"Ladies and gentlemen," Alan began, his voice commanding attention, "the future of our company rests in the hands of a visionary, a strategist... I introduce to you our new CEO - Ethan Monroe.”I stood, making my way to the stage amidst a sea of stunned faces. As I stepped onto the stage, a hush fell over the crowd. Heads turned, whispers flew, and eyes widened in disbelief. From the corner of my eye, my gaze briefly met Sophia's, her expression a mix of shock and something unreadable. Beside her, James's face had lost all color, his earlier condescension replaced by disbelief.As I approached the podium, the murmurs grew louder, a mixture of curiosity and astonishment. The bright lights of the stage momentarily blinded me, but I found my footing, my heart pounding in my chest."Ladies and gentlemen, I am humbled and honored," I began, my voice steady despite the inner turmoil. "This position is not just a title to me. It's a commitment to innovation, growth, and above all, integrity
Then, Alan spoke, capturing the attention of everyone in the boardroom. "Oh, and there's something else..." he said, taking a moment to gather his thoughts, his gaze shifting as he assessed their level of interest."There's just one condition - Ethan here will assume the role of CEO in your company." The room froze. Tiller’s hand hovered mid-air, his eyes widened in disbelief. "That's absurd!" he exclaimed. "He's inexperienced, a novice!"Alan remained unfazed. "Ethan has a fresh perspective, something your company desperately needs. He's observant, intelligent, and unbiased by past failures."I felt every eye in the room on me. This was beyond anything I had imagined. ‘CEO of a major company?’ I was unprepared, yet a part of me thrilled at the challenge.Tiller, visibly wrestling with the decision, sat back down. "This is highly unusual. I need to discuss this with my board."Alan nodded. "Take your time. But remember, the clock is ticking for your company.”The room cleared, leavin
The soft morning light gently streamed through the opulent curtains, enveloping the lavish furnishings in a cozy, golden hue. Perched on the edge of my bed, I compared my outdated phone to the sleek, new one I had gotten the day before. The contrast was striking - a representation of the two realms I was now connecting.As I got ready for the day, Miranda showed up right on time, exuding her usual air of authority. "Good morning, Ethan," she greeted, her tone professional. "Shall we talk about what you'll be wearing for today's meeting? You need to appear flawless.”Still getting used to the maze-like hallways, I followed her around the mansion. It felt like I was in a dream with all the luxurious carpeting and elaborate decor. We stepped into a room brimming with clothes, as she started picking out her favorite pieces. "This suit," she exclaimed, showcasing a navy blue ensemble, "exudes an air of self-assurance and understated elegance. This is ideal for today's meeting.”I nodded a
On the third day, I found myself back at the mansion, standing in front of Alan Monroe. He looked at me expectantly, a hint of nervousness in his eyes. I could not help but feel overwhelmed by the sheer magnificence of the room. The lofty ceilings and lavish furnishings created an atmosphere that enveloped me, as I took a deep breath, preparing myself to embrace my new reality.I took a deep breath. "I've made my decision. I'm ready to be a Monroe."Alan's face lit up with a big smile, and he surprised me by pulling me into a strong embrace, showing a rare burst of emotion. "Welcome to the family, Ethan," he said, his voice filled with unspoken emotion. It was a strange and warming moment, standing there and being held by a man I barely knew, but who was my father."Now that you are ready to be a Monroe, let us make you look like it," Alan said, taking a step back and returning to his business-like demeanor. He picked up his phone and quickly dialed. "Wisconsin, can you get Miranda?
"How about you come back in three days? And I can hear your decision?" Alan suggested. I agreed, "Three days is okay.”He reached into a drawer, retrieving his wallet, and from it, he produced a gold card, adorned with a striking 'M' insignia, resembling a crest in black. Below the emblem, the word 'Monroe' was inscribed. He handed it to me. "Here, have this. This card is loaded with $10 trillion. Use it for your expenses until we meet again in three days.""$10 trillion?" The words barely made it out, as my eyes widened in sheer disbelief."Yeah, I know it's not going to be enough, so I'll ask Mr. Wisconsin to top it up with an extra $5 trillion. How does that sound?" Alan said with a nonchalant shrug."That... That sounds..." Words escaped me; my mind couldn't process the enormity of what was happening. ‘$10 trillion, just for expenses, and he was considering adding another $5 trillion.’Alan stood, gesturing for me to follow. "I believe next time we meet, you won't be shocked anym
"Young Master." He started and gave a bow of respect. “I'm Mr. Wisconsin. We spoke on the phone earlier today." ‘Young Master?’ I asked myself and did he just bow to me? What's going on?’"I remember," I replied, still trying to process the scene before me.He glanced at the grocery store and then back at me. "I work for your father, and I'm here on his behalf. He's been looking for you for a long time."My father? The word echoed in my mind. I had never known my father, and now this man was standing in front of me claiming he worked for him."I understand this is a lot to take in, Young Master" Mr. Wisconsin continued, "Your father had no idea your mom had a son until recently. He's eager to meet you, to make up for lost time.”I was in disbelief. My whole life, I had been without a father, and now, out of nowhere, he wanted to be a part of my life? It felt surreal.Mr. Wisconsin must have sensed my hesitation. "He wanted me to speak with you first, to see if you'd be willing to mee
Morning light filtered through the thin curtains of my modest apartment, casting a gentle glow on the sparse furnishings. I stirred awake, instantly reminded of the previous night's events by the soreness in my body. Each movement was a sharp twinge of pain, echoing my emotional agony.'I should probably get some pain killers from the store,' I thought, trying to push myself upright. The effort sent a jolt of pain through my bruised frame, making me wince.My gaze landed on the cracked screen of my phone, lying forlornly on the table beside the worn sofa that had doubled as my bed. The web of fractures across the screen was a stark reminder of my current plight. 'So I'm going to have to take from my savings to get a new phone? That sets me back an extra 2 months plus,' I calculated, the harsh reality of my situation sinking in deeper. A deep, weary sigh escaped me, the weight of my troubles feeling more acute than ever.The room felt smaller, the walls seemingly closing in, as if t
"You're fired, Ethan! That's final. Anyone else who wants to defend him can leave too."The room fell into a heavy silence. No one spoke up for me. I knew they were afraid for their own jobs.I slumped to the floor, overwhelmed. Losing this job meant my financial problems would only deepen, especially with my absence from the gym over the past three days. I needed every job I could get.Mikey extended a hand, helping me up. "Come on, Ethan. Let's get out of here before Mr. Rossi comes back."In the locker room, I changed back into my regular clothes, each movement feeling robotic, devoid of hope."What am I gonna do now?" I asked Mikey, my voice barely above a whisper."Don't worry. It's gonna be fine," Mikey tried to reassure me."Come on, man. It's not going to be. I just got fired,” I said, my head in my palms.“All because of that girl, Sophia. I told you she's not good for you," Mikey continued. "Listen, I got a lead! My buddy at M & C needs a last-minute fill-in for a waiter's g
"Where have you been, Harrington?" he snapped. "You're late again!"I could feel Mr. Rossi's glare burning through me as I tried to muster an apology. "Sorry, Mr. Rossi. My bike's giving me trouble. It's old, you know?""I don't care about your bike, Harrington. I care about you being here on time. 8:00 means 8:00, not 8:25. This isn't a vacation spot. You're paid to work, not slack off.""Understood, sir. Won't happen again," I promised, though inside I wondered how many times I'd made that same vow."It better not. Or you'll be out of here faster than you can say 'pizza'. Now get changed and get to work. You've got a backlog of deliveries waiting.”I nodded, hurrying to the locker room. Slipping into my uniform, I grabbed my delivery bag and helmet, glancing at the list of addresses. All over the city… Great! I hopped on my bike, hoping for smooth sailing and good tips.As I rode, my mind wandered. I couldn't stand this job, but the cash was essential. I had dreams, after all - pa