For Better And For Worse
Chapter 2

Krist didn’t stop looking for work. This morning he arrived at a company and spoke with the director.

Director: Mr. Kristian, your CV shows what a competent man you are. Besides, physically, you are a really well beaten young man. It’s people like you we’re looking for.

Krist: I am very honored sir and I promise to bring you the best of myself.

Director: very good, so here we work in two phases, morning and evening.

Krist: no worries sir.

Director: very good, work in the morning ends at 2 p.m. and work in the evening starts at 6 p.m.

Krist: from 6 p.m.? What kind of work is this?

Director: a very special job with a very high salary. You will be paid based on your performance. Do you still agree?

Krist: I will try first before giving you my agreement.

Director: no worries.

This is how they separated. Meanwhile, at the hospital, the hospital director calls Isabelle into his office.

Director: Madame Isabelle, is that it?

Isabelle: yes sir.

Director: a pretty name for a beautiful person.

Isabelle: thank you.

Director: How long have you worked here?

Isabelle: for only a few months.

Director: a few months, but you are doing a really good job, Ms. Isabelle.

Isabelle: thank you sir.

Director: Since you have been here, no woman has died giving birth, you have divine hands.

Isabelle: I’m flattered sir, but no, I love my work so I do it properly.

Director: ah, I’m proud of you, it’s women like you that society needs.

Isabelle: thank you sir.

Director: oh, call me Roger.

Isabelle: This is not appropriate sir.

Director: That suits me, please.

Isabelle: okay sir, sorry Roger.

Director: That sounds good. So, can we use familiarity?

Isabelle: you can do it sir.

Director: So what do you do in your free time?

Isabelle: sometimes I come home, sometimes I look for work for my husband.

Director: oh, he’s unemployed?

Isabelle: yes unfortunately.

Director: I’m sorry but, can you give me some of your free time tomorrow, I would like to discuss a subject with you?

Isabelle: okay, no problem sir.

Director: hm?

Isabelle: Roger. Actually, I’m not comfortable with it.

Director: ok, it doesn’t matter. You can go back to work.

Isabelle: goodbye sir.

She returned to her activities. She came home in the evening and found her husband a little cheerful. He had everything prepared and was getting ready to go to work.

Isabelle: good evening darling, how was your day?

Krist: more or less good. And yours ?

Isabelle: It went well. Wow, you are beautiful my love!

Krist: Thank you.

Isabelle: where are you going so well dressed?

Krist: I found work, finally, I think. The boss told me that I will work in the morning from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and in the evening from 6 p.m.

Isabelle: what kind of work is that?

Krist: he hired me as project manager but I have a feeling there’s something fishy behind it but I’m going to check it out to confirm my intuition.

Isabelle: okay darling, God be with you.

Krist: thank you my love. I would have liked to eat with you but I don’t have much time left.

Isabelle: don’t worry, go ahead!

So he left for his work appointment. He arrived on time and went to the principal’s office. The latter greeted him and he got up to push a cupboard which contained books and a door was found behind it. So they go through the door and go down to the basement. Krist was surprised to see the scene in front of him. People who were filming pornographic scenes and that’s the job the boss offered him.

Director: there you go, this is the evening’s work and as I already told you, you will be paid according to your performances and the scenes you perform. Do you want to try ?

Krist: I’m not ready to embrace perversity yet sir, sorry.

He turned back and the boss followed him. He warned him not to talk about it otherwise he would pay dearly. Krist came home and explained everything to his wife.

Isabelle: the world is really rotten, we are lost.

Krist: I’m starting to lose hope my love, I’ve been looking for a month without success.

Isabelle: we must not lose hope darling, we must persevere and one day it will be okay.

Krist: What if that one day never comes?

Isabelle: don’t be pessimistic my love, be positive and hope. We are not going to remain like this until death. Your situation will change you will see.

Krist: Luckily you’re here. You are the only good thing God has done in my life.

Isabelle (smile): don’t say that, be grateful to God for every day he gives you, such words certainly hurt him and if he is angry, he will make your trials even harder.

Krist: you’re right, may he forgive me.

In the morning, Krist resumed his research while his wife went to the hospital. At break time, Mr. Roger invited him to a restaurant to chat.

Roger: thank you for agreeing to have lunch with me.

Isabelle: thank you for the invitation.

Roger: you know, when I checked the results of the work you do here and the compensation you receive for it, I said to myself that it is far below what you deserve to earn.

Isabelle: I’m not complaining sir.

Roger: How would you like a little salary increase?

Isabelle: I won’t be the one to ask, sir, but I would be grateful. However, I will not accept if it is not proportional to the work I do.

Roger: you are truly an exceptional woman Isabelle, I am going to increase your salary by 10%, does that suit you?

Isabelle: yes sir,

Roger: no, you deserve it. I like people who work well so I could use you from time to time.

Isabelle: I am at your service, sir.

Roger: well, that will be all. Thank you for accepting this appointment.

So they part ways there and they go back to work. Roger wanted to bond with her first before hitting the sweet spot. A month later, Krist still can’t replace a job and on his wife’s side, the problems become more serious when her boss asks her today, over dinner, to be his mistress.

Roger: really Isabelle, in addition to being beautiful and intelligent, you are really a hardworking woman. In the month I have been here, I have been really impressed by the work you are doing in this hospital.

Isabelle: thank you very much sir, I am honored.

Roger: I think you deserve to be the director of all midwives.

Isabelle: do you really think so?

Roger: of course, do you think you are up to this task?

Isabelle: obviously sir, you will not be disappointed.

Roger: I believe that if you and I are together, we will make this hospital the best in town.

Isabelle: you can count on me sir.

Roger: in God’s name, you are beautiful!

She lowered her head, smiling.

Roger: agree to be my mistress and the position is yours.

Isabelle quickly raised her head, eyes wide, very surprised by her boss’s words.

Isabelle: sir, are you talking to me?

Roger: Who else is on this table with me?

Isabelle: but sir, I am a married woman and you are also a married man.

Roger: Oh, forget it. If I knew I was going to meet you one day, I would never have gotten married.

Isabelle: but look at you sir, you are my father.

Roger: I’m not your father, I’m the man who is in love with you. Please accept my proposal, your life will be transformed forever. You will become the head of the corps of midwives, I will increase your salary by 50% if you want.

Isabelle: listen sir, if I wanted to go out with several men, I would not have married but this status of a married woman formally prohibits me from going elsewhere. And besides, I’m not that type of girl so I’m sorry but I refuse.

Roger: think about it normally Isabelle, the future of your work depends on it.

Isabelle: sir, I cannot accept being your mistress, I love my husband.

Roger: why do you stay with this poor guy, what does he have to offer you, you deserve better than him.

Isabelle: It’s not your problem.

Roger: it would be better for you not to have me as an enemy, ma’am. I’ll still give you a few days to think about it.

Isabelle: If you want to fire me, please do so because my answer will never change. Even if I have to cheat on my husband, it will never be with a man who is my father’s age.

Roger: think about it!

Roger left. Isabelle remained seated, still surprised.

Isabelle: my God, why is all this happening to us?

She gets up and goes home. She talks with her husband.

Isabelle: darling, I think I’m going to lose my job.

Krist: why do you say that?

Isabelle: because my boss asked me to go out with him for fear of losing my job if I refused.

Krist: It doesn’t matter even if you lose, there are many hospitals that need your skills.

Isabelle: surely!

Krist: Why do I feel like I don’t deserve you?

Isabelle: hey, don’t say that my love, don’t let these kinds of thoughts rot your mind. No one but you can deserve me.

Krist: I should be the one taking care of you, not the other way around. But it’s already been three months since you paid the rent, you pay the bill, what use do I serve you?

Isabelle: you make me happy, you give meaning to my life. Never think these kinds of things my love, you are weakening our relationship.

Krist: I’m sorry, forgive me.

Isabelle: it’s nothing, I understand you but be strong and perseverant, it will be fine.

They hug each other.