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Two Different Lights
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For five years, I had stood by my girlfriend as she worked her way from a tiny street stall to a successful chain of stores. Three times, I waited for her to finally give me a home. The first time, she bought a one-bedroom apartment. I packed my bags, ready to move in, only for her to hand the keys to her childhood friend, who had just gone through a divorce. "He's raising his daughter on his own. It isn't safe for them to live somewhere else," she told me. "Just stay with me in the basement for a few more months." The second time, she bought a two-bedroom apartment. I had already bought new sheets and gotten everything ready. Then, by some twist of fate, her childhood friend's apartment caught fire. She gave the new place to him and his daughter, then took me back to the cramped room behind the store. When I told her I wanted to leave, she hugged me with tears in her eyes. "Just wait a little longer. Once we buy a three-bedroom place, I promise I'll finally give you a real home." I stayed with her for another two years because of that promise. Finally, the day came when the new house was ready. I rushed over with the suit lookbook I had kept for so long, only to find her childhood friend already there, holding his daughter's hand as they picked out bedrooms. My girlfriend stopped me and lowered her voice. "He's fighting his ex-wife for custody. He needs a stable home if he wants a chance of keeping his daughter. Stay at the store with me for one more year. Once he gets custody, I'll bring you home right away." The suit catalog slipped from my hands and hit the floor. That was when I finally understood. It was not that she had never been able to give me a home. It was that every time, she chose someone else. This time, I was not waiting anymore. I no longer wanted the "home" she spoke of. I would leave her to care for the one person she had always wanted to protect.
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Two Different Lights Chapter 9
Two years later, I became the regional operations director, overseeing more than a dozen stores. I was constantly on the road, sitting through one endless meeting after another, while my phone seemed to ring nonstop.However, for once, all that hard work had my name on it.With the money I had saved over the years, I bought a two-bedroom apartment. It was not big. One bedroom was for sleeping, and the other became my home office.On the day I got the keys, the realtor handed them to me. "Congratulations, Mr. Gibson."I took them and held them in my hand for a long time. I did not hand them over to anyone.After I moved in, I filled half a wall with books and put my grandmother's photograph beside my bed. The suit catalog was still there, but I never opened it again. I tucked it away with the other old things, deep inside the closet.My mother came to stay for a few days. She sat on the couch, staring out the window, then she suddenly smiled. "It feels different living in a place
Two Different Lights Chapter 8
The day the new store opened, a line of customers stretched all the way outside.Nash Lawson, an employee from another branch, had also been transferred over to help. He stood at the pickup counter, checking orders and calling out numbers."Mr. Gibson, order 27 is ready!"I stepped out of the kitchen and glanced across the dining area. "Don't pile the delivery orders at the pickup counter. Move them to the right. Move the tasting table back another foot. It's blocking the line."The workers immediately got to work.When the opening ceremony began, one of the company executives stepped up to the front and picked up the microphone."From choosing the location and adjusting the menu to building the team, Enzo Gibson has been the person in charge every step of the way."Applause filled the room.I stood on the stage without stepping behind anyone.The executive continued, "He's proven something today. Someone who truly understands how to run a store doesn't have to spend their who
Two Different Lights Chapter 7
Six months later, the company was preparing to expand into the city where Harriet lived.During a meeting, Larisse asked me, "Do you want to go back?"I closed the file in front of me. "I do."I was not going back to settle old scores. I was going back to open a store.The location was just a short distance from the main store. The workers held up the floor plans and asked me where the prep counters should go. I crouched on the floor, redrawing the layout without even looking up."Leave this area open. Otherwise, it'll get crowded during the rush. Don't put the freezer next to the hot zone. The food loss will be too high."They took notes as I spoke, calling me 'boss' as they worked.That was when Harriet came by. She stood outside the door and did not come in right away.Only after I finished did she walk up to me. "Enzo, can we talk?"I checked the time. "Ten minutes."We stood on the steps outside the store.She was much thinner than she used to be. Her sleeves were rolle
Two Different Lights Chapter 6
The old store was even worse than I had imagined.When the assistant manager, Alicia Kane, met me, the first thing she did was put a stack of resignation letters on the desk. "Mr. Gibson, honestly, this place can't be saved."I flipped through the papers without saying anything. Then I asked, "Who's working today?"She looked surprised for a second before listing a few names.I pushed the resignation letters aside."Let's have a meeting first."The employees stood around loosely. Some were still looking down at their phones.I did not lecture them. I simply put the store's sales numbers and customer complaints from the past six months up on the screen."This store isn't short on customers. The problem is that once customers come here, they don't want to come back."Someone in the crowd gave a mocking laugh. "The equipment is junk, everything's old, and the company won't spend any money. Doesn't matter who comes in. It'll be the same."I nodded. "I'll submit requests for anyth
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