THE URBAN PHOENIX: Arthur Salvatore's rise from the ashes.

CHAPTER 9

[New Task]

[Get a job as a taxi driver. Deadline in 24 hours]

Arthur blinked unbelieving.

"What?" He asked.

"You are to get yourself a job as a taxi driver until further notice," The system voice replied.

"Shit!" Arthur cursed under his breath. "I thought I would not have to work again for the rest of my life and only spend all the money from the system."

"The deadline to get the job is tomorrow morning," The system interrupted his thoughts. "Failure to do so is disastrous."

"Let me guess," Arthur said dryly, "A slow and painful death." He groaned as he stood up. "Where can I get a taxi to buy? Or even rent?" He asked himself as he made his way into the commercial district of the city.

His stomach gave a small grumble so he obeyed and entered the first restaurant he came across. It was a very fancy and high-end restaurant. Large glass chandeliers were hanging from the ceiling and from the looks and muted sounds from everyone there, he could tell that these were all rich billionaires who were catching a quick breakfast.

Thankful that he just got a change of clothes, even though they were not as formal as everyone else, it gave him a little confidence as he took a seat near the window. He wanted to watch the morning sun as he ate.

A nice waitress came over to his side. "Good morning sir," She said. "What can I get you today?"

"What do you have?" He asked.

She read out a list of available breakfasts. Arthur ordered some pancakes, maple syrup, waffles, and coffee to go with it.

While he waited for his meal to be brought to him, he looked around and observed the people in the room. They all seemed to be in a hurry as they ate.

Arthur chuckled. He had all the time in the world.

[Reminder! Your time is counting down]

"For fuck's sake!" Arthur snapped. "I have not forgotten."

He sighed. He owed his life to this system, which he still did not understand exactly what it was, but it was starting to get on his nerves.

His meal was brought to him and he dug into it. When he noticed some stares coming from people around him, he slowed down.

Across his table, a white-haired man sat, talking furiously into the phone. Arthur stopped his chewing to eavesdrop on the man's conversation.

"What do you mean Pete quit?" The man asked in a low tone. "What? He traveled to where?" He paused. "What is he doing in Cuba?" The man let out a long string of curses.

Arthur was interested in this conversation. He took a small sip of his coffee as he listened.

"So what of his vehicle?" The man asked. "Empty. So we are going to run at a loss today. Talk to the financial secretary to –"

Arthur cleared his throat to get the man's attention.

The man said to the phone, "Give me a moment, Henry," and then he turned to Arthur. "Yes?"

"I could not help eavesdropping, sir. But you won't run into a loss if there is someone to fill the vacancy," Arthur said.

"Yes?" The man said again.

"I'm looking for a job," Arthur said boldly.

The man gave Arthur a once-over look. Then he snorted and said, "You don't look like a taxi driver, and that's what I'm looking for."

Arthur could not believe his luck. "I drive. And I don't mind being a taxi driver under your company."

The man gave Arthur a long look and then said, "Okay you're hired," then he returned to his phone call. "You heard all that, Henry? Yeah yeah, we have a replacement for Pete." He paused as he listened and nodded. "Yes. I will bring him to the office now." Then he ended the call.

Arthur was back in his meal.

"You said you drive?" The man asked.

Arthur nodded. In truth, he did not.

"Good. And your driver's license?" The man asked.

Arthur almost choked on the coffee he was drinking. He had not thought of that. "Um, uh… I lost it in a fire. I am still working to get it back…"

"Hmph." The man snorted. "There is something about you, kid." The man said. "Finish up, we are leaving now."

The waitress came to give Arthur the bill, but the man said, "Put it on my tab."

Arthur smiled. "You didn't have to do that."

"I am Carl Tudor," the man said, standing up and buttoning his jacket.

"I am Arthur Salvatore."

"Well, Arthur," Carl said. "You don't want to be late on your first day of the job. Let's go."

They both walked out and into a waiting limousine.

ARTHUR'S EYES ROAMED the polished walls of the tower. As it turned out, Carl Tudor was the owner of a string of companies, one of which included a taxiing branch. He also owned one of the tall skyscrapers in the city, and that was where Arthhr was now.

"You own all this?" Arthur asked.

Carl chuckled. "Yes, amongst others."

"Damn!"

They met a short balding man and walked into a large and exquisitely furnished office. "Henry, this is Arthur. Our replacement for Pete." Carl said, gesturing at Arthur.

Henry looked at Arthur from head to toe and said, "He doesn't look like a taxi driver. Wearing a $1000 sneaker."

Carl shrugged. "He claimed to have lost his driver's license in a fire."

"There is a way to check it out," Henry said. His eyes didn't leave Arthur's face as he whipped out his tablet and typed into it.

Arthur was almost going into a mini panic attack. If Henry checked the web for Arthur's info, there was not going to be anything… because Arthur had never gotten a license.

He was going to miss this opportunity.

Arthur held his breath as Henry waited for the details to load.

Carl half sat on the large oak table and watched Henrg do his thing.

After half a minute, Henry gave Arthur a dirty look and said, "Yes. This is the license on the web. He's legit."

Arthur released a heavy sigh of relief. "But how?" He asked under his breath. There was no answer.

"Okay then," Carl said loudly. "Henry will take you to the garage where the taxi is being washed down." He nodded to Arthur. "He will let you know the basics of the job and the important things you need to know."

"Okay."

"You may leave. Henry, you're in charge." Carl said.

Henry nodded and led Arthur out of the office. They rode the elevator down the stairs in silence, but Arthur could sense the cold shoulder and strange hate that Henry had.

They got to the garage, the car was just being aired out.

"There," Henry said.

Unsure of what to do, Arthur ran his hand along the hood of the taxi.

"It's a fucking commercial taxi, not a sports car," Henry snapped. "Get in and make a U-turn. I want to be sure you know what you are doing."

Arthur gulped nervously and got into the car. He looked around the insides. He could see Henry, standing with a satisfied look on his face, just waiting to go hack up and fire Arthur for any reason.

Arthur's brows furrowed in a frown. He can't let this Herny win. He rubbed his hands and then pulled down the visor. The keys fell on his lap. He smiled, inserted it, and started the engine.

Henry's smile faltered as he saw that Arthur had found the key.

"Now, what?" Arthur asked himself. "I need to reverse,"

"Follow my instructions…" a robotic voice said in his head.

Henry stood outside, with arms propped on his hips, and watched as Arthur gently reversed the car, made a U-turn, faced the nose to the outside of the road and then pressed on the horn slightly.

Arthur stepped out of the car, "Satisfied?" He asked Henry smugly.

Henry scoffed. "I will send in your directory to the tablet in the taxi's dashboard and I will find out what it is about you." He snapped and walked away.

Arthur watched him enter the building. He stood there for almost a minute, then he shrugged and got into the taxi.

[Task

completed]

[Gift >>> 20,000 USD credited into your bank account]

[New level unlocked]

[New Rank >>> Mid-level pauper]

[Ego increased by 5% >>> 40%]

Amidst all the droning of the system, at the back of Arthur's mind, he knew he had a new enemy in Henry.