Page 9 of Mr. Hotshot CEO

I step out of the elevator and walk purposefully along the corridor. A couple people look at me strangely and elbow each other.

Priya immediately jumps up when I walk into her office, which is connected to mine.

“Julian, you’re not supposed to be here.”

“I beg to differ. I’m the president and CEO, and it’s a workday.”

Raymond enters her office. “I heard you were in.”

Priya holds out her hand. “Ten dollars, please.”

He sighs and deposits a ten-dollar bill in her hand.

“We had a bet,” Priya explains to me. “I bet that you would show up at some point today, whereas Raymond thought you’d be able to make it a full day without coming into the office. But he was wrong.” She smiles triumphantly.

Just then, I hear movement on the other side of my office door.

“Priya, who did you let into my office? Nobody should be in there but you and Raymond, and you two are out here.”

The door opens. “Hello, Julian.”

It’s Vince.

“What the hell are you doing in my office?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Need to make sure things don’t crumble to dust in your absence.”

“I bet you’re flirting with my employees.”

He shrugs again, a smile on his face, then turns to Priya. “You owe me ten dollars.”

Priya hands over Raymond’s ten-dollar bill.

“What the hell?” I bellow. “I’m away for one day and this place turns into a gambling hall?”

“Just a friendly bet,” Vince explains. “Priya and I both knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away from the office today, but she thought you’d show up before noon. I, on the other hand, had a little more faith in you and trusted you wouldn’t show up until this afternoon. And now, you and I will vacate the premises.” He takes my arm and starts walking down the hall. Before we get on the elevator, he pulls out his phone and makes a call. “Hi, Mom... Yes, he did. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he has fun tonight... Uh-huh... Okay, talk to you later.”

Well, isn’t this just lovely.

“How did you fill the first half of your day?” he asks when we’re in the elevator.

“Television and—”

“It was Spanish television, wasn’t it? Even on your day off, you tried to be productive by teaching yourself Spanish.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“You need a hobby,” he says.

“Learning languages is a hobby.”

“You already speak five languages fluently. Isn’t that enough?”

“What do you want me to do? Crocheting? Woodworking? Birdwatching?”

“Or videogames.”

I frown. “That’s a waste of time.”