When the Blood Runs Cold

"$75,000? Really? But you said back then you wouldn't even sell for $7.5 million!"

I watched Jessica Stewart and Wayne Chapman from behind, their hands intertwined. My voice shook as I said, "Yes, I'm sure."

The second the call ended, Jessica grabbed her coat and walked to my side.

She barely looked at me as she asked, "Who were you talking to?"

I was hoping for a miracle, so I tested her. "The hospital called. They said if Frank doesn't get his surgery soon, he could be in real danger..."

She did not let me finish. She scrunched up her face and cut me off. "He's been 'about to die' for two years. He's still fine, isn't he?

"Don't try to scare me with his sickness every day. You're the one who wanted a kid, and you promised you'd take care of him!

"Anyway, I'm taking Wayne out to celebrate. Use this coupon to buy some food, and have the staff eat at home."

My fingernails dug into my palm, but I did not even feel the pain.

The realization that Jessica did not love our son finally hit me.

Frank had been sick for years, regularly throwing up blood, yet she had never once visited him.

Not even when he had to go for dialysis three times a month and just wanted a hug from her.

All she ever did was give him the cold shoulder.

"Your dad's supposed to be educating you. How did you learn these silly attention-seeking tricks?"

I used to think she just did not like kids but still had some maternal instinct.

I never thought she would not even care about her own son's life!

To get the money for Frank's surgery, I promised her I would make a new game in six months.

She promised me a $75,000 bonus for it.

However, all I got was a lousy $50 grocery store coupon.

Wayne had spent half a year loafing around, doing next to nothing. Still, he walked away with the entire payout, which was worth $750,000, and Jessica was already planning to celebrate with him at the fanciest restaurant in town.

I could not hold back my feelings of injustice, so I confronted her.

"Jessica, I'm giving you one last chance. Give me the $75,000 you owe me from the game’s payout.

"Our son is still in the hospital waiting for his surgery! Don't force my hand!"

She just laughed, ignoring the desperation in my eyes. "What can you do about it? The game is registered in my name now. Do you think you can take it from me?"

Wayne hugged her and bragged to me, "Josh, you probably don't know yet, but Ms. Stewart agreed yesterday to name the game and the company after me.

"I tried to say no a few times. Josh, you should be the one getting that honor.

"But Ms. Stewart said you're not worthy!"

His mocking laughter rang in my ears. I was almost at my breaking point as I glared at Jessica.

"We both worked so hard on the game and the company. How could you just..."

Right then, the assistant came in with a contract and put it on the table.

"Ms. Stewart, here's the renaming contract you wanted. The game and company are now called 'WC'."

I tried to grab the contract, my eyes fiery with anger. "You promised it would be named after our son!

"As a shareholder, I'm rejecting this motion!"

Wayne looked at me with disdain and taunted, "Josh, are you talking about your 20% of the shares? Ms. Stewart transferred them to me a while ago.

"She wanted to thank me for being there for her, day and night, while we were working on the new game."

He put a lot of weight on ‘day and night’, making it sound more than a little suggestive.

Jessica shoved me aside and snapped back with a frosty tone, "How long are you going to use that one promise to tie me down?

"All this talk about your dedication? I'm the one who built this company and game from the ground up, and all the employees are here because of me!

"Do you think you deserve to be praised and rewarded just because you wrote a bit of code?"