"James, take off your watch for me. I'll exchange it for a roasted whole lamb. Every day, I’ve been eating instant noodles that make me sick."
My heart shook. This bastard really had his eyes on my watch.
"Don't you have one yourself? Why are you using mine?"
Otto was clearly furious at my words. He then stepped forward and grabbed my collar.
"This watch is my lucky charm. Since I wore it, I’ve always been blessed by good fortune. How can it compare with your lousy watch?"
I couldn’t help but slap his hand away.
"Just because it's your lucky charm, so what does that have to do with me? If you want the roasted lamb, exchange it for your own watch!"
As both Otto and I argued, Yvette and her men came over. She reached out her hand to me, her voice cold.
"Just give your watch!"
Yvette was the leader of our Foreign Trade Cooperation department. Since she supported Otto, rumored to have close ties with the boss, the others followed her. They were glaring at me with hostile eyes.
I knew it was foolish to fight them right now, so I swallowed my anger and explained.
"This is my watch, so I have the right … "
"How can you be so egoistic? It’s late. For days, all of us have been hungry. What’s wrong with exchanging your watch for food?"
Before I finished, Otto cut me off as if he were a knight in shining armor.
"These are unusual times. Everyone must show selflessness. How can you let all of us starve just because of a watch?"
The others chimed in after him.
"Everyone knows you come from a rich family. A watch means nothing to you. Why are you acting so stingy?"
"He’s the very picture of a rich, heartless man. In his eyes, all our lives together aren’t worth that lousy watch of his."
"If someone so stingy becomes a boss one day, his workers will surely suffer."
***
These fools were right. I really was their future CEO. To help me learn more about the company, my father let me join the Foreign Trade Cooperation team as an intern. This trip to Ukraine was both a trade deal and a secret test.
The people in this team were all young talents my father thought had great promise. He knew the rule of a new CEO came with new higher-ups. Just before handing over power, he set up this test so I could choose the people I would trust.
Yet, the outcome was truly disappointing. Since I refused to hand over my watch, they gathered under Yvette’s order and surrounded me.
"Since he’s got no shame, take off his watch by force!"
Under Yvette’s order, those people ran towards me to take off my watch. I stood up and shouted, "Stop! I’m your future CEO. I’m the next CEO of Blackmoore Corporation. If you dare touch me, you’ll regret it!"
Before I could continue, Otto stopped me. He kicked me down, stepping on my face. He looked angry.
"You fucking asshole, how dare you pretend to be Blackmoore Corporation’s successor? I’ll kill you with my kicks!"
Yvette then crouched down, showing a sneer.
"James, how dare you lie so boldly just to protect that lousy watch?"
"Don’t you know the future of Blackmoore Corporation is named Blackmoore? How could someone like you be the successor?"
"The real successor of Blackmoore Corporation should be … "
Just when she tried to direct her finger at Otto, he cut her off by showing a proud face.
"Keep it low, keep it low!"
