My Trillion Dollar System

Chapter 7. The First Step

“Danny boy! We are now big shots all over the country. Everyone is talking about us after the Arizona competition….They can’t stop praising you, man…..” August rushed into the one room the both of them were living in from the balcony where he was before.

Dan had gone bankrupt, and his house, which he had used as collateral, was taken from him. That was part of the reasons why he had wanted to commit suicide because he couldn’t get help to repay the loan. So because of that, August asked him to move in with him in his one-room apartment, which was on the roof of a building he was renting for a lower price.

The room was a compartment for just one person, but they managed to get by.

“Would fame pay our bills?!” Dan snapped in anger as he turned around sharply from the X computer he was working on to look at August.

“You are always carefree about everything and never serious, August. Is that how life is to you? Are you that happy?” Dan stood up this time while staring fiercely at him to show how mad he was.

“Dan?” August called in surprise.

“Three days…” Dan brought out three fingers to emphasize his point. “It has been three days since you got your new mission, and you haven’t even talked about how to go about it! Trillion dollar gaming?! What nonsense! Because you have a million dollars in your account, you feel you could open a company just like that?!” Dan snapped angrily as August opened his mouth to speak but held his words back.

“That’s right. You have nothing to say. I was so stupid to have trusted you. I hate my life!” Dan fired angrily and barged out of the room as August raised a hand to call out to him, but he was long gone.

“He is so impatient.” August sighed and picked up his denim jacket on the bed, wore it, and walked out of the room to his favorite drinking spot down the streets.

He ordered a bottle of his favorite beer and sat in the corner of the local bar while he watched how different people came in and out of the bar, while some drank happily with their acquaintances.

He sighed as he remembered Dan’s words. “Maybe I should just give up….” He muttered to himself and sighed as he took a huge gulp of the beer.

“No..No way. That jerk would see me as a mere loser. And Allen…..” He shook his head vigorously.

“There was no way I would back down like this.” Backing out suddenly felt like the most ridiculous thing ever.

“You should be ashamed of yourself, Bill. We are all a part of the team. Aren’t you been too selfish making the whole decision and leaving us to suffer for the consequences of your choices?!” An angry voice retorted from the crowd of customers in the local beer as August immediately shifted his gaze to that direction to find a lady in her mid-twenties, a spectacle on like most computer geeks with her hair parked in a ponytail, but some strands had escaped.

From her baggy eyes, one could notice that she had had countless sleepless nights.

With the hoodie she had on that looked like she was thrown inside, the oversized clothes were a testament to her frail body.

“I am the leader. I make all the decisions that concern this team! Let it sink into your head and everyone here!” The Bill in question retorted. By now, everyone in the bar now had their attention on them.

As Bill made to leave, The other lady blocked him while the other team members in question just watched, as they looked like they were considering who to support.

“Don’t you dare leave without finishing this conversation. You might be the leader, but I am your assistant. When you tend to make stupid decisions. I make you come back to your senses!”

“And what is your perfect decision? Ugh? Selling our game to those bastards! Do you know how much we worked for that game! Ugh?! You had sleepless nights Greta! You loved that game with everything in you, and now you want to sell?” Bill looked extremely pained as he asked.

Greta looked like she felt guilty at first, but her transition shook me.

“It’s not like I am happy to let go…,” she said in a lower tone. “The whole team is fed up, Bill. We all have bills to pay. Selling that game is the best bid for everyone here.” She said calmly.

“Never!” Bill seethed in return and walked out of the room.

“We all contributed to that game, Bill! Do you dare make decisions for us, you bastard!” Greta retorted angrily as her whole body shuddered.

“Arghhhh!” She cringed in frustration when she realized Bill had long left.

“That jerk!” August watched as she walked back to her seat and held her head in frustration as the other team members said calming words to her.

August's eyes darted to the exit as a thought suddenly struck him.

He quickly stood up and dropped a $5 bill on the table as he advanced out of the bar.

He looked left and right frantically to check where Bill had passed through, then he finally caught his red thought in the dimly lit evening.

He rushed down the almost lonely street lawn and finally met up with him.

“Hi!” He waved as he came to stand in front of him, while trying to catch his breath after running a distance.

Bill has his hands in his pocket. He was also wearing glasses. From his spectacles, August could see it in his eyes that the young man didn’t appreciate his presence.

“I’m August.” August introduced anyway as he stretched his hands for a shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Bill.” He added quickly with that charming smile he always had.

“How do you know me?” Bill eyed him suspiciously.

“From the bar.” August pointed immediately as if scared that he would lose Bill’s attention.

“Oh….” Bill replied. “Right. It’s not nice to meet you anyway.” He proceeded to walking, but August ran after him to block his way.

“One minute, give me one minute. I have a proposition for you, Bill.” He said hastily.

“Are you some stalker? Should I call the cops on you?” Bill asked with an irritated look.

“It’s about your game, Bill.” August continued, ignoring his threats. When he saw the interested look on Bill’s face, he knew he has gotten what he wanted.