The Grand System

Chapter 6

CEO Douglass motioned Travis to enter his office and told the auctioneer to bring coffee

“I’m so honored to receive you to my office,” he said as they sat.

“Thank you,” Travis said

“This is my business card. Can I know where you are living?”

“I rented a house.”

“You rented a house? Wow! You are a rare being. You have a lot of money and didn’t show off. It isn't easy to live like that.”

“It’s not that hard. Somehow, I just wanted to know how living poorly would feel like, but now after working as a delivery boy for six years, had experienced what money can’t buy.”

“Wow! But you can’t take that car to that house because of low security. This is the right time to go back to your mansion.”

“I don’t have a house. I have already sold it.”

The CEO widened his eyes. “You are an unpredictable person. Would you like to meet my business partner, who is a real estate?”

“Sure!”

He dialed someone's number and asked him to come within thirty minutes.

The auctioneer entered with two cups of coffee. “Please have it?” The CEO sipped his coffee while Travis felt the urge to drown all the coffee at once because it was richer than the one he often drinks at the coffee shop, but he controlled his urge and sipped it twice.

“Thank you,” he said, sipping more. “Is this how you treat every customer in this company?”

“Yes, of course. All customers have every right to be treated special because they are.”

“But one of your workers disobeys the rule. She kicked me when I wanted to enter the hall and promised to beat me because I forced myself in.”

The CEO Douglass rose angrily. “Please take me to her. She must pay for the consequence.”

Travis took them to the security lady.

“Just tell me what he said about you is not true,” CEO Douglass roared at the lady.

She shivered but hid it. “I don’t understand, sir.”

“Why did you kick the customer?”

“I can’t do that.”

“Check the surveillance camera and you will see the truth,” Travis said.

“The camera here is not working anymore,” she said with her head bent.

“I make sure the engineer installs the cameras everywhere in my company. Why don’t you inform me or repair it when it spoils?”

[I repaired the surveillance camera when she kicked you]

Travis touched CEO Douglass and motioned him to look at the camera blinking. “She is an honest liar.”

CEO Douglass slapped her and asked other security to bring the laptop to see the recorded video.

They all watch the moment the lady kicks Travis and promises to beat him after he comes out of the hall.

The security lady kowtowed with tears falling from her eyes. “I’m so sorry, master. I’m trying to do my job well.”

“To disrespect customers?” The CEO Douglass roared.

“I’m so dumb to think he was a beggar.” She knelt and slapped herself. “Please, forgive me. I will never do this again.”

“I will punish you and you should not dare to come here again.” He told other security to beat her and they beat her till she fainted.

The real estate agent met them in the hall and showed Travis unique pictures of the mansion available.

“I choose this one. How much is it?”

“$1,234,000.”

Travis bought it and collected the mansion keys with the address.

[$1,234,000 is successfully withdrawn from your account]

[Your Account Balance: $766,000]

****

That night at the Mystique Peaks Hotel, Calvin brought out his wedding card and gave it to Abigail, who was waiting for the surprise he had for her.

“What is this?” Abigail stared at the name written on the card as if she hadn’t read it right the first time. “Please tell me this isn’t you.”

“It is not my fault. My father wanted me to marry her because she was the daughter of his business partner. I can’t just stand in his way.” He brought money out of his pocket and stretched it to her. “Take care of yourself. If you need more, just call me.”

“Are you joking?”

“I don't.”

“Take that fucking money off my face. You are trying to dump me after you have your way into my body.”

“Have already told you what happened? I love you so much and it hurt me to do this. But there is nothing I could do.”

The phone of Calvin rang, and Abigail swiftly grabbed the phone from him. It was ‘my angel’, calling him.

“You already named her the name you often call me and you want me to believe your father forced you to do this. Can anyone force you to do something?”

“You know what?” Calvin slapped her hard and took his phone from the floor. “You have no right to my phone while it’s ringing. Yes, there is nothing you can do if I dump you. I’m giving you this money because you taste good, but now you are sour.”

Calvin spat on her and walked into his car, driving away. He left her. And his absence made her think she was dreaming. The same hotel where she broke Travis’s heart was where Calvin shattered hers.

She rubbed her hair back, forcing a smile onto her face. A remedy to block tears as the pain was too much for her to bear.