The Billionaire Pauper

CHAPTER 10

YOUR WORKS OR A MERE COINCIDENCE

The manager's phone began ringing.

Everybody turned their attention to him. He smiled sheepishly and took out the phone from his suit

He glanced at the screen and it was an incoming call from the man who had given him the contract as the manager of the delivery company. He was the caretaker of the company.

The manager let out a broad smile.

He knew the caller was about to announce his contract extension

The manager answered the call and placed it to his ear.

“ Hello good day sir” he greeted the caller.

“ Good day manager, I have news for you, '' the caller said in a hoarse voice.

“ I'm all ears sir” he said with a grin maintaining his smile.

“ Well I'm sorry to tell you this but we can't renew our contract with you as the manager of the company anymore.

Your contract has been terminated and you are no longer the manager with immediate effect. You should go take all your belongings from the office

” the caller said and the line went dead.

The manager's face changed.

On seeing the line go off, he quickly smiled.

He did not want the guests, especially Reuben, to know that he had lost his job.

He knew that would make him the loser and Reuben had the upper hand.

Now that he has lost his job.

He was going to be miserable and useless in the city.

If the guests found out he had been fired, he would lose his status quo and favor from Grandma. Worse still, the respect he gained from everybody would be trashed.

He would be a nobody and probably would be banned from gatherings like this where only high class people could attend.

He there made up his mind to play it cool and keep the news ro himself: at least, for the meantime.

He quickly forced out a loud smile.

“ My contract as the manager of the delivery company has been extended. I still remain the manager of the company and guess what, my status has been raised. I'm going to handle a larger portion now than before ``.He said smiling.

The guests on hearing this took turns in congratulating him on retaining his job and even holding more portion of the office.

“ Now you thought I was going to lose my job right, you loser. ” He said pointing at Reuben.

Reuben smirked and let out a laugh.

He knew for sure the manager was lying to the guests.

“ A while ago, this pauper here was making empty threats that I was going to lose my job.

Now look, you have shamed yourself. ”The manager said and burst out in a hilarious laughter.

His laughter sparked more laughter from the crowd.

Only Reuben was not laughing or smiling.

He waited for the laughter to die down and he spoke.

“ I know you are lying and you know that. The call that came was to announce to you that your contract had been terminated and you are fired with immediate effect.” Reuben said with much chagrin and a serious face.

The manager's countenance suddenly changed.

He was shaking within.

He wondered how Reuben had come to know about his call when nobody heard anything from it.

“ Is this guy some sort of deity or what?

How did he come to know of this call? ” he questioned himself within.

He maintained his smiley face and tried as much as possible to debunk what Reuben had just dropped.

Everyone went mute as soon as Reuben dropped the bombshell.

They looked at each other's faces.

“ Hey! That's a lie you know. I have retained my position, you bloody liar.” the manager said pointing out an accusing finger at Reuben

Reuben grinned.

“ Then can you explain why the caller dropped the call before you had time to talk?

Why did you stop smiling after the caller started speaking?

I know you are afraid you are going to lose respect if anyone finds out you are now the loser” Reuben dropped on more fuel.

“ eermm… my mood never changed. The call cut because I did… well it might be because of network issues… how does I even concern you. ” the manager fumbled to find an answer

“ Why are you stammering, If you were still in charge your presence would have been needed at the office immediately. You would have gone to sign the documents for the contract extension and expansion.

Then why didn't they require your presence” Reuben questioned the manager authoritatively

“ I'm not supposed to sign anything again

… Well yes I would go to the office… .ermm I mean the documents would be delivered to my house… no .. errm I mean I will do that via email. " The manager stammered out an answer again.

Reuben smiled. He knew he had gotten the manager in the corner he wanted. He had been able to uncover the manager's lies.

The guests began to get suspicious of the manager's words.

“ Why don't you explain to is what the call really entailed Mr manager?.” Reuben said in a mocking tone.

The manager gave up .

He knew he had been busted; he could not pretend anymore. Reuben had blown his secret and there was no need covering up again

He just had to accept defeat

However, The manager got furious.

He wondered why a mere man like Reuben would question him like that .

He fumed at him.

“ Will you shut up and mind your business you moron. What right do you have to question me that way?

Yes my contract was not extended so what

The caretaker decided to terminate and yes the call was to inform me that I'm no longer the manager and how does it concern you.

After all you were not attributed to it in any way and you were not the one who caused my dismissal ao what is there to be pompous about huh”

the manager yelled at Reuben with all his might.

Everybody in the room looked puzzled.

The manager had just admitted he had been fired.

So what was it when he said he was rather promoted.

There was murmur within the guests.

If Reuben had told the manager he would be fired.

And the manager was fired right here.

The manager lied but Reuben had uncovered it.

Then it surely meant one thing.

Reuben had something to do with this whole drama.

He knew about the manager's dismissal

This was not just a mere coincidence that this happened