Act - 40: "New Wheels"

I decided to reward my top performers, Lars and Ray, with a trip to the car dealership. As we headed there, Nora and Mia tagged along, filling the car with their usual banter.

"You thing you'll actually get something decent?" Nora teased, nudging Lars in the backseat.

Lars smirked. "As long as Dio's paying, I'm not worried."

"Hey, don't bankrupt the man," Mia laughed, turning to me with a wink. "We still need him to run Nova Enterprise."

"Yeah, yeah. Just don't get too excited," I chuckled. "We're here for quality, not to empty my bank account."

We pulled up to the dealership, a sleek building with an impressive array of cars on display. As we stepped inside, the cool air-conditioning hit us, contrasting sharply with the summer heat outside.

A tall brunette with glasses approached us, her demeanor professional and polite. "Welcome to AutoMax. How can I assist you today?"

Before I could respond, a guy, likely in his late twenties, walked over, eyeing us skeptically. "Are you kids lost? This isn't a playground."

I could see the girl cringe slightly at her colleague's rudeness, but she maintained her composure. "I'm Maria," she said, ignoring his comment. "What kind of car are you looking for?"

Lars stepped forward, trying to sound serious. "Something sporty, but not too flashy. We've got a budget."

The guy scoffed, looking us over with a sneer. "You can afford a car like this? Good luck, Maria. Kids don't buy cars."

I smirked, stepping forward. "Actually, I want to look at something faster. How about a car worth 200k?"

The rude seller's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise with a mocking smile. "Oh, really? You think you can handle that?"

I met his gaze steadily. "Why don't you show us and find out?"

Maria's eyes lit up with excitement. "Right this way," she said, leading us to a section of luxury sports cars.

The rude seller trailed behind, clearly interested in seeing how this would play out. Maria stopped in front of a sleek, black sports car. "This is the Viper GT200," she began. "It has a top speed of 220 mph, a V10 engine, and a stunning interior with all the latest tech."

I nodded, impressed. "Tell me more about the performance."

Maria launched into a detailed explanation, her knowledge and passion for the car evident. "The Viper GT200 offers exceptional handling, thanks to its advanced suspension system. It's designed for both speed and comfort, making it perfect for long drives or a quick race."

Lars and Ray exchanged looks. "This is exactly what we're looking for," Lars said.

"Yeah, Maria's pitch is spot on," Ray added.

I turned to Maria. "We'll buy three cars today if you quit your job and work for me."

Maria looked taken aback, glancing nervously at the rude seller. "I... I don't know. This is a big decision."

Lars and Ray chimed in. "With your skills, Maria, you'll be a millionaire in two months with Dio's guidance," Lars said, pulling out his phone and showing her his paycheck. "This is just my first month. 254k."

Maria's eyes widened in shock. "How is that possible?"

"It's because Dio knows how to run a business," Ray said confidently. "You won't regret it, Maria."

The rude seller looked like he had swallowed a lemon, unable to mask his disbelief and irritation. He tried to butter me up, stepping forward with a forced smile. "I apologize if I seemed rude earlier. How about I show you some more models myself?"

Lars and Ray both bristled at his sudden change in attitude. "Back off," Lars said sharply. "Maria's got this."

Ray nodded in agreement. "You were rude to us from the start. Let Maria handle it."

The manager, having overheard the commotion, stepped in. "That's enough. Let Maria do her job."

The rude seller looked frustrated but stepped back, muttering under his breath.

I turned back to Maria, who was still processing everything. "I'll give you my business card," I said, handing it to her. "Call me by the end of the day with your decision."

Ray then asked, "Do you have this car in red?"

Lars chimed in, "I want mine in yellow!"

Maria smiled, the tension easing. "We have both colors available. Let me show you."

We arrived at my place, the smell of freshly baked cookies welcoming us as we stepped into the living room. Mom had prepared snacks and drinks, setting them on the coffee table. The atmosphere was cozy and relaxed.

Nora settled into one of the armchairs and turned to Lars with a curious look. "So, Lars, how is it working at Nova Enterprise?"

Lars grinned, taking a sip of his soda. "It's exciting and fun. Convincing people to spend money on problem-solving solutions is great, but the best part is working with my bro, Dio. I've learned more in one month at Nova Enterprise than I ever did in school. I became the top salesman thanks to Dio helping me every day. He taught me how to reset my mind, use the right words, and perfect my tone. It's exhilarating."

Ray nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Dio is a genius. He leads us himself and should be the CEO. No offense to Onio, but Dio's guidance is what makes Nova Enterprise so fun and educational."

Nora smiled, clearly intrigued by their enthusiasm. I noticed she seemed eager to ask something more, a curious glint in her eye. Using my Analyze skill, I decided to pry a bit into what she might be thinking.

Nora's Info:

Name: Nora Williams

Age: 16

Strength: 15

Agility: 20

Intelligence: 22

Charm: 25

Occupation: Student

Interests: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Social Media

Current Emotion: Super Stressed Out

Thoughts: "I really need a job to support my sick mom. My alcoholic father is getting worse, and I want to move out to protect myself and my mother. Should I muster the courage to ask Dio for a job?"

Seeing her information, I felt a surge of anger, but quickly regained my composure. I relaxed my tone and spoke gently. "Actually, Mia and Nora, we need more employees to help out. We're looking for an extra pair of hands to assist Evelyn since we're about to expand. If you both are interested, of course."

Nora and Mia exchanged joyful glances, then Nora hugged me tightly showing how happy she was bout this opportunity. Nora became shy when she noticed my happy smile.

Mia playfully hit me on the arm. "Leave Nora alone, pervert Dio!"

We all laughed, and the tension in the room melted away. Mom walked in with a tray of fresh cookies, smiling at the lively conversation. "Looks like Nova Enterprise is growing," she said, setting the tray down. "I'm proud of you, Dio."

"Thanks, Mom," I replied, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "We're just getting started."

As night fell and everyone left, I received a call from an unknown number just as I was about to go to bed.

"Hello, is this Dio?" a familiar voice asked. It was Maria.

"Hey, Maria," I replied, sitting up straighter. "What's on your mind?"

She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I've been thinking about your offer. Can you tell me more about the salary?"

I explained, "It's a 20k base salary, plus 1k per sale in commission. With your skills, you could earn quite a large sum."

There was a brief pause on the line before Maria replied, "Alright, I'm in. I'll join Nova Enterprise."

A smile spread across my face. "Great to have you on board, Maria. Welcome to Nova Enterprise. I'll see you on Monday at 9:00 AM sharp."

Maria sounded relieved and excited. "Thank you, Dio. I'll see you then."

"Looking forward to it," I said warmly before ending the call.

Turning off the light in my room, a surge of excitement pulsed through me. The future of my company was taking shape, and with each new addition to the team, our potential grew. Yet, beneath the anticipation lay a hint of suspense, leaving me eager for what lay ahead. Tomorrow promised new challenges and victories, and as I closed my eyes, the air was thick with the promise of a brighter future for Nova Enterprise.

Dio Stat's Info:

Lvl: 14

Skill Count: 2 (Key selling point analyze)(Analyze)

Strength:35

Agility:24

Intelligence:23

Endurance:21

Charm:23

Dio influence, power & riches:

Money - 5.2millions kroner + 500k salary - 600k on cars = 5.1million kroner. 

Associate - 6

Asset - 0

Digital Asset - 250 BTC

Goons - 10

Car - 1

Guard - 0

Employers -15

Company - 1