The sun was not even up. The big house was very cold because Marcus had turned off the heater to save money. Elena stood in her kitchen. Her stomach made a loud noise. She had not eaten dinner so her four children could have the last pieces of bread.
She looked at her hands. These hands used to wear gold rings. Now, they were shaking from hunger.
"I must be strong," Elena whispered. "My kids must eat."
She went to the back of the closet. She found an old pair of heavy boots and a dirty jacket. She did not look like a Vice CEO anymore. She looked like a poor worker.
She sneaked out of the back door. She did not want the house guards to see her. Marcus had told the guards to watch her. He wanted to see her cry and beg him for money. But Elena was not going to beg.
She walked for one hour to reach a big building site. There were many men there. They were carrying heavy stones and mixing cement.
"I need work," Elena said to the boss of the site.
The boss laughed. "A woman like you? Your skin is too soft. This work is for strong men."
Elena looked him in the eyes. "My children are hungry. I am stronger than any man here."
The boss stopped laughing. He saw the fire in her eyes. "Fine. Carry those stones to the top floor. If you stop, you don't get paid."
The stones were very heavy. Each step Elena took made her back hurt. Her breath was short. The sun became very hot. After three hours, her hands started to bleed. But every time she felt like falling, she saw the faces of her four kids. She saw Marcus laughing with his secretary, Lydia.
"I will not stop," she told herself.
By lunch time, the boss called her. He gave her a small amount of money. It was only a few hundred shillings. For a billionaire, this was nothing. But for Elena, this was life.
She ran to a small shop. She bought milk, eggs, and a small bag of maize flour. She hid the food under her dirty jacket and ran back home.
When she got to the mansion, she saw a big, shiny car in the driveway. It was Marcus. He was standing in the kitchen with Lydia. They were eating a big breakfast with sausages and fruit.
"Where have you been, Elena?" Marcus asked. He looked at her dirty clothes. "You look like a pig. Did you go out to dig in the trash?"
Lydia laughed. She leaned on Marcus's shoulder. "Maybe she is looking for a new husband at the bus park!"
Elena did not say a word. She kept the food hidden under her arm.
"The kids are in their rooms, Marcus," Elena said quietly. "They are hungry. Why are you eating in front of them without giving them anything?"
Marcus put down his fork. "I told you, Elena. I am the boss. If you want food, you must sign the paper saying you give up all your shares in the company. If you don't sign, your kids will stay hungry."
Elena looked at her children, who were peeking through the door. They saw the sausages on the table. They were licking their lips.
Elena felt a big pain in her heart. Her husband was a monster. He was using hunger to steal her company.
"I will never sign," Elena said.
"Fine," Marcus shouted. He took the plate of sausages and threw it into the bin. "If they don't eat my food, they eat nothing!"
He walked out with Lydia.
Elena waited until the car left. Then, she pulled out the eggs and milk from under her jacket. The kids ran to her. They were crying and hugging her.
"Mommy! You brought food!" little Maya cried.
"Yes," Elena said, her voice heavy with pain. "Eat quickly. Don't let the guards see."
As the kids ate, Elena sat on the floor. She was tired and her body was hurting. She took out her phone. She looked at a photo of her bank account. It said $0.00.
Then she looked at a secret paper she had hidden. It was the list of the husband's secret houses.
"He thinks I am weak," Elena whispered. "But he forgot I am the one who made him rich. I know where every cent is hidden."
Suddenly, the front door opened again. It was Lydia. She had come back alone. She walked into the kitchen and saw the eggs and milk.
"Where did you get the money for this, Elena?" Lydia asked with an evil smile. "Did you steal it from Marcus? I am calling the police right now!"