Just like that, the room became quiet again.Mr. Wallace and Marcus didn't know what Gray was thinking at the moment. However, they had no choice but to trust him on this one after agreeing to his words earlier.The clock on the wall ticked lowly amidst the silence.Gray leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the door. He was calm on the outside, but inside, he was feeling a sort of emotion.Thankfully, their wait wasn't long.Just under twenty minutes later, there was a soft knock at the door.Ms. Rivera opened it, and Claire stepped inside.She looked composed, but it was obvious how she rushed to come back. Sweat slid down her forehead, and her perfectly ironed clothes now had a few creases on them."Good afternoon again," she said politely, bowing slightly. "I hope I didn't make you wait for too long.""Not at all," Gray replied, standing. "Thank you for coming back."She nodded, but her eyes flicked subtly around the room, landing on the open folders on the table, then back

Outside the glass doors of the Davenport Building, the sky had turned dimmer as the sun began to dip below the horizon. A woman in heels stepped out from the building's polished entrance, her walk smooth and practiced. The woman carried herself with poise. She was smiling so widely as if the last thirty minutes had gone exactly the way she wanted. Her hair, which appeared to be slightly tousled from earlier, had already been fixed up again. It was Claire. She scanned the street briefly, then made her way toward a black sedan parked neatly at the side of the street where there was no one watching. The back passenger window lowered a few inches before she even reached it. The driver gave her a small nod. Claire slid into the back seat, gently pulling the door closed behind her. The moment the door clicked shut, her smile vanished. They were gone. Instantly. Her expression dropped back into something colder, and the pitiful expression in her eyes disappeared as she leaned into t

After a few more rounds of greetings, the atmosphere in the staff room began to relax again. Ben offered another awkward and thankful bow to the group. After that, Gray clapped him lightly on the back before telling everyone, "Alright, back to your posts, everyone. Don't let me get in the way of your work and break time." Everyone laughed because of it. The employees chuckled and jokingly groaned. However, despite that, they started moving. They stretched and drank some water to refresh themselves. Slowly, they walked out of the room, some giving Ben a polite nod or smile as they passed him. He returned each gesture the best he could, even if he still felt like his knees were made of jelly. As the last employee left the staff room, Gray gave Ben a reassuring glance. "You did well." Ben blinked. "Did I, Sir? I felt like I was going to faint," he muttered under his breath. Gray laughed. "That's normal. I was also like that, but don't worry. They're good people. You'll be fine."

Name: Gray AdamsAge: 20Status: Struggling (96%)Wealth: $50,984.92 (+$55,120)Power: 7Influence: 17Skills:Basic Negotiation (Passive): Slightly improves chances of earning more through bargains.Hard Labor (Active): Increases strength and endurance in physical work.Giga Confidence (Passive): You are no longer easily shaken by insults, mockery, or pressure. Instead, you find them amusing, as if it were just a big joke.Eye of the Beholder (Active): Allows the host to determine whether a person has good or bad intentions. Must be activated consciously. Using this skill drains the host's stamina. The longer it is used, the more exhausted the host becomes. ---Gray sat on the edge of his bed, his eyes quietly scanning the familiar system interface in front of him."It still says struggling, huh?" Gray muttered to himself.Still, the percentage was growing. That must have meant that it would change soon, once he reached a certain amount of money.It was because of the sudden jump in

A few days after Ben was hired, the situation in the grocery store had become even better.The employees looked better, there was harmony among them, and Ben, overall, was a good leader.It was to the point that Gray had barely any work, except to read some files, sign some important papers, and just observe.It made his work really, really light that for the first time in his life, he had enjoyed being a CEO."It's just been a few days since you were signed to your post, but the employees' performance has noticeably improved greatly."Inside the store's office, Gray leaned back on his swivel chair. A small grin tugged at his lips as he scanned the figures again on the report that he was holding. The paper crinkled a bit as he folded it and placed it on the table.Ben stood nearby, hands behind his back. His sleeves were rolled up, his shirt still neatly tucked despite the busy morning. He looked slightly shy, but proud nonetheless."I just followed what we talked about last time, Sir