June 26, 2015, 09:45 AM.

The office buzzed with the energy of new recruits, a fresh group of twenty five sales consultants settling in, their eyes eager but uncertain. Lars stood at the front of the meeting room, his posture firm, the title of team leader fitting him like a new suit. He wasn't just talking—he was commanding the room.

He paced slowly, hands gesturing as he explained the intricacies of the pitch. "It's not just about selling a product," he said, his voice confident, "It's about connecting. You need to make them believe they can't live without it." The room was silent, every recruit hanging onto his words. Maria stood beside him, clipboard in hand, watching as Lars drilled the process into them. Her eyes flicked back and forth, catching every detail, nodding approvingly as the team absorbed Lars' method.

"Let's run it again," Lars said, signaling one of the recruits to stand up. The young man stumbled through his pitch, nervous, but Lars' corrections were swift and precise. "No, no—don't rush it. Slow down. Own the room. They need to trust you before they trust the product."

Maria stepped in, offering supportive feedback, smoothing over the edges. She'd picked up quickly, not just assisting, but taking on a mentor role of her own. Between the two of them, they were shaping this new team into something sharp, something ready.

Meanwhile, the office was a work in progress. The walls were half-painted, and the smell of fresh plaster still lingered. Desks were in place, but the furniture still needed to be organized, and some rooms were bare, waiting for finishing touches. The place wasn't polished yet, but it was close.

I stepped into the half-finished space, the sound of drills and hammers echoing through the halls. Every piece of this office represented a gamble, a massive risk. My last kroner had gone into it, every investment I had—poured into this project. The walls weren't just plaster and paint—they were hope, they were my future. The stakes were high, everything riding on this succeeding.

Lars and Maria had the team in place. The pitch was being refined. The office was almost there. But it wasn't enough just yet. There was still work to do, and the weight of it all pressed on me.

If this didn't work—if this project didn't come to fruition—there wouldn't be a next step. Everything I'd built so far was on the line.

Everything had to work.

***

June 27, 2015, 10:00 AM.

The office buzzed with intensity, a battlefield of ringing phones, rapid footsteps, and the relentless hum of conversation. Every desk was occupied, the air thick with testosterone and the bitter aroma of coffee, cups drained and scattered. People moved with purpose, pacing back and forth, the tension mounting as deals were struck.

One of our salesmen leaned forward at his desk, voice confident and smooth, weaving a pitch with precision. His words cut through the noise as he effortlessly transitioned into the close. "With Bellalux launching this game-changing product next week, now's the perfect time to secure your subscription. It's just 5,000 kroner, and you're set for six months. No hassle. Let me take care of the details for you."

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He paused, listening intently before his expression shifted, a smile breaking through. Another deal closed.

All around, the energy was electric. The launch campaign had hit, and it was hitting hard. Every call was a new opportunity, and the brand was doing the heavy lifting. All we had to do was mention Bellalux, keep it simple, and guide them toward the finish line.

"Remember the KISS method," Lars had drilled into them during the morning briefing. "Keep It Stupid Simple. Don't complicate things. They know the name, they know the product—just build the connection and close."

As the morning rushed by, the phones finally slowed, and we all gathered for a quick sales meeting. Lars stood at the front, hands on his hips, eyes gleaming with pride. Maria was beside him, scanning through the numbers with satisfaction.

"Guys," Lars started, his voice steady but filled with excitement. "We're ahead of schedule. Way ahead. The goal was big, but you're pushing past that. If we keep up this momentum, we're looking at tripling our target."

Maria nodded, her fingers flying across the tablet. "At this pace, we'll earn back those 4 million in no time."

I leaned back in my chair, feeling the weight of the moment settle in. The campaign had worked better than we could've hoped, and the sales team had risen to the challenge. But the stakes were still high. If we could keep this pace, we'd make not just the 4 million back—we'd earn it back three times over.

Everything was falling into place... but the pressure wasn't letting up.

The clock was ticking, and this was only the beginning.

I leaned back in my chair, watching Ray fidget as he sat across from me. He looked nervous, clearly unsure of why I'd called him in. I gave him a reassuring nod.

"Relax, Ray," I said, keeping my tone casual. "This isn't anything bad."

He exhaled a little, easing into his seat, but still on edge. I decided to get straight to the point.

"I'll cut to the chase," I continued. "You already know about the new offices. I want you to step up and become the next team leader, managing 25 employees. Are you up for it?"

Ray stared at me, wide-eyed. His disbelief was almost palpable. For a moment, he just blinked, as if processing what I'd just said.

"Of course I am!" Ray blurted, his voice almost cracking with excitement. "You won't regret it."

I chuckled, waving off his nervous energy. "Don't worry about it. You've earned this, Ray. It's time for you to step up. And just so you know, that means you and Lars will be competing from now on. A little friendly competition to keep things interesting."

Before Ray could respond, Lars pushed the door open, catching the tail end of the conversation. He glanced between the two of us, a grin spreading across his face as he realized what was happening.

"Congrats, man," Lars said, crossing the room to slap Ray on the back. "But just so you know, you better be ready to get your ass kicked. My team's going to crush yours so hard, you won't know what hit you."

Ray smirked, leaning forward in his chair. "We'll see about that. Don't cry when my team leaves yours in the dust."

Lars laughed, but there was a competitive gleam in his eyes. The banter was light, but both of them were already gearing up for the challenge ahead.

I watched them exchange jabs, feeling the energy between them. The spark of rivalry was exactly what I wanted—something to push them both to their limits.

And as I leaned back, I couldn't help but think how the real competition was just getting started.

Dio Stat's Info:

Lvl: 15

Skill Count: 3 (Key selling point analyze) (Analyze) (Global Monitoring System)

Strength:35

Agility:24

Intelligence:28

Endurance:21

Charm:23

Dio influence, power & riches:

Money - 0

Associate - 8

Asset - 0

Digital Asset - 250 BTC

Goons - 10

Car - 1

Guard - 0

Employers -25

Company - 1