The Unbreakable Rise of Raymond Stone

Chapter 3: The New Owner

Raymond left the cafe in a daze. He walked without direction, his mind spinning with the implications of what the system had just done. He owned forty percent of Sterling Industries. That meant he was now one of the most powerful people in the company.

That meant Derek was no longer in a position to threaten him.

The system's voice continued to speak in his mind throughout the day, explaining how it had purchased the shares. It had done so through a shell company, using a fake name. To the world, Raymond Stone was still a janitor. But behind the scenes, he was now a major shareholder in one of the city's largest corporations.

Raymond's phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number. He answered cautiously.

"Hello?" he said.

"Is this Raymond Stone?" a woman's voice asked. She sounded professional and serious.

"Yes, this is he."

"This is Margaret Sullivan, the CEO of Sterling Industries. I am calling to inform you that you have become a significant shareholder in our company. Congratulations. I would like to meet with you tomorrow morning to discuss the terms of your investment and how you would like to proceed."

Raymond's heart jumped into his throat. "How did you find out about this so quickly?"

"Our accountants noticed the wire transfer immediately," Margaret explained. "We have procedures in place for large transactions. When an investor buys forty percent of our company, we need to know who they are."

"I understand," Raymond said carefully. "What time tomorrow?"

"Nine AM. My office. Come alone, and please do not tell anyone about this yet. We need to handle this situation carefully."

After hanging up, Raymond sat on a bench in the city park and tried to process what was happening. The system had turned him into a billionaire and a major shareholder in Sterling Industries all in the span of twenty-four hours. His life had completely transformed.

But with power came responsibility. And with responsibility came danger.

He opened the app that the system had created for him. It showed his new status:

[Name: Raymond Stone]

[Level: 2]

[Strength: 35 (Average)]

[Intelligence: 55 (Above Average)]

[Charisma: 40 (Average)]

[System Points: 1000]

[Wealth: 48,000,000,000 USD]

[Ownership: Sterling Industries 40%]

[Mission Progress: 15% Complete]

[Secondary Mission Progress: 5% Complete]

Below this, there was a new section: [Available Skills to Purchase]

Raymond scrolled through the list. He could buy skills like "Business Acumen," "Negotiation Mastery," "Charisma Boost," and dozens of others. Each skill had a cost in system points.

[Host,] the system spoke. [I recommend purchasing "Charisma Boost" for 500 points. This will help you present yourself as a confident and persuasive leader when you meet with CEO Sullivan.]

Raymond purchased the skill. Immediately, he felt different. His thoughts became clearer, his confidence stronger. When he looked at his reflection in his phone, he could see the change. His posture was straighter, his eyes were brighter, and there was an air of authority about him that had not been there before.

The next morning, Raymond dressed in the best clothes he could find in his closet, which were not very good. He realized he would need to go shopping before his meeting. The system had money, but Raymond still thought like a poor man. He had to change that mindset.

He walked into an expensive men's clothing store downtown. A salesman approached him, sizing him up with a quick glance. The salesman was about to walk away when Raymond caught his eye with his new charisma skill.

"I need three complete business suits, the finest you have. I need them today," Raymond said with quiet authority.

The salesman's attitude changed immediately. "Of course, sir. Right this way."

Two hours later, Raymond walked out of the store wearing a perfectly tailored navy suit. He looked like a man of wealth and power, because now he was.

He arrived at Sterling Industries at eight forty-five AM. The security guard at the front desk almost did not recognize him. When Raymond told him he had an appointment with Margaret Sullivan, the guard's eyes widened.

"Of course, Mr. Stone. Please go right up. Executive floor. The elevator is to your left."

As Raymond rode the elevator to the top floor, he reflected on how much his life had changed in just twenty-four hours. Yesterday, he had been invisible. Today, security was ushering him to the executive floor.

Margaret Sullivan's office was exactly what Raymond expected. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire city, expensive furniture, and art on the walls that probably cost more than most people earned in a year.

Margaret stood to greet him. She was a tall woman in her fifties, with gray hair and sharp eyes that reminded Raymond of Sofia.

"Mr. Stone," she said, extending her hand. "Welcome to the executive level. Please, sit down."

They sat across from each other at her desk. Margaret had a folder open in front of her.

"I have been running this company for fifteen years," Margaret said. "In that time, I have never seen a single share purchase like the one you made yesterday. Forty percent is a controlling interest. Which means you can influence major decisions about how this company operates."

"What exactly do you want from me?" Raymond asked, using his charisma skill to project calm confidence.

"I want to know who you really are," Margaret said bluntly. "I want to know how a man who worked as a janitor in my building yesterday suddenly has the money to buy forty percent of my company."

Raymond had prepared for this moment. The system had given him a backstory to use.

"I inherited money from a relative I did not know existed," Raymond said. "The inheritance was quite substantial. I invested it in Sterling Industries because I believe in the company's future. I also believe in its leadership," he added, earning a slight smile from Margaret.

"That is quite a story," Margaret said. "But I am going to need documentation. Proof of this inheritance."

"You will have it," Raymond promised. The system would create the documents. It had already done so in his mind's eye. "But I have a condition. I want to be on the board of directors. I want to have a say in how this company operates."

Margaret leaned back in her chair. "That is a significant request. But as a forty percent shareholder, you have earned that right. I will arrange a board meeting for next week. You will be introduced as our newest director."

"There is one more thing," Raymond said. "I want Derek Martinez removed from his position. Immediately."

Margaret's eyes narrowed. "That is an interesting demand. May I ask why?"

"He assaulted me yesterday," Raymond said simply. "I have a witness. Your new executive, Sofia Chen, saw the entire thing and recorded it. I could take this to the police, or we could handle it internally by removing him from his position."

Margaret's jaw clenched. She clearly wanted to argue, but she knew Raymond was right. "I will have him terminated by the end of the day. But I want to keep this quiet. We do not need a scandal."

"Agreed," Raymond said.

As Raymond left Margaret's office, a message appeared in his status window:

[Secondary Mission Progress: 35% Complete]

[New Secondary Mission Unlocked: Earn the trust and respect of Sofia Chen]

Raymond smiled. The system understood something he was only beginning to realize himself. Sofia was not just a beautiful woman. She was someone special. Someone who had seen through the illusion of his poverty and recognized the strength beneath it.

What would Derek do when he found out he had been fired? And what would Sofia think when she discovered that Raymond was now a member of the company's board of directors?