The Fast Rising Billionaire

Need Your Help With Something

“I am calling for the sake of the business,” responded Christopher, thinking fast.  

“You had better be. Anyway, I am here to give you a task as requested by the higher ups,” responded Atis, frowning. 

“I'm listening,” said Christopher, setting the phone he had been holding down on the table. 

In the sales department, a hush ran through, and whispers began, overhearing the conversation between Christopher and Atis. 

“Your task is to settle the McIntyre account. If you succeed, you will be getting a promotion, and if you don't? Well, the company might decide that you are not worth the trouble of having around. ” 

The McIntyre account was one of the most complicated accounts available, and the company had been in meetings after lettings in attempts to close the account. Looking up at Atis' face, Christopher could spot the familiar condescending grin he had seen on his face.

Noting his apprehension, Atis' delivered the ultimatum, the smile on his face unflinching. “I will even give you a promotion if you don't. You can work from home on your own time forever, or pack your stuff and leave. Your choice.” 

As Christopher gulped down his saliva, a hush went over the entire sales department, as everyone overheard what was being said to Christopher.

Thinking back to his earlier conversation with his wife where she had told him to apply himself, he decided that the ultimatum was the perfect way for him to begin. 

Filling the silence, Christopher warned him, “If it looks like something you cannot handle, you can simply pack your things and leave, it's not like you will be missed–you haven't been the most useful member of the team.”

Murmurs in agreement rang out through the entire department as the insult sank in. 

“In case that might be too hard,” continued Atis, “you should sell 100 properties in less than 24 hours. Many of the other sales representatives can manage the work you do in that time. ” 

Christopher's head shit up in dismay–the challenge he was being issued was practically impossible, especially since the best the department had ever done, even with the aid of the best salesperson was 89 properties in a couple of weeks. 

Either way, his choices were very limited, and the goal he had been given was very underskirt. 

“But- selling a hundred properties in a day is impossible! That's an unrealistic goal!” exclaimed Christopher, pointing out the obvious.

The news spread like wildfire across the entire department, and murmurs began again as people heard the challenge, the buzz from their disbelief making them forget to bother with reducing their volumes. 

“That's quite impossible!”

“Especially for Christopher!”

“Why, I don't think he has sold a single property in a month now!” 

“He's dead weight, perhaps he should take the other offer and get a check and leave.” 

Walking away, Atis left Christopher with his mouth open. Around him, the murmurs around him grew, and with trembling hands, he picked up the phone and placed the call to the clients as he had been asked to by Laura. 

**

News of the ultimatum made its way across the entire building and to Laura's desk, and filled with despair, right after lunch, she made her way to Atis' office to have a conversation with him.

She was well aware that Christopher had not been the best salesperson of the department, but it was below her to watch as Atis made things difficult for him intentionally. 

Without bothering to knock, she pushed open the door and took a seat, waiting for Atis to finish with the call he was having. As he hung up the receiver, she jumped straight into her inquiry, her frown belying her irritation.

“Atis, don't you think you are being a little impractical? You are more than aware that the department had not been able to make more than 90 sales in two weeks. How do you expect Christopher to manage it in 24 hours? And the McIntyre account? What kind of options are you offering him? They make no sense.”

Not one to back down, Peter folded his arms over his chest and blinked at her slowly. “All I'm doing is proving to you and the rest of the office how useless he is. You should have gone out with me instead. None of the concerns you have brought to me hold any water. If you have nothing to say, please leave my office. Your husband, Christopher, is solely responsible for the decline of the sales department. 

In the last quarter he made only ten sales. It was because of that idiot that the sales department had become a laughing stock, and yet you are here arguing his case. What would you have me do? Keep him on? I've been telling you for some time now–leave the useless man and be with me. I might even find him a good place if you slept with me.”

Taken back, Laura's cheeks colored and she jumped to her feet, ashamed, and pushing the chair she had sat on behind her. Tense with frustration, she berated Atis, frowning. 

“With all due respect, Atis, I will not have you speaking of my husband that way in my presence. I am married!” 

She felt flustered, especially since she had been fielding away his advances for years, and he never seemed to take no for an answer.

In the shared office, the woman at the other desk piped up, echoing Peter's sentiments. “You must be just as much of a fool as your husband is.”

Smiling smugly at her, Atis continued, “By 9 o'clock tomorrow morning,” he paused, checking the time, “if your useless husband has not managed this feat, he will be kicked out, and you will be taken out along with the trash. 

Walking into the office just then was Rivera Smith, a junior executive of the Philly group. Shrinking away, Laura avoided his gaze in hopes he would not see her. With a history of harassing her, she was inside of what he would do if he spotted her. 

Unaware of the tension, Atis continued, “you know better than I could say, even without me saying anything, you are aware of your husband's incompetence.” 

“That Christopher bloke?” asked Rivera, laughing. Winded, he turned over to Laura, “Have dinner with me tomorrow evening, and we will figure out how to get you a promotion, or move on from this.”

Disgusted, Laura scoffed, her cheeks coloring. bright red. Annoyed, she walked out of the office and slammed the door shut to the sound of their laughs at the back.

Going over to find Christopher, she fumed at him, “Everything is falling apart because of you. Gods. Did I make a mistake by getting you this job?” 

Walking away, she left him with his jaw grinding. Vowing to himself, he decided he would protect her honor. He was the reason why she was getting harassed from all ends, and he felt terrible about it.

If only he could somehow fix all of this she could finally be free of all the ridicule that came because of him.

Just then, Rivera walked past his desk and paused with an evil smile. “I might as well just tell you, Christopher,” he laughed, “I have taken a fancy to your wife, and I plan to sleep with her. You can't stop me, since you can't compete.”

“You will do no such thing!” exclaimed Christopher, slapping his palms against his desk.

Laughing, Rivera stood unfazed. “Oh, but I will. All I have to do is wait for you to fail tomorrow.” Satisfied, he walked away, leaving Christopher with his red face.

Before Rivera was even completely out of earshot, Christopher picked up his phone and dialed the number that was on his speed dial. 

“Hello? It's Christopher. I need your help with something. Can we talk?”

Walking out of the office with the phone in the crook of his neck, he ignored all the stares that shamelessly followed him.