The Kids Made Me A Billionaire; The Cashback System

The AC in the conference room wasn't working. But Mr. Davis's office had its own private one.

That pretty much summed up my life.

"Okay, team, let's start the monthly review," Davis said, loosening his $10 tie like he was a billionaire. He never looked at me. He never needed to. I was the invisible guy in the corner. The guy who fixed the printer, who stayed late, who got paid late.

"Great news. Mark closed the Henderson deal. $50,000 commission. That's how business is done."

Applause. Mark stood up - tall, gelled hair, watch that probably cost more than my entire year salary. And next to him, clinging to his arm like a trophy, was Sarah. My ex-girlfriend of 3 years. The one who told me last month, "I can't keep struggling with you. Mark has a future. You... you just have bills."

She saw me looking. She didn't even flinch. She just leaned in and whispered to Mark, "That's him. My ex."

Mark looked at me and gave me that pity smile rich guys give poor guys. "Oh, you're... yeah. Sarah told me about you. Hang in there, buddy."

Davis loved it. "Speaking of hanging in there, let's talk about performance. Some people here," his eyes finally landed on me, "have been with us for two years and have brought in ZERO major clients. Zero. Why? Because clients can smell desperation. They can smell poverty."

More laughter. I could feel my face burning. I stared at my old, scuffed shoes. My suit was from college. My phone screen was cracked.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. Probably my landlord. Again.

I ignored it.

"Maybe if he spent less time being broke and more time working," Sarah added, and Davis laughed so hard his belly shook.

"We're thinking of cutting dead weight this quarter," Davis said directly to me now. "Unless you can show us something impressive tomorrow. Mandatory meeting, 9 AM. Bring ideas. Or don't bother coming at all."

My phone vibrated again. And again. And again. Non-stop buzzing. Angry, I pulled it out under the table to put it on silent.

It wasn't my landlord.

My screen was pure white. Gold letters were writing themselves across it, like someone was typing in real time.

[INFINITE CASHBACK SYSTEM DETECTED HOST: MAXIMUM HUMILIATION LEVEL REACHED]

[BINDING... 100% SUCCESSFUL]

[WELCOME, HOST. FROM NOW ON, THE MORE YOU SPEND, THE MORE YOU EARN.]

I blinked. I must be hallucinating from heat and shame.

[Rule 1: Every $1 you spend returns $100]

[Rule 2: Every $1 you spend on your CHILDREN returns $200 + SPECIAL REWARDS]

[Rule 3: There is no limit. The system has only just begun.]

[FIRST MISSION: Your 4 children arrive tomorrow for their holiday. Current Balance: $212.73. Make them proud.]

Before I could process it, my normal email popped up over it. From my sister.

Subject: YOUR KIDS!!!

"Bro! They are on the bus now! 10yo Lily, 8yo Grace, 6yo Tom, 5yo little Ben. They all packed their small bags themselves. Ben keeps asking 'Is Daddy's house big?' Lily says she made you a card that says 'Best Daddy In The World.' They will arrive 9 AM TOMORROW. I know money is tight, just give them love. Love you."

9 AM tomorrow. Same time as the meeting where Davis was going to fire me.

Four kids. Coming to see a father who couldn't even afford AC. A father who just got called useless in front of his ex.

Something inside me snapped. In a cold, quiet way.

Davis was still talking. "Do you have anything to say? Any brilliant idea to save your job?"

The room turned to me. Sarah was already filming on her phone, ready to send my failure to her friends.

I stood up slowly. I put my cracked phone in my pocket. My hands weren't shaking anymore.

"Yeah," I said. "I have something to say."

I looked at Davis. "You said I don't understand business because I have no money."

I looked at Mark and Sarah. "And you said I'll always be nothing."

I walked to the door.

"Tomorrow, 9 AM, you wanted me to bring something impressive?"

I opened the door and smiled for the first time in months.

"I'll bring my kids. And I'll show you what a rich man looks like."

I left them all staring, confused.

Outside in the hallway, I pulled out my phone. $212.73.

I opened the food delivery app and spent $45 on four large pizzas, four milkshakes, and a mountain of toys for delivery tomorrow morning.

As soon as I clicked PAY, the System exploded.

[DING! SPENT $45.00 ON CHILDREN]

[CASHBACK 200x ACTIVATED!]

[REWARD: $9,000.00 DEPOSITED]

[BONUS REWARD UNLOCKED: 1 NIGHT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE - THE GRAND PALACE HOTEL (Value: $12,000)]

My bank alert came in a second later.

Balance: $9,167.73

I almost dropped the phone.

It was real.

Tomorrow, my four kids were coming for the holiday.

And I was about to become a billionaire because of them.

TO BE CONTINUED....