Xander System And The Blitz

11...Just one mistake...

Theo had called the owner of the store, Mrs Caldwell, and told her about a 'little boy' who wants to buy the store.

"So?" Alec asked for update after the phone call.

Theo smirked "Mrs Caldwell is not interested in selling," He lifted a finger. "Unless the buyer is willing to pay something around....nine hundred million dollars"

"Tell her I'll pay one billion"

"What?!" Chad and his friends exclaimed.

Jeremy choked on air.

Mia looked like she wanted to pass out.

And Theo looked like he was going to pee in his pants from shock. "One....one billion?" He stuttered.

"Yes. One billion," Alec confirmed. "Tell her....now!" he ordered.

Theo quickly got back to Mrs Caldwell on the phone to inform her about the new price and after a few seconds of conversation, Alec asked him.

"What did she say?"

"Her lawyer will be here shortly" He grumbled.

He studied Alec, who remained relaxed, his confident posture unwavering all through.

"Chad..." Theo called his cousin aside. "Isn't this boy the same one you told me about before? Like the annoying poor guy?"

"He is."

"Then how can he just talk about buying an expensive store like he's buying a fucking candy"

Chad huffed. "He can't even afford a candy in this place."

"Exactly!" Theo agreed. "Even I can't buy this place just like that."

Chad turned his eyes to Alec and saw how he was taking his time to check out the store. "Ugghh, this boy is getting on my nerves, maybe I should just buy this place and show him who is superior."

"He's getting on my nerves too," Theo muttered. "But we need to be careful. You think I don't have enough money to make him bow?"

Chad raised his brow. "You have a billion dollars in your account?"

"Not a billion dollars but—"

"Of course it's not a billion dollars because last I checked I had more money than you" Chad mumbled with a side smile.

"Are we talking about your money, or what to do with Alec?" Theo asked roughly, getting annoyed with his cousin.

Chad glanced at Alec, then looked back at his cousin. "Okay, okay. Let's talk about Alec."

Theo glared at Alec, then his glare slowly twisted into a leer. "I have a plan."

***

Minutes later, a man dressed in a clean, smart suit arrived, holding a briefcase in his right hand.

"Mr Reed" Theo greeted him respectfully, shaking hands with him.

"The person interested in buying this place?" Mr Reed asked, getting straight to business. "I want to see him."

"Oh, he's here" Jeremy quickly answered, gesturing toward Alec.

"Oh?" Mr Reed was surprised to see it was indeed a very young man, but he quickly masked his expression with a small smile. "I am Mr Reed, Mrs Caldwell's lawyer."

"And this is Alec," Theo introduced with a sly smile. "He said he would buy this place at 1.3 billion dollars" He lied.

"Yes," Chad quickly added. "Before you arrived, he boasted about paying 1.3 billion dollars to get this store."

Jeremy frowned. "No, he didn't—"

"He did," Theo cut him off. "And if he doesn't pay the 1.3 billion dollars, then he is going to get arrested for playing a huge prank on us all"

"You're lying!" Jeremy shouted. "Don't listen to them, Mr. Reed, they are trying to frame Alec!"

"No one is framing anyone here, Jeremy," Chad said. "I know you're worried about your poor little friend, but let's be real, he can't even pay a hundred thousand dollars, or a million, not to mention one point three billion" He faked a kind smile. "Right, Alec?"

Jeremy glared at them. "No, stop it, you—"

"I'll pay 1.4 billion dollars" Alec announced calmly.

Jeremy froze.

Chad held on to the shoulder of one of his guys for support.

Theo almost collapsed.

The lawyer? The lawyer simply smiled, still trying not to show how impressed he was by Alec's financial power. "Alec, right?"

"Yes"

"You are sure about this?" He asked gently.

"I am sure"

"Mrs. Caldwell is on her way here, and I am going to tell her about this new information. So let me get your confirmation straight one more time" The lawyer explained, all gentle and expressionless. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes. I'm sure I want to" Alec confirmed.

Mr Reed couldn't hide his big smile this time. "Alright, let's begin the process, shall we?"

****

Jeremy jumped with joy, looking more excited than the guy who had just acquired a new property.

Yes. Alec bought the store.

He was excited too, very much excited than people could imagine but he was still trying to take everything all in at once. He felt like he was going to burst.

[SYSTEM ALERT]

The screen appeared in front of him, displaying some information which was no doubt about the money he had just spent.

"Alexander Todd, your transaction has been confirmed.

Total amount spent: One billion, three million dollars [ 1,300,000,000.00—"

"You did it!" Jeremy hit Alec's shoulder playfully, unaware of the system which was speaking at that moment.

Alec grinned.

He owned this place. This luxurious store.

Then the system continued "—the narration says—"

"Who gives a fuck about what the narration says?" Alec cursed, cutting the system off. "Look, can we do this later?" Alec managed to mumble to the system without getting attention. He sighed. "Just give me ten minutes, please."

The system acknowledged Alec's request and went off, allowing him to focus on the drama about to unfold.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen!" Jeremy clapped his hands. "I present to you, the new owner of this store...." He gestured dramatically toward Alec. "Alexander Todd!"

Chad and his friends looked like they were going to faint.

"And listen to this..." Jeremy captured attention easily. "He's the boss here now, so ya'll better listen to him"

"Theo..." Chad called in a sharp whisper, standing close to his side "Alec really bought this place?"

Theo sighed sadly, unable to speak.

"How's that even possible?" Chad asked no one in particular, staring at a smiling Alec.

"Congratulations, Mr Todd" Mia said with a small smile. She had stayed around to know what would happen at the end. She genuinely wished Alec would get the store and he did.

"Thanks Mia," Alec replied. For a second, he stared thoughtfully into space "Okay, Theo?"

"Y....yes, Alec" He stuttered.

"No, you say, 'yes boss'" Jeremy corrected.

Theo straightened his posture. "Yes, boss"

Alec wore a smile "You're fired."

"What?" Theo's eyes widened. "You...you can't fire me"

"Be respectful, geez," Jeremy faked a tired sigh. "You add 'sir' to your sentence whenever you're speaking to Alec. Have you forgotten he's the boss now?"

Alec chuckled at Jeremy's words, shaking his head.

"Please, sir, don't fire me" Theo begged.

"Theo, what are you doing?!" Chad scolded.

Theo ignored his cousin and pleaded again. "Please—"

"If that's the case," Alec turned to Mia "Are you interested in taking his previous position?"

Mia blinked repeatedly. "I...." She paused, her eyes turning glossy "Yes. Yes, I am interested" Her voice was almost whispery.

"Good, you are the new manager" Alec said.

"I don't know what to say" Mia whispered, trying not to let the tears her drop. Even after she has worked diligently in this store, accepting all the bad treatments without complaining, she never imagined a day would come when she'd become the manager of a luxurious store.

"And Theo?" Alec called, wearing a side smile. "You'll take Mia's previous position"

Jaws dropped. That was a demotion for Theo.

Alec started to walk away, then he turned back to ask Theo. "You don't mind that, do you?"

"I....I...." Theo stammered.

"Security!" Alec called loudly, not waiting for him to complete his sentence.

When the huge security men arrived, Alec pointed to Chad and his friends. "Throw them out."

They got to work immediately.

"Alec, you can't do that to us!" Chad screamed. "Do you know who my father is?!"

Alec and Jeremy rolled their eyes simultaneously.

"You'll pay for this!" Chad yelled as he was being dragged out. "I promise you!"

Jeremy watched them with a big grin on his face while Alec's focus shifted to something else.

The system. It beeped in his head.

"Wow, ten minutes already?" Alec mumbled.

"Yes" The system replied.

The familiar screen appeared in front of him, and just like before, it showed some information about how he had spent his money so far.

[SYSTEM ALERT]

"Alexander Todd, your transaction has been confirmed.

Total amount spent: One billion, three million dollars [ 1,300,000,000.00 (1.3 billion dollars)]"

[SYSTEM NARRATION]

"The narration says that one billion, three million dollars (1,300,000,000) has been deducted from your account for the acquisition of the luxurious store in Koach City."

[BALANCE FROM TWO BILLION DOLLARS]

$700, 000, 000.00 (Seven hundred million dollars)

[MISSION TIMER]

"Time left: 27:51:02

(Twenty–seven hours, fifty–three minutes and two seconds)"

"Wow" Alec whispered. With everything the system had typed out for him, the only thing he could mumble was "Seven hundred million dollars."

He had less than twenty eight hours to spend seven hundred million dollars.

The problem wasn't just about spending the money before the deadline, it was about spending it wisely. One mistake could ruin everything.

Just one mistake.

"Oh, God" He sighed.