Fixing Hearts After Fixing Cars

“That’s right. The best employee of the year award should have gone to you. Why is Mr. Darwin the one getting it?”

“Why is he even part of the running? That award was always supposed to be for Mr. York.”

Everyone found the situation unfair for me.

I remembered how Matthew had begged me for help at Metal Repairs Shop, which had been my own shop.

“Please help me, Mr. York! It’s not easy running a car repair shop in the city. I’ve only just become the owner, but business isn’t doing good. If business is still bad next month, I’ll be fired. I really need your help.”

“I’ve only just opened this shop in town with my wife, and you’re asking me to go to the city?”

He grabbed my hand. “I’ll give you six thousand dollars as your salary and 30% of any bonus the shop gets. The shop belongs to a major company, so the bonus we get every year is huge. I’ll give you the best treatment!”

Lina Stane, my wife, came out. “William, Matthew is being so sincere. Besides, he worked with you for eight years. Just say yes.”

So, I smiled and helped him up. “Alright, get up. I’ll help you.”

Back then, Matthew had shown me a bank card that had one million dollars in it. That was the bonus, he had bragged to me.

…

Later on, he took out another document and announced the latest news, “From this month on, I’ll be adjusting your salaries for the development of the shop.

“Your base salary will be tied to your productivity. Your pay grades are tied to your ranking in the shop. Mr. York, from this month onward, your base salary is three thousand dollars.”

“Three thousand? You didn’t give me the bonus I deserve, and you’re cutting my salary in half?!”

He cast me a glance before sneering. “Do you think three thousand is too little? You’re old now. No one else but me will hire you, old man.

“Everyone, listen up. We’re driving up sales. If you can switch the parts of any car coming in for repairs, do it,” Matthew said loudly while looking at the repairmen watching.

“Mr. York, your skills only help the customers save money, and it’s useless now. The fact that you’re even getting three thousand dollars is because you were once my teacher.” Matthew patted my face with the documents and strode into his office.

I had repaired cars for more than twenty years and came to the city to help him after closing my own shop in town.

There were plenty of problems in the shop, and I solved them all. Yet in the end, I had my salary cut in half.

When I needed money the most, Matthew took the bonus that belonged to me. I could not just let it slide!

I called Lina quickly, “Lina, my mom got into an accident. Transfer eighty thousand dollars to me, please?

“You don’t have it?

“What? Wasn’t there more than one hundred thousand dollars in our bank account? Why is it gone?”

“Things are expensive in the city. I’ve spent them all. Could you stop being so annoying? I’m hanging up. I’m busy here.” Lina hurriedly hung up.

As I clenched my phone tightly, I was forced to go to Matthew again.

Right when I reached the door, I heard familiar laughter from the office.

Lina sat on Matthew’s lap while buttoning her blouse. Her face was red. “Why were you so rough just now? What if William finds out?”

Matthew laughed again and pulled Lina into his arms.

I barged in. When Lina saw me, she shot up from Matthew’s lap in fright. “W-William…”