Driver for a mid-sized company owner was never ideal, but it paid the bills. I wanted to own a construction company, but life has a strange way of working out.

I enjoyed driving to fancy places and working with my wife, Alice. Meet years before working together. After Alice became Mr. Taylor’s assistant, my resume disappeared.

“It’s going to be okay, Colin,” she remarked while making pasta for dinner.

“Be his personal driver. For now, the salary is good, but we can leave. We must survive until better arrives.”

“I know,” I agreed. I feel trapped because this is so far from my dream. It’s okay—settling will trap me. And I won’t.”

Mr. Taylor, our boss, was rude. He looked like a typical entrepreneur. He was always on his phone, wore great clothes, and spoke like he knew something you didn’t.

Mr. Taylor loved control, and the tighter he gripped the corporation and his personnel, the worse things went.

Alice has managed his moods for months. He prepared for a huge business conference to unveil his security empire and attract investors.

“You’re stressed, Alice,” I said when she tensed her shoulders.

“He’s under a lot of pressure, darling,” she said. Which indicates I’m stressed.

She tried to dismiss it, but I could tell she was suffering. The fear of making a mistake kept Alice checking and double-checking.

So last week.

Alice became close to and trusted by Mr. Taylor over time. He had Alice arrange a new contract with new contractors.

“I’ve groomed you, Alice,” he shouted. Everything is in our presentation and pamphlets for them. Look for questions and attend. Give a smile and sign. Easy.”

Alice glows. I knew she liked the extra duties and wanted to impress him. She was tired with personal assistant duties and wanted more.

Her face was pale when she got home that night.

“The meeting didn’t go well,” she whispered. They quit. Everyone.”

“What? Why?” My gut churned when I asked. I anticipated consequences. Alice disappointed Mr. Taylor, who told everyone.

Sitting with the kettle on, I pushed Alice to tell me everything.

“He insisted on quite a few ridiculous terms,” she claimed. I warned him they wouldn’t, but he ignored me. There were $15 million provisions, Colin. He was entitled to that amount if someone dropped out after the contract was signed.”

“I guess he blames you?”

Sadly, she nodded.

My wife’s hand was forcibly grasped.

Love, not your fault. Despite his calculations, Mr. Taylor takes shortcuts. I should have known.”

When I went to the office the next day to tell Mr. Taylor I would service the car, things became worse.

Mr. Taylor forced everyone from their desks into the office for a meeting. I was at the back, unsure whether to stay or drive. However, I observed my wife with slouchy shoulders and sunken eyes.

“Everyone!” Tay barked. Chatter stopped abruptly.

Look at Alice. Examine her thoroughly.”

Alice shifted uncomfortably, turning red.

Failure looks like this! As expected, our partners declined. She slumps and threatens. Scarecrow-like! Alice looks terrible. Hiring Alice was a textbook error!”

Some timid laughter sounded through the crowd, but most ignored them. Blood boiled under my skin. I never saw him go so far.

Suddenly, I was pushing past the crowd.

Enough!” A shout.

Mr. Taylor turn, eyes narrowing.

He joked, “Oh, and here comes the knight in shining armor.” Come save your damsel?

Keeping my shoulders square, I glanced at him.

“You failed. You cannot talk to Alice that way. Failure of the deal wasn’t her responsibility. You demanded such terms!”

Excuse me? yelled. Do you think you run a business better than me? Just a driver.”

“Yes, and you’re a bully,” I said.

Our office was quiet and everyone was staring at us.

“You’re fired!” he raged. Both of you. Get out!”

I took Alice’s hand despite her gasp.

“Come, let’s go,” I said.

The office door thudded as we left.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “I wanted you to keep your job.”

I told her, “It’s not your fault.” Sort it out. We always.”

We felt the weight of what happened driving home. I couldn’t ignore this. This time, no.

Alice cooked that night. She only prepared homemade dumplings to exercise her brains and hands.

I tried hard, Colin. We’re both unemployed because of me.”

My arms curled around her as I neared.

“It’s not over yet,” I said. “I know his location tonight. He saw those partners again. I scheduled it this morning.”

Crash his meeting? She asked, wiping tears.

“Trust me, this will be good,” I responded, taking my keys.

When I arrived at the hotel for his meeting, Mr. Taylor’s luxury car was parked in the lot. I was overwhelmed and wanted to go, but couldn’t.

I proceeded to his usual restaurant after entering.

I saw him. Mr. Taylor at a back table. No business partner. Woman was with him.

They were uncomfortably close, his hand on her knee, and wine glasses on the table. I took a few photos with my phone before exiting the lobby.

As Mr. Taylor’s wife would notice this, I drove to his house.

“Colin! She opened the door and said, “How lovely to see you!”

“Hi, Mrs. Taylor,” I said, trying to speak clearly. “I must demonstrate.”

While frowning, she nodded.

I gave her my phone.

Is that… Is that my husband? Unbelievable, she said.

Sorry, I thought you should know.”

I promptly told her about the office incident and Alice and my job loss.

“Don’t worry. Send them. I’ll get investors to end this. I want to see his work for free. My marriage contract says I’ll own my father’s company if infidelity is proven.”

The sound was fantastic.

“Give me a week, Colin,” she said. You and Alice will get hired again. Both of you will work for me. Enjoy your time off and see you later. My husband will pay for your pain. Returning gets you a raise.”

The news energized me at home. Telling Alice we were free of the garbage-treating man was exciting. Future possibilities were new.

I may be able to stop driving and pursue my love.

What would you’ve done?

If you liked this story, try another.

I Stainted My Boss’s New White Sneakers, but My MIL Could Clean Them.
Tilly’s curious about Mr. Cooper’s unique shoes. Only for coffee spills to spoil. Tilly must soon run to her MIL for help.

The gut-wrenching sense of realizing you messed up big time? The kind that makes your heart drop to your stomach and you fear life is over?

That was in effect yesterday.

Catch up. I help Mr. Cooper, a mid-sized logistics firm owner. As his assistant, I don’t bring coffee or schedule appointments. My role matters more.

“You’re my go-to, Tilly,” Mr. Cooper replied. I need you!

He relied on me for everything.

After picking up his kids from school, I buy him a new fishing pole because his broke on his lake trip. I picked flowers for his wife.

This time I erred. Big time.

Mr. Cooper’s acquaintance, who likely has money and time, received custom-made white sneakers. Their uniqueness was clear. Rich individuals wear once and put in a trophy case.

“It’s supposed to be extremely comfortable, Tilly,” Mr. Cooper commented as I gave him his afternoon smoothie.

More comfy than yours? Taunted.

Cooper chuckled.

See how it goes. Like walking on air, Derek said. Pretty impressive!

Mr. Cooper instructed I retrieve them immediately when the courier arrived.

You can leave them on my desk, Tilly. Derek gave me a photo before packaging. A meeting and dinner with Lenore and the kids await me. Tomorrow is my only chance to visit.”

I nodded and proceeded downstairs to the foyer where the courier had the costly sneakers.

I signed and thanked him for the package.