Youve achieved nothing, the man declared. He had no idea that his new boss was my son, the child of my former husband.
The shirt! The white one! Couldnt you have guessed?
Rodericks voice sliced through the early morning hush of the kitchen.
He stood in the centre of the room, fierce fingers tightening the knot of his most expensive tie, and stared at me as if I were a mindless servant.
Theyre unveiling the new chief executive today. I must look a million pounds worth.
Without a word I handed him a hanger bearing a crisply pressed, snowwhite shirt. He snatched it as though I were stealing his precious time. Rodericks nerves were frayed; in moments like this he turned into a lump of bile and passive aggression.
He vented his fury on me, the sole person in his world who, in his mind, would never fight back.
This newcomer is a flashinthepan. A lad already at the top. Rumour has it his surname is Vorn.
My fingers froze on the handle of the coffee pot, just for a heartbeat. Vorn. The surname of my first husband. The name of my son.
Youll never understand, Roderick muttered, gazing at his reflection in the mirrored wardrobe doors. Youre just a housewife, tucked away in your cosy little swamp. You never aspired to achieve anything.
He adjusted his tie, a smug curl of his lips a grimace aimed not at me but at the successful man hed been polishing in the mirror for years.
And then a different morning drifted into my mind, long ago.
I, swollen with tears, cradling baby Archer, and my first husband Simon, mumbling helplessly that he had nothing and could never provide for us.
It was then, in that rented studio with a leaky tap, that I swore: my son would have everything.
I worked two, sometimes three jobs. First when Archer was at nursery, then at school. I fell asleep over his textbooks, later over university notes. I sold the only thing I owned my grandmothers flat so he could take that coveted internship in Silicon Valley.
He was my flagship project, my most precious startup.
They say hes the son of a poor engineer, Roderick continued, savoring the detail like a gourmand. Imagine: mud to a lord. Those are usually the most frozen.
He recalled a night at a corporate party, drunk, publicly humiliating my exhusband.
Simon had then presented a project to the company. Roderick called him a dreamer with empty pockets and laughed loudly.
He loved those moments; they fed his swollen ego.
Hand me the shoe brush. And the polish. Quickly.
I fetched everything he demanded. My hands did not tremble. Inside me lay an absolute stillness.
Roderick did not know that his new boss was not just any Vorn.
He had no inkling that this lad was the cofounder of an IT firm his holding had just bought for a fortune, making him the director of an entire division.
And he certainly didnt realise that this flashinthepan remembered the woman who had made his mother weep into her pillow.
He left, slamming the door as was his custom.
I was alone. I went to the window and watched his car pull away.
That day Roderick was heading to the most important meeting of his life, oblivious that he was actually walking toward his own scaffold.
That evening the doors burst open as if struck by a foot. Roderick stormed into the hallway, his face flushed, his tie dangling like a freed shackle.
I hate this! he snarled, flinging his briefcase into a corner. Can you believe this puppy thinks he can?
I slipped out of the kitchen, watching him in silence. He paced the corridor like a tiger in a cage.
He talked to me as if I were some fresh graduate on placement! With me! With the head of a key department! He rattled through my quarterly report, point by point, every figure! He even asked if Id bought a diploma on the black market!
In his words I sensed not mere insult but a twisted professionalism. This was my son, Archer. He always drilled into detail, never overlooking anything.
Do you know what he said last? Roderick halted abruptly before me, panic flickering in his eyes. Mr Vorn, Im genuinely amazed that with such numbers you still cling to this post. I hope its a simple misunderstanding and you wont disappoint me further. It was a threatto me personally!
He expected sympathy, advice, support. I said nothing, merely watching the broken, spiteful man, feeling absolutely nothing.
Why are you silent? he exploded. Do you not care? Do you not mind that the man who feeds, clothes, and keeps you from the mire?
Then a brilliant idea, born of pure terror, flashed in his mind. His eyes ignited with a wild fire.
I know what to do! Ill fix everything. Ill prove to that Vorn Im not just a cog. Ill invite him to dinner. At our place.
I met his gaze.
Yes, yes! In an informal setting people open up. Hell see my home, my standing. And you he shot me a predatory glance. Youll have to show a solid backing, a model wife, a perfect household. Its your only chance to be even marginally useful.
He thought the plan clever, a way to use me as a backdrop.
And then something clicked inside me. I saw the whole picture, the perfect storm hed conjured with his own hands, and understood it was my moment.
Fine, I said calmly, and he didnt sense the trap. Ill arrange the dinner.
A knock sounded precisely at seven, sharp as a bell.
Roderick, who had been darting around the flat for half an hour, sprang to the hallway, a practiced smile frozen on his lips.
I followed, prepared all his favourite dishes, constructing the illusion of the perfect picture he craveda perfect snare.
The door opened. At the threshold stood Archer.
Tall, in an immaculate suit, he seemed older than his twentysix years. His gaze was steady and confident. He extended his hand to Roderick.
Archer Vorn, thank you for the invitation.
Roderick flailed his arms, gripping the hand that felt far firmer than his own.
Roderick Vorn! Delighted! Come in, make yourself at home!
Archer crossed the threshold and instantly fixed his eyes on me. He did not smile, he merely stared long, serious. In that stare lay our whole shared history.
And this is my wife, Katherine, Roderick announced. My rock, my hope.
We know each other, Archer replied evenly, never breaking eye contact.
Roderick froze. His smile trembled.
Know each other? From where?
All evening he tried to reclaim control, bragging about his successes, peppering the conversation with inappropriate jokes.
Archer listened politely but at a distance. The atmosphere at the table grew thick, sticky like tar. Roderick tipped more than one wine glass, feeling his plan slip.
Then he decided to strike at the most painful point me.
Archer Vorn, youre so young yet already at the summit. Thats because you have the right bearings. As for my Katherine shes had no luck.
Archer carefully set down his fork.
Her first husband was lets say a dreamer, Roderick sneered. An engineer with not a penny in his pocket. He lived on dreams, couldnt feed a family. So Katie found happiness with me, because she achieved nothing on her own.
The same line, the final drop. He uttered it in the presence of my son, the son of that very engineerdreamer.
Enough.
I lifted my head.
Youre right, Roderick. I truly achieved nothing. No career, no millions.
I held the pause, watching his face shift.
I had only one project. One single thing. My son.
I turned to Archer.
I poured everything into him. My whole life, every strength, every belief. So he would grow up and never let people like you trample himself or his loved ones.
I glanced back at the man. His face stretched, an animal terror flashing in his eyes. At last it seemed to register.
So meet him, Roderick. This is Archer Vorn, son of that very engineerdreamer. My most successful project.
The air in the room could have been cut with a knife. Rodericks smile melted away, as did his arrogance.
Archer rose.
Mr Vorn, his voice was calm, yet metallic in its stillness thank you for dinner. It was instructive.
My father truly was a dreamer. He imagined a world where professionalism outranked sycophancy. A shame there was no room for that in your department.
Archer Vorn I I didnt know Its a misunderstanding! Roderick protested.
That youre an incompetent manager, fact. That youve demeaned my mother for years, also fact. I expect my resignation letter on my desk tomorrow at nine. Dont make me audit your projects. Youll find something.
Roderick slumped, looking at me with a forced benevolence.
I stood as well.
Leave, Roderick.
My go sounded without a shout, without hatred. Just a period.
He croaked, trying to justify himself.
Katie you cant this house
The only thing you gave me is this house. And now its mine, I replied evenly. Pack your things. Everything that fits in one suitcase.
At last he understood. The game was over.
He turned and walked away. The click of the closing door was like a full stop at the end of an overly long sentence.
I remained in the middle of the lounge. Archer stepped forward and took my hand.
Mum, how are you?
I looked at him, at my greatest achievement.
Now everythings alright.
Had I truly achieved nothing? Perhaps. I never became a CEO, never amassed fortunes. I simply raised a person. And that proved enough to reclaim my life.
Six months later.
The first thing I did after his departure was renovate. I ripped out heavy wallpaper, hauled away bulky furniture that shouted status.
The house ceased to be a showcase of someone elses success. It became mine.
I opened a small florists shop with a workshop. Id always loved tending plants, though Roderick called it a pastime for simples. Turns out my hobby could bring both joy and a modest income.
It was Saturday. Archer dropped by.
Dad called, he said. He sent his regards. Hes secured a big grant for his waterpurification system. Hes heading to Silicon Roundabout. He said you were right: dreaming does help.
I smiled. Wed long forgiven each others old wounds.
Mum, you know what I thought? Archer said seriously. That Roderick was right about something.
I raised an eyebrow.
He thought you achieved nothing. In his terms. But you did far more. You kept yourself. You raised me. Thats not a project, Mum. Thats life. And youve lived it well.
I looked at my grown son, the pain of his childhood replaced by calm strength.
What will you do now? he asked.
I signed up for language classes, I replied, surprised at how easy the sentence sounded.
He nodded, his eyes full of warmth and pride, and I needed nothing else.
Did I achieve nothing? Maybe. I simply began to livefor myself. And that is the greatest achievement of all.
