at his friends.

Everyone in front of Philip laughed, laughing at Philip's current helplessness.

“The head of the workshop then,” said Mr. Jacob. “His watch is slightly higher.”

Rares looked at Philip who could not help but stifle the insults in front of him. What kind of man would accept if his pride was lowered by so many people in public like this?

“Already. Don't be,” said Mr. Jacob interrupted his friends' laughter. “Although poor and useless, he remains Mr.'s son-in-law. Shem.”

Rares looked at Philip fiercely. “No one admits he is in our family,” timpal Rares. “She is just a prick trying to grow in the garden Kadupul.”

Rares approached Philip, stood at an intimate distance, then rubbed Philip's shoulders and whispered, “Now do you know where you stand for us, Philip?”

Philip glanced at Rares. Without a sound he moved away from Rares, trying to avoid strife.

“Detach Flores and I will compensate you.” Rares took the wallet in his suit pocket. He glanced at Philip while taking some money in his wallet. “I'll pay your price if you want to let go of Flores and Elisa.”

Philip was silent when Rares extended money to him. The surrounding people looked at Philip contemptuously.

“Receive.” Rares. “Many are looking at us now, Philip.”

Philip slurped.

“To be honest I'm ashamed to meet you here Philip. So, accept the money immediately and we end this.” Rares.

Philip was forced to accept a helping hand from Rares. However, when he was about to receive it, Rares dropped the money on the floor instead.

“Rares, what is ...”

“Catch the money.” Rares replied with an annoying smile. “Get it, that's how you received money from us, Philip.”

Philip looked down, closed his eyes. His fingers clenched, not to punch Rares in the face. He was cultivating his emotions so as not to overflow.

“That money can give you a nice lunch, Philip,”, Rares said. He kept insulting Philip as he pleased. “That's even more than your salary bends, isn't it?” chortled.

Philip was about to squat down to take the money, but suddenly someone came and replaced him.

“Marc?” Philip was shocked, as were Rares and the few men around him.

Marc took money one by one at the feet of Rares.

“What are you doing, Marc?” Rares is getting upset. “Let that money back.”

Marc ignored Rares. After picking up the money, he stood up and handed the money to Rares. “Take back the money, Rares.”

Rares frowned. “What are you doing exactly?”

“Philip came to see me.” Marc suddenly embraces Philip after making up a lie. “We have a business appointment.”

Philip's looking. Marc's lies have left him speechless in a thousand languages.

“Do not joke!”

“We have to go, Rares.” Marc looked at Philip and smiled. “Philip turns out to be smarter at doing business than you.”

Rares threw away his face. “I told you not to joke!” He snaps.

Unfortunately, Marc did not falter. He just patted Rares on the shoulder and smiled at him. “We have to go, Rares.”

Marc took Philip away from that place. Rares could only exhale violently. He looked towards Marc and took Philip.

“What exactly does he do, huh?” he murmured while annoyed.

Next.