Chapter 42

Derek had Hector stop the car just outside the car dealership centre. He still didn't want people to know his real identity yet.

It was fortunate that Derek was in casual jeans, a t-shirt, sports shoes and wearing a blue cap. It was a really good disguise in his mind.

Derek went into the first showroom. The first impression he had was not a good one. No one bothered to greet him even though he was a customer there.

Derek decided to ignore the lack of customer service and took a look around. Soon, he saw an electric car that caught his eye.

An all electric Lotus Evija. A two seater black painted car with wing doors that face outwards and upwards, like Lamborghini doors.

Initially, Derek was set on purchasing that car; but the lack of customer service was now bothering him.

"Can I help you, Sir?" at last, a salesperson tended to him.

'About time.' thought Derek as he turned around to address the salesperson who greeted him.

"No way! Derek Smith?" said the salesperson.

"Hold on...I remember you. Angela Lindley." said Derek.

"Yes it's been some time. How have you been?" greeted Angela.

"I've been well. I heard what happened to you after I got fired from my previous job. This is where you've been?"

Angela and Derek were colleagues with Desmond and Wayne. At the time, Angela was not one of the main antagonists; she was just a follower of the masses.

"Oh man, don't get me started on that day. We've all suffered because of that a******. Truth be told, Derek. This job is not any better."

"How so?" asked Derek.

"Everyone here just looks down on me. They don't allow me to serve the rich. They just let me serve the window shoppers, if you know what I mean. Those people never buy anything; and we get paid by commission."

"I have been doing sales for over ten years. You know how well skilled I was back then. These people here are really poor at sales." said Angela.

"I remember. You were one of the best in that company. Keep your chin up. One day you'll strike gold." said Derek.

"Hey Angela! What are you doing?!?"

Angela's manager walked towards Derek and Angela, annoyed that Angela was chatting away.

Derek looked at the manager walking towards him and frowned. It was someone from his past again.

"Oh great....Elliot Granger." Derek muttered with sarcasm and exasperation.

"You actually work for this piece of sh**?" Derek asked Angela.

"Do you know him?" Angela asked.

"Sadly, yes." replied Derek.

Back in college, Elliot was the biggest bully in the faculty. His number one target was always Derek. Thanks to Elliot, Derek had to endure endless days of bullying.

"Well, who do we have here? If it isn't the trash loser from college, Derek 'douchebag' Smith." mocked Elliot as he approached Derek.

"I see that you are still the broke trash loser that I knew from back then. What is that you're wearing, stinking up this whole place? Haha." Elliot continued to attempt to humiliate Derek.

The customers in the ship noticed Derek and quietly made negative remarks about him.

Derek ignored then and continued frowning at Elliot.

"That's the level of customer service this shop offers. That's disappointing. If it weren't for that showpiece Lotus you have there, I wouldn't have stepped in, knowing you work here." Derek said sternly.

Elliot thought Derek was out of his mind. He couldn't take it in anymore and started laughing.

"Hahahahaha....oh man, that has to be the joke of the millennium...a broke trash loser like you? Buying this Lotus? I could die of laughter!!" Elliot laughed.

"Angela, get back to work....don't waste your time on this loser." ordered Elliot.

"So you think I can't afford it, eh Elliot? How about a wager?" said Derek.

"Derek, you don't have to do this." said Angela.

"Relax, Angela. I got this." replied Derek calmly.

"You heard him, Angela. He said he got this. So what's the wager? One dollar? Hahaha." Elliot laughed out loud.

"Nah...using money to wager is too old fashioned. How about Angela's job against yours?" replied Derek.

The showroom became quiet in an instant. Elliot's expression changed instantly.

"Jobs? You want to put Angela's job against mine? This is by far the easiest wager yet. I'm winning this." said Elliot, becoming serious.

"So you're in, then. Fine. It's a simple wager. If I can pay for that Lotus, you will resign from your job immediately on the spot. No questions asked." said Derek.

"You're on; but if you can't, then not only Angela here is fired on the spot, both of you will get on your hands and knees and crawl out of my showroom!" replied Elliot.

A united gasp could be heard around the room. Angela just went pale. Her job lies in the hands of her ex-colleague Derek.

"Angela. Trust me on this." said Derek.

"Ok, Derek. I trust you." replied Angela, still skeptical about Derek's confidence.

"You're on, Elliot. Everyone here can be our witness." said Derek.

"Yes. I will personally oversee this wager is carried out properly." a voice called from behind Elliot.

An older gentleman walked towards the scene. Angela told Derek, "That's our big boss, Mr Bradley."

"Mr Bradley, pleased to meet you. Let's raise the stakes a little bit, shall we?" said Derek as he shook Mr Bradley's hand.

"Very well, young man. Name it." replied Mr Bradley.

"Not only do I want to buy your showpiece Lotus Evija, I see that you have a hot red Rimac Nevera as your other showpiece. I want that too. How much are they worth?" asked Derek.

"Well, young man, I'll put it in a package for you. If you can afford both, I'll sell them to you for about $5 million. We'll get the paperwork done on the spot." replied Mr Bradley.

"$5 million is indeed a reasonable amount for both cars. I accept your offer. Make sure Angela here gets the commission." said Derek as he took out his black credit card and passed it to Angela.

"Angela, please charge the $5 million to my card. Thanks." said Derek.

Everyone watched as Angela nervously took Derek's card from him and went to the counter to do charge his card. Elliot was still smugly facing Derek, thinking it was all smoke and mirrors.

"I can't wait to see you crawl like a stray dog, you loser." said Elliot.

Derek just stood where he was and smirked at Elliot. He knew what was next.

Beep! Beep! The credit card machine could be heard printing out the charge form. That could only mean one thing.

Derek's card transaction went through! Unbelievable!

Angela stared wide eyed as the machine finished printing out the charge form. She just made her first deal, thanks to Derek.

Not only was it her first deal, it was a mega deal. From Derek's purchase alone, her commission was twenty percent. Angela just became a millionaire.

With a cheshire cat-like smile and sparkling eyes, Angela brought Derek's card and the charge form to Derek for him to sign, officially purchasing both electric supercars.

On the other side, Elliot's jaw dropped, his face went pale, he was sweating profusely and his entire body was shaking. Reality was setting in that he now had to resign from his job. He was now jobless.

"No....No....No! This can't be! You're just a broke loser! How? How can you afford these? It's impossible!!" Elliot shouted in denial.

"Well then, Elliot, a wager is a wager. You now have to resign on the spot. Don't forget that." reminded Derek.

The other customers were in agreement with Derek.

"Yeah, you lost your bet. Resign now!" the customers repeatedly said to Elliot.

"Young man, there's no need for that." Mr Bradley interjected.

Elliot sighed in relief, thinking Mr Bradley just saved his skin. Little did he know, that wasn't the case.

"You see young man, a small minded, arrogant, and talentless bootlicker like this piece of trash should not have the luxury of resigning. Allow me to say instead....Elliot! YOU'RE FIRED!" shouted Mr Bradley.

Elliot dropped to his hands and knees upon hearing Mr Bradley say that. It was too much for him to take. He started bawling loudly.

Mr Bradley however, was not done.

"Security! Take this piece of trash and throw him out of MY showroom. Drag him out if you have to. Angela, prepare the paperwork for this young man to sign." ordered Mr Bradley.

"Yes, boss." replied Angela as she went to prepare Derek's paperwork.

"Thank you Mr Bradley. You can call me Derek. Oh, I do have a request regarding my new cars." said Derek.

"What can we do for you, Derek? asked Mr Bradley.

"I'll drive off with the Rimac Nevera today. As for the Lotus Evija, can you deliver it to the Quinton Tower on Friday? I'll have a charging point ready by the time that reaches the building." requested Derek.

"We will do just that, Derek. Thank you for your purchase today." replied Mr Bradley as both men shook hands.

Moments later, Angela returned with papers for Derek to sign and Derek's new car keys to the Rimac Nevera.

Derek and Angela exchanged contacts with each other before Derek sat in the driver's seat of his brand new Rimac Nevera and drove off.

As Derek drove the Rimac out of the showroom, he saw Elliot kneeling on the pavement, in shock that he was now jobless.

"Hey Elliot! This is what happens when you look down on others. So....who's the loser now!" said Derek as he drove off while Elliot screamed after him like a maniac.