For Better And For Worse
Chapter 1

Krist and Isabelle are a newly married couple. They love each other with a true love that is not based on material things or wealth. Krist had completed his doctorate in management and business administration. Although he did not replace a job and a salary that matched his skills, he accepted what God gave him and made do with a job as an assistant manager that he found. With this work he was able to get married. Being a responsible and organized man, he took good care of his wife and managed his household well.

His wife, Isabelle, is a young girl, beautiful, intelligent and hardworking. At 20, she married and studied at the same time. She is in her undergraduate year in a private institute as a state-certified midwife. She did not fail to do internships at the end of each academic year. Ambitious, she also saves money for future projects. For now, she and her husband live in a one-bedroom, living-room house that they rented and do not yet have children.

Krist saves 20% of his salary to be able to build a house because there is no guarantee of living in a rented house. After a year of work, he bought land and a year later, with the support of his wife, he purchased equipment and materials needed to build a house. In the meantime, his wife having completed her master’s degree, found work in a public hospital and they managed their household well. However, when they still had no child after three years of marriage, something bad happened; he was fired from his job. This dismissal came at a really bad time because he spent almost all his money to be able to buy what he needed to build their house. That day he came home sad and completely dejected. His wife came home from work around noon and was surprised to see him.

Isabelle: darling, why did you come home so early today, what happened?

Krist: I no longer have a job, my love.

Isabelle: what, what happened?

He simply gave his wife a folder in which the dismissal letter was found. Isabelle reads it.

Isabelle: what, you were fired because the company reduced its staff? But it’s unfair, they should promote you instead. How can they fire someone as competent as you?

Krist: What am I going to say honey? I don’t know why God experiences me this way. First he refused me a child, my parents kept pressuring me to take another wife and now he is taking away my job.

She comes and sits next to him.

Isabelle: don’t worry my love, one day we will see better days. My mother always told me that starting out in a home is very difficult but you have to hold on and everything will be fine later. So the worst will pass my love and we will experience the best. We will have many children and we will live happily, we must keep hope.

Krist: thank you darling, I don’t know what I’ll do without you.

Isabelle: you are not alone, we will overcome everything together, you can always count on me, I will always be there for you.

Krist: I thank you, even if I lose everything in life, I know I will never lose you.

Isabelle: never! Come on, now the sadness ends. Tell yourself that God took this job away from you to give you a better one. Okay, I’m going to prepare. As for you, go take a shower, get your files done, we’ll look for work together.

Krist: Okay. You are truly a special woman, I love you.

Isabelle: me even more.

A k**s and everyone went about their task. Isabelle prepares and Krist collects his files, he wrote several cover letters and put together several files. His wife finished the meal and they ate. Isabelle received a call from the hospital and excused herself to leave. During the night, they watched the television and a decree was issued announcing the appointment of another manager to replace the first at the hospital where Isabelle works. He will start working in a week. Starting tomorrow, Krist and his wife began looking for work together. Krist went from company to company. He worked in both public and private services. His wife also looked for work for him during her free hours. One day, she arrived in front of a director who offered to accept her husband on the condition that she offered him her body.

Director: I see your husband has a very interesting CV. I’m really looking for men like him.

Isabelle felt joy in her heart to hear the director speak like this.

Director: I could give him the job but on one condition.

Isabelle: tell me, Mr. Director.

Director: What are you willing to do to replace this job for your husband?

Isabelle: I will do everything, sir, everything in my power.

Director: OK.

He stood up and turned behind her.

Director: You know, you really are a very beautiful woman.

He touched her shoulders.

Isabelle: stop sir!

Director: you just have to agree to offer me your beautiful body and this job is your husband’s, I believe that this is well within your power?

Isabelle: you can keep your job sir.

She got up to leave.

Director: wait a moment…

She stopped.

Director: I will pay your husband 800,000 for even a million per month if you agree.

She didn’t listen and left her office to leave. She returned to work as duty called. On the other side, Krist experienced the same scene. He arrived in a company where the director is a woman.

Director: young man, reading your CV, I see that you are truly a competent man. Voisy will bring a lot to my business.

Krist: You can be sure of that, ma’am.

Director: At the moment, we are not yet looking to hire but I can make an exception for you.

Krist: I am honored ma’am.

Director: the position is yours but on one condition.

Krist: which one, ma’am?

Director: agree to become my lover. You are a handsome man and you have such a beautiful body.

Krist: sorry but I’m a married man.

Director: And what does that do, what does that change? It doesn’t do anything at all.

Krist: sorry ma’am, I love my wife very much.

Director: I will pay you a million a month.

Krist: even 10 million ma’am, don’t count on me.

He got up and left, but when he reached the door, he came back.

Director: Have you changed your mind?

Krist: no, actually, I wanted to know how you could ask me that, without any embarrassment or shame.

Director: There is no shame in wanting to have something you like.

Krist: you are really cheeky ma’am. You make me sick.

Director: Get out of my office immediately!

Krist: You don’t need to tell me ma’am.

He left the office and left. In the evening, he and his wife told each other about their day without hiding anything. A few days later, the new hospital manager takes office and calls a meeting with all hospital employees. Then he laid eyes on Isabelle and he was attracted. This was the start of her problems.