The Year-End Surprise

I stood rooted to the ground, unable to believe what I just heard.

The crowd went silent for a moment before Whitney Larson's piercing laughter broke through.

She said in a suggestive tone, "This is a rare chance to come by! The insights and lessons you'll gain from a night with the manager is worth millions!"

Everyone's gazes shifted between me and the manager's swollen body. Many of them started covering their mouths to hide their sniggers.

I ignored Whitney and turned to face the manager with a smile.

"Mr. Xander, we're celebrating the new year. Don't scare me with a joke like this."

A smile broke across Terence Xander's face, the fats on his face creasing into rolls. "I'm not trying to scare you."

He showed me the slip of paper, on which was written clearly, 'Spend the night with Mr. Xander on New Year's Eve.'

He shrugged and spread his arms wide open, looking innocent. "This was drawn randomly from all of your new year wishes. I don't even know what's written on these slips of paper."

Warren chimed in, "My wish was for a new phone! I can't believe I drew it!"

Lily nodded as well. "I did write that I wanted a cash prize of 10,000 dollars…"

Everyone else echoed one after another, "Yeah, we all wrote down our wishes on slips of paper…"

"Who wants to spend the night with Mr. Xander?"

"The top salesperson has such great luck… hahaha…"

As I had expected, we were bidding for everyone's new year wishes.

I had written that I wanted to rely on myself to buy a new luxury car.

I thought the grand prize would be my wish. How did it end up like this?!

I calmed myself down and said to Terence, "Mr. Xander, I'm sure someone mixed this in as a prank. It's not counted, right?"

Whitney sneered.

"Oh, where'd all that confidence you had when bidding against me go? We've all placed our bids, so how can you go back on your word?""

I clenched my fists tight and was about to speak up when Terence jumped in.

He patted me on the shoulders and said with a grin, "Whitney is right. There's no such thing as taking back your bid. Isn't that right, everyone?"

He looked at me with narrowed eyes and said firmly, "Top salesperson, you must accept this ‘grand prize' and be an example to the rest of your colleagues…"

"I'm still…"

"Oh, come on. I'm still a pure, untouched boy myself, alright?"

Terence rubbed his beer belly and waved his hands in feigned disdain.

"I'm warning you, don't try anything funny with me tonight."