The Almighty Tom Sullivan

Chapter 003

Tom did not bat an eyelid as he regarded the mocking faces surrounding him. Sharper eyes told of a man that was different from the one they had all belittled.

Delilah snorted, looking at him with a smirk. "So you remember who you are but what good is it when you still are a poor man? You don't belong here Tom, not with such a pathetic Level.

Tom exhaled and let her words bounce right off him as if it would take a lot to ruffle his feathers. He turned away from Delilah and toward Lisa's grandfather with a respectful tone.

"Happy birthday, sir," he said, clear, strong, controlled, silencing the murmurs around them.

Delilah's face scrunched in frustration; he wouldn't take her insults and dish them back.

The silence had dragged out, and Lisa's grandfather-who was watching the scene before him with narrow eyes-finally raised his hand.

"Enough," he said outright-the tone silencing the room. "Everybody, be seated. I have something to say."

The guests scurried for their places, leaving Tom and Lisa in the center of the room, all alone. Her grandfather remained upon them; his face hard.

“You two, stand,” he ordered, gesturing sharply. “And don’t even think about sitting until I’m done.”

Tom and Lisa exchanged a quick glance but obeyed, standing quietly as the guests settled.

Once everyone was seated, her grandfather began, his voice loud across the room.

I have promised," he said, looking coldly into the crowd, "today, on the occasion of my seventy-fifth birthday, I will step away from the CEO position of the company. From today, my position will be open."

A gentle murmur ran across their guests, excitement sparkling within some faces. Lisa's grandfather silenced them, though, with one piercing look.

"I have spent years building this company," he continued. "And I want someone strong, capable, and committed to take over. I will not hand it to just anybody. Only he who proves himself worthy shall take the post."

Lisa's grandfather let his words hang in the air, and his eyes dared each person in the room. "The role of CEO will go to whoever proves himself worthy," he said again, the interest of any person targeted.

But everyone knew exactly what he meant by "worthy." It wasn't related to the skill or experience of someone; it had to do with money.

"Interested persons should buy a form," he called out, lingering for effect. "The price is $500,000.

A murmur swept the room; that was one high price to pay just to enter the contest. People in doubt looked at each other as whisperings filled the room.

For a moment no one did anything, except for Delilah getting up from her seat, and an irritating smug glance into the faces around the room.

“Five hundred thousand,” she declared, raising her chin with a proud smirk. “I’ll take the form.” She cast a quick glance at Lisa, her eyes glinting with triumph.

She whispered to herself, “My last divorce worked out well. That actor paid enough for me to make this little investment.”

A faint smile tugged at the lips of Lisa's grandfather. He nodded, seeming pleased that at least one person was stepping up. Delilah looked around, satisfied she had already won. After all, who could afford to outbid her?

Lisa's eyes fell, and that familiar helpless pinch pulled inside. She wanted to compete, stand up, and show them she could, but $500,000 was so far beyond her reach. She didn't have even $50,000, let alone half a million. She looked sideways at Tom, hoping he would not feel ashamed for her.

But Tom wasn't looking at anyone else. His eyes were on her, soft but serious.

Then suddenly he straightened, stepped forward, his voice slicing through the silence.

"One million dollars."

The room went dead silent. Heads turned; wide eyes stared as each brain worked to process what they'd just heard.

Delilah burst out laughing suddenly. The sound cut through the silent air. "One million dollars?" She looked Tom up and down, the smirk on her face growing larger. "Where do you think you'll get that kind of money, Tom? It seems one's memory is still jammed when one thinks he can afford that.

A few of the guests exchanged glances, some of them snickering softly, but Tom didn't bat an eyelid. He didn't turn to Delilah. His eyes remained on Lisa's grandfather, who stared at Tom looking confused.

The old man's gaze turned to Lisa. "Why doesn't Lisa speak for herself?" his voice was razor-like.

Lisa felt embarrassed. She looked toward Tom, who nodded. But her mind pounded with worry. One million dollars was no trifling sum. She had never had that amount of money; she could barely imagine what it looked like.

She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders to face her grandfather. "Yes," she said, "I want to go for the CEO position.

Lisa's grandfather nodded, his face hardening as he looked down at her. "I'll give you a chance, Lisa. But you'll need to prove you're competent enough for the role."

He paused, letting the tension settle over.

"There's a debt owed to our company by a group called the Bigsharks," he continued.

A murmur swept across the guests, for it was common knowledge that Bigsharks were no ordinary group but a dangerous mafia well-entrenched in brutal activities. And collecting from them wasn't any form of collection duty but simply a death sentence.

"If you can collect the money they owe us," said her grandfather, "then you may be qualified to contest for the CEO position.

Lisa felt her blood run cold. Her mind raced as she thought of everything she’d heard about the Bigsharks. No one dared to cross them, let alone demand money from them. Her mother’s face felt disturbed, and she quickly shook her head, pulling Lisa closer.

“Lisa, don’t do this,” her mother whispered urgently. “This is madness. You’ll be risking your life!”

Lisa’s heart pounded as she glanced around the room.

She felt like her grandfather was setting her up for failure.

Then she turned to Tom. "I'll be with you, Lisa. I won't let anything happen to you. Think of me as your guardian angel."

Lisa took a deep breath and turned to her grandfather, looking him in the eyes.

"Yes," she said firmly.