Left Heartbroken
Bobby was left heartbroken after losing everything he had worked for his entire life. In the blink of an eye, years of hard work were wiped out, and his financial future looked grim. Desperate, he began searching for a way to earn some money and regain stability.
Amidst his struggle, Bobby came across an opportunity that appeared to offer the fresh start he desperately needed. It seemed almost too good to be true, yet it gave him a glimmer of hope for turning his life around.
Corporate Executive
Bobby Stevenson, a driven corporate executive, was known for his dedication and success. He earned the respect of his colleagues, who saw him as an invaluable team member.
With his first child on the way and a supportive wife, Jenna, Bobby seemed to have it all. Yet, despite the outward picture of fulfillment, he began to sense that beneath the surface, things were starting to unravel.
Preparing For His Workday
Bobby prepared for his workday as usual, carefully getting dressed for the formal suit-and-tie environment. Jenna made sure his shirt and suit were perfectly pressed, ensuring he was ready for the important day ahead.
Today was particularly significant as Bobby had a crucial meeting with the executives. He felt confident that this could be the moment he’d been waiting for—the promotion he’d hoped for. Determined to make a great impression, he made sure everything was in place to look his best.
The Bosses Office
When Bobby walked into the office, the secretary swiftly directed him to the boss's office, barely acknowledging him as she kept her eyes on the floor.
Inside the boardroom, Bobby was greeted by four men seated at the table, with his manager visibly tense. The air was thick with anticipation—had Bobby earned the promotion he had been hoping for?
Blindsided
Bobby was blindsided when he learned he would be laid off after the company declared bankruptcy. It was news he never anticipated, and he felt completely unprepared for the blow.
He had believed his job was secure, especially since the company had been thriving. As thoughts swirled in his mind, the weight of the situation grew heavier. Just as he and Jenna had begun renovating the baby's room, everything seemed to unravel. They were now confronted with an uncertain future and a difficult challenge ahead.
Stunned
Bobby was stunned by the news. Years of dedication and hard work felt meaningless in an instant. All he was offered was a severance package and a referral letter—nothing more.
They couldn't even meet his gaze. Arguing seemed futile. It was clear that the situation was beyond repair, and leaving was the only option left. With a heavy heart, he gathered his things and walked out.
Challenges
After being laid off, Bobby faced the challenge of finding a new job. Months without steady work had put a strain on his finances, and his savings were quickly dwindling as he continued to pay the bills.
Despite his determination, the job market in the area was tough, offering little in terms of better pay. The compensation he had previously earned seemed a far cry from what was available. However, Bobby remained hopeful, knowing that his luck could turn around soon.
Flipping Through newspapers
Bobby was flipping through different newspapers, hoping to find a promising job opening, when something unexpected caught his eye. It was an advertisement for an IT specialist position with a construction company. The salary was appealing, and the role seemed intriguing. He figured a career change could be just what he needed.
Little did Bobby know, this new opportunity would soon lead him into a series of challenges he hadn't anticipated. What appeared to be a fresh start would quickly spiral into a nightmare, testing him in ways he never imagined.
Due To Recent Layoff
Due to Bobby's recent layoff, Jenna and he were forced to put a stop to their nursery renovations. With their financial situation uncertain, they reached out to the contractor to explain the situation.
When they inquired about the possibility of getting their deposit refunded, they were taken aback by the response. The contractor's answer was unexpected, leaving them uncertain about their next steps.
The contractor
The contractor, having already spent the money on the nursery materials, was rude and insisted that a refund wasn’t possible. Despite the lack of cooperation, Jenna remained calm and asked if the materials could be delivered to them instead.
Her request was met with another strange reply, leaving them frustrated and unsure of how to move forward.
Still No Building Materials
The contractor had promised to deliver the materials in a couple of days, but to Bobby and Jenna’s dismay, they hadn’t seen the materials yet.
They decided to leave it for now as Bobby would be starting his new job at the building company soon, and he wanted to focus his energy and put everything into this job. Bobby would soon discover that it would not be easy.
The New Guy
Everything went smoothly on the first day. Bobby was welcomed as a member of the team, and he even got his own office.
He met the rest of his colleagues at lunchtime, and everyone seemed to be really great, down-to-earth people. Bobby felt like he made the right decision by accepting this job. Or so he thought.
Great Work Environment
Bobby was happy going to work every day. The atmosphere was great, and he had made friends with the other IT guy, Joe, and the accountant, Robert.
The three of them would talk for hours, and it seemed they had a lot in common. They were the same age and married, and each had a young kid. Bobby fit in just perfectly.
Lunchtime Talk
Every day, Bobby, Joe, and Robert would take lunch outside and talk about sports and current affairs. They even set a date to watch some live games together.
Then they started talking about the company and how and when they each started working there. Then they heard a loud yell. Bobby would soon discover something disturbing.
A Disgraceful Scene
All three of them got up. What had they just heard? They walked into the warehouse and saw something that would leave them shocked.
The boss, Mr. Jenkins, was reprimanding one of the warehouse workers. It was bad. He screamed at him like he was a child, and Bobby felt bad for the guy. He decided to do something.
An Altercation
Bobby walked up to the boss and told him to rather speak to Jerry in private. He said it wasn’t professional to air his grievances in this way.
Mr. Jenkins turned to Bobby. He looked annoyed and wondered why he had intervened. He told Bobby to mind his own business and get back to work. This wouldn’t be the last time Mr. Jenkins would be angry.
A New Friend
The next day Bobby invited Jerry to have lunch with them. He was a nice guy, and they decided that he could use some time off from the stress of the job.
They asked him when he started with the company. It seems Jerry was a new guy, just like Bobby. But then Joe and Robert would say something that would leave Bobby confused.
The New Guy Times Four
Bobby found out that Joe started the day before him, and Robert started the day before Joe. They were all new guys.
Was this a new company? Had they just started up? But Bobby was so sure that the job ad said the company had been around for over 20 years. What was going on here?
A Familiar Face
It was Wednesday morning, and Bobby was busy trying to fix the company’s computer system when someone walked past his office.
He got up and called after the guy. When the guy turned around, he was so sure that he had seen him somewhere before. He looked very familiar, but Bobby just couldn’t remember where he had seen the guy.
Disgruntled Workers
The four of them were sitting outside for lunch when they heard something that would make them question everything.
The builders were loading the truck to go do a job, but they were complaining about not having enough materials to do the job and that it would be poor quality. Bobby knew this was the start of bad things come.
Game Day
When the weekend came around, Bobby invited the guys over for a bbq and to watch the game at his place. It would be a great time to forget about work.
They were standing around the fire when Robert confided in them and revealed something that would make them stop what they were doing and listen.
The Confession
Robert told them that Mr. Jenkins asked him to do something illegal in the accounting books. He really didn’t want to, but he was threatened, and he needed the job.
He said he secretly recorded the conversation just in case things went awry for him. The guys told him they understood and didn’t hold what he did against him. It wasn’t his fault that the boss was crooked.
Disgruntled Customers
It would be a day like any other at the office. Bobby would be trying to figure out the system, and everyone else would be busy with their jobs.
Then they heard a loud voice. The boss came walking into the warehouse, and behind him was a man so angry that Bobby thought they had to call the police. The man was shouting about wanting his money back for no work being done to his house. This sounded all too familiar to Bobby.
A Day To Remember
What exactly was going on at this company? It had hardly been a week, and they had witnessed so many strange things. They weren’t prepared for what they would see next.
Mr. Jenkins had walked into the warehouse sporting a black eye. He didn’t care that everyone was looking at him. He just went about his business. Bobby saw that he was coming his way.
A Visit From The Boss
He knocked on Bobby’s office door and let himself in. Then he sat down, and Bobby wondered what was going on.
He just wanted to know if Bobby had settled into the new job. Bobby asked him what had happened to his eye, and he said that he had a little accident with the bathroom cabinet at home. But Bobby knew that was not a bathroom cabinet accident.
Were Their Jobs Safe
Bobby and the guys discussed the boss’ black eye during lunchtime. They all agreed that it was a punch that made that shiner.
Were they safe in this company? It seemed there were a lot of unhappy people, and Bobby was sure it was the angry customer from the day before who had roughed up Mr. Jenkins.
Time To Dig
They guys made a plan. It was time to start looking at what was going on in this company. Joe did some detective work on his side, and Robert looked at the accounts.
By the end of the day, they were able to find some damning information on Mr. Jenkins and the company. It would be something unexpected.
The Discovery
Joe discovered that the company did exist for more than 20 years. But it kept changing its name.
It moved from state to state. Robert found huge amounts of money that had been paid to the company. Then it would be sent to Mr. Jenkins’ personal bank account. But this would not be the worse part.
Scammer
Bobby would find out that Mr. Jenkins was the same guy that scammed him and Jenna out of their building materials for their nursery.
He had shaved his head and grown a mustache. No wonder he always wore sunglasses, and this would explain why Bobby recognized one of the builders. Bobby and the guys concocted a plan to get back the scammer.
The New Company
They reported Mr. Jenkins to the labor department and the police. It seems he was wanted in five different states. Bobby and Jenna never got their building materials, but there was something that Bobby did to put their minds at ease.
Bobby, Joe, Robert, and Jerry started their own building company and hired all the guys from Jenkins’ company. They were happy to work for honest, upstanding guys. Mr. Jenkins would have to pay back all the people he had scammed. Bobby was only too happy to tell Jenkins that he owed him money too.