His Hidden Big Shot

Chapter 9

The next morning, in a small advertising company situated in the bustling metropolis of Austria, the Operations Director, Cadman Hunter, lashed out at his salesmen, his voice ringing with frustration. He berated them for their inability to secure the invitations for Mr. Garcia's welcome party and their failure to acquire any of the billboards along the running route of Ray and Sarah. The salesmen, their heads hung low in silence, listened intently, except for the Sales Manager, David, who attempted to speak but found himself unable to utter a word.

"Speak up, David," Cadman snapped, impatiently.

David managed a bitter smile, before finally mustering up the courage to explain, "Boss, you have no idea of the scale of this event. If Ray were to run alone, it would not have caused such a citywide sensation. But Sarah is joining him. She's stunning, from a wealthy family, and you can only imagine how explosive the news is. All the billboards along the route have been sold, and the stores on Glory Avenue are selling spots for cameras. A small space of 40 square feet with two small stools costs at least eight hundred dollars. I took the liberty of buying a camera spot, may I get reimbursement for the money I spent?"

Cadman's expression changed from one of anger to one of shock, "Eight hundred dollars for an hour? Those store owners might as well go rob a bank!"

He turned around and began to pace towards his office, muttering curses under his breath. David grew anxious and interjected, "Boss, what about the eight hundred dollars I've already spent?"

Cadman halted in his tracks, patting his bald head as he turned to face David, "You'll receive your reimbursement, but we're short on funds at the moment. You'll have to wait until the end of the month. And one more thing, go to Glory Avenue and purchase an advertising spot. We need to post the ad for the andrology hospital we signed up two days ago."

David replied with a nod of affirmation, "The hospital specializing in condyloma acuminatum and infertility, right? I'm on it right away!"

In the luxurious CEO's office of Peters Realty, Tristan, impeccably dressed in a sharp suit, sat for an interview with a reporter from Peachtube. As the anchorwoman leaned in, Tristan crossed his legs and welcomed the inquiry with a smile.

"Mr. Peters, we understand that Ray and Sarah, your cousin, will be running naked in public. As a prominent member of the Peters family, what do you believe this will do to your reputation?" the anchorwoman questioned, puffing out her chest for emphasis.

Tristan calmly waved his finger, clearly prepared for such a query. "My grandfather arranged for Ray's marriage to Sarah before he passed away. At the time, he was seriously ill and confused. We do not consider Ray to be a Peters, and as for Sarah, she has a history of disgraceful behavior. Her mother embezzled 1.2 million from our company, and instead of making amends, she continues to bring trouble to our family through Ray. After this is over, they will be expelled from our family. So, their actions will not impact the reputation of our family."

After the interview concluded, Tristan exchanged phone numbers with the anchorwoman and promptly dialed Alice's number. With a mischievous grin, he exclaimed, "I have an exciting opportunity for us to get rich!"

Alice was indulging in a rejuvenating facial mask, but her mind was preoccupied with the evening's events. "Let's get to the point, Tristan. Time is of the essence here. I have to get a suit for Ryan, and we're already running late for the Garcia welcome party."

Tristan was taken aback. "But isn't the party two days away? Has the schedule changed?"

Alice let out an exasperated sigh. "Yes, Tristan. The schedule has changed. Ryan just received the notification that the party is happening this evening at 6. I have no idea what the higher-ups are thinking."

Tristan was quick to compliment Ryan's connections. "Ryan is a well-connected person. Not everyone gets the privilege to attend such a high-end event. I wish I could attend, but I haven't received an invitation."

Alice's face lit up with a smile, and her facial mask nearly fell off. "I'll talk to Ryan and see if he can introduce you to Mr. Garcia."

Tristan's eyes widened with surprise and delight. "Thank you, Alice. You're amazing. Meeting Mr. Garcia would be a dream come true. I could brag about it for years to come."

Alice playfully teased Tristan about needing a higher pursuit in life before asking him about the opportunity he wanted to discuss. "So, tell me about this opportunity. You mentioned something about Ray and Sarah?"

Tristan chuckled. "Yes, let me fill you in on the details."

Tristan beamed with pride as he announced, "I was just interviewed by an online media outlet and the anchor was quite sharp. She informed me that the three largest betting websites in Austria have set up a pool on whether Ray and Sarah will start running naked on time."

He continued, "While others are left in the dark, we know the truth. Even if they hesitate, our grandmother will demand they strip down and parade them to Glory Avenue. This presents a golden opportunity for us to make a fortune. All we need to do is bet that they will go through with it."

Alice's eyes lit up with excitement as she eagerly asked, "How do I place the bet? I want to bet big! That Sarah, she and Ray will be the laughingstock of the entire city while we make a killing. This is thrilling!"

Tristan wasted no time, quickly texting her the links to the three betting websites and advising her to choose the one with the highest odds for a bet that Sarah would join Ray in running in their swimsuits. He urged her to place as much money as possible on the wager.

Meanwhile, in Ray and Sarah's bedroom at the Peters's residence, Ray stumbled upon the same betting websites while browsing the internet. With a chuckle, he clicked on the links and couldn't help but laugh at the overwhelming majority of bets favoring them being forced to run in the nude.

The three betting sites had amassed an astonishing total of over 150 million dollars. Shockingly, a whopping 80% of that money was being staked on the possibility of seeing someone running naked down Glory Avenue while holding hands with their fellow nudist. The people of Austria appeared to be eagerly anticipating this spectacle in front of a massive audience.

Ray was livid as he perused the website page, realizing that these individuals were seeking to profit from his potential humiliation. He resolved to take the opposite stance and bet against the idea. There was no way he would ever participate in such an absurd display.

Without hesitation, Ray registered an account and placed a bet of eighty million dollars, the maximum amount allowable on his credit card. He had a good chance of winning, as the odds were in his favor at 1-3.

With a clenched jaw, Ray closed the website and looked up, only to be taken aback by Sarah's distraught expression. She appeared worn out and tearful.

"Ray, I need your help," she implored. "I can't do it alone. Will you please strangle me?"