Chris Bolton's Unexpected Rise To Wealth And Fame

CHAPTER 6

Chris settled down on the arm chair at a far corner of Arthur's office. His legs were crossed and his eyes scanned the perimeter quickly.

"Are - are - you sure you don't want to sit right here?" Arthur asked, pointing at his executive chair. 

"I'm good here, Arthur, thank you," Chris replied with a smile. "You're still the CEO of NEXUS. You told me that a few days ago, remember?"

Arthur heaved a deep sigh and his fingers tapped against the wooden table. His heart was pounding in his chest as he thought of the best way to get himself out of the mess he had just entered.

"Okay, I'm really sorry, man," Arthur croaked. 

He lowered his gaze to meet Chris and he swallowed hard.

"I'm sorry you had to watch what happened between Mabel and I. It was - "

"That's not why I'm here, Arthur McDoyle," Chris replied and straightened up. 

He waved a file in Arthur's face and dropped it on the table before them.

"This is why I'm here."

Arthur stared at the file on the table. His heart was pounding in his chest, and his thoughts began to run wild at once. Was it a sack letter? Or a lawsuit perhaps? Or something worse.

"I had the chance to go through the financial records of NEXUS over the weekend," Chris started. "The company's profit seems to be dwindling down overtime. I would like to know what exactly is going on as regards that, Arthur."

"Oh, that." Arthur heaved a sigh of relief. He had not lost his job yet.

"We're working on a big Collab with a top modelling firm and another designer brand. The paperwork for both collabs would be ready as soon as possible. We would hit massive profit when that clicks, trust me."

Chris nodded slowly, his eyes not for a second leaving Arthur's face.

"And if I may ask, what is the name of this designer brand?"

Beads of sweat began to roll down Arthur's forehead. How was he going to explain to Chris that it was GLAM, the very company where he had previously worked in, as a cleaner, the very company that was managed by his ex-wife, Mabel Sanders.

"Come on, tell me," Chris pressed further.

"It's GLAM," Arthur admitted. "But believe me, this is going to be a very big break for us. The latest collection of our jewelry have been customized to fit most of GLAM'S new designs. Everything would be in order and at the end of the year, we would be having profits like we've never seen before."

"Let me get this straight," Chris cut in. "NEXUS is planning a collab with a smaller company, and still expecting maximum profits?"

Arthur was left tongue-tied at Chris' knowledge of the business world.

"Have you even considered checking the maximum profit that GLAM as a company makes in a year?" Chris ranted on. "You're supposed to be aiming higher, Arthur. I expected you to be striking deals with bigger designers, and not a company smaller than yours."

"I - I - I never really thought about that," Arthur muttered. "We would look into it."

"That's not all though," Chris continued. "The thirty million pounds? You were meant to import gold, weren't you?"

"I - I - I was," Arthur stammered. "There was a little delay. I have contacted the agents and confirmed that the gold would be delivered."

"Or maybe you diverted the money for the importation to your personal pocket?" Chris asked.

Arthur was shocked to the bone. He could not understand how Chris had uncovered his deepest secrets in just less than three days of digging. He believed he had done a good job, covering up his tracks and even though Chris had gotten access to the financial records of the firm, he was not meant to find out.

"I didn't divert the funds," Arthur lied. "Everything is in place."

Chris sat back on the chair and creased his brows in surprise. "Really?"

"As a matter of fact, it would be ready in two weeks," Arthur added. "And then, we would move straight to the launching, alongside GLAM. Everything would be a huge success."

Chris nodded slowly. "I really hope it is. I'll be looking forward to seeing the gold."

Arthur straightened up in his executive chair. His confidence had grown now. Surely, that was all Chris had found against him and he could still cover his tracks very well. He had spent just a little part of the money and he could easily replace it in two weeks. 

"You have absolutely nothing to worry about, Chris Bolton," Arthur smiled. "Is that all?"

Chris shook his head in the negative. "I'm afraid not."

"Upon further investigations, I discovered that the wages of four people in NEXUS have been tripled over the last six months. Three of those people bear the same last name with you - McDoyle. Could that be a coincidence, Arthur."

At that point, Arthur had lost it all. He was fuming with rage inside him. How had the bastard gotten access to the salary records as well? That was top secret!

"You haven't said anything, Arthur," Chris cut through Arthur's train of thoughts.

"And I have nothing to say to you on this!" Arthur growled, banging his fist hard on the wooden table.

That was the exact reaction Chris had been hoping for from him, all the while. He knew that a man like Arthur would value his ego above any other thing, and would certainly not appreciate being questioned. All it took to get on his nerves was a few threats to his lifestyle of corporate theft. 

"What do you mean?" Chris asked, in a rather calm voice.

"Look, I know you're doing all this because of Mabel," Arthur snarled. "You can't get her out of your head, or the fact that she never liked you. Your marriage with her was nothing more than an arrangement and the earlier you get that in your head, the better for you!"

Chris stared at the fuming Arthur before him and he sighed.

"You're right, Arthur. She never liked me."

"Then forget about her, man," Arthur sighed. "Let's act like matured men. Let's be allies."

"But she doesn't like you either, Arthur," Chris dropped the bombshell.

Arthur was taken aback by Chris' words and he burst into laughter.

"That's crazy," Arthur said after a long laugh. "We've been dating for four whole years. Four years! We've been dating longer than you two have been married, and if there's one thing I can assure you of, it's that Mabel Sanders loves me with all her heart."

Chris smiled to himself and relaxed on the chair. Everything was going according to his plan.

"I hate to break it to you man, but she doesn't," Chris said. "And I can prove it to you."

The expression of shock and confusion boldly written all over Arthur's face was enough to make Chris chuckle. 

"I'm not listening to you," Arthur replied, shaking his head vehemently. "You're just trying to manipulate me and that's not going to work."

"I'll leave you with that then," Chris sighed and rose to his feet. "I was willing to offer you a billion dollars if you won the bet, but since you're clearly not interested - "

He turned on his heels and started out of the office, but just as he had anticipated, Arthur called him back.

"Wait!"

Chris stopped and spun around slowly to meet Arthur's gaze

"What bet?" Arthur asked with a scowl on his face.

Chris glared hard at him for a long time, and then, he smiled.

"I'm willing to offer you a billion dollars if Mabel Sanders is still your fiance by the end of this week," He said. "And if she isn't - "

Chris eyed him from head to toe.

"You would lose all the property in your name to me. I know it's not worth more than five hundred million, but since that's all you have, I guess I'll have to manage it."

Arthur's face went red with embarrassment at once. He couldn't believe it was the same person whom he thought was a pauper, that was now challenging him to a bet worth a billion dollars! The thought of winning that amount made his mouth water. Chris Bolton was still a fool after all, to suggest a bet he would lose.

"Deal," Arthur smiled. "Your 1 billion to all the properties in my name."

"I'll have a personal guard follow you from this moment to make sure you don't cheat," Chris said.

"What?" Arthur laughed. "You think I would tell her about the bet so she can remain as my fiance? Her love for me is real, and no man can take her away from me. Hire ten guards if you like."

"Settled then," Chris smiled. 

He slipped his hand in his pocket and produced two cards.

"An invitation for the both of you - a week long boat cruise in Hawaii. All expenses on me. It's all part of the deal."

Arthur snatched the card from Chris' hand and turned it in his hand.

"You mean we get to have fun and win a billion dollars at the end of it all?" Arthur smiled. "Deal."

"I'll send the papers to your new office at the end of the day," Chris announced. "Then you can sign the deal, and the bet begins."

Arthur stared at him. "My new office?"

"Yes, Arthur," Chris nodded. "I have come to take my rightful place as the CEO of NEXUS CORPORATIONS, and you, Arthur McDoyle would be my new secretary."