The amount of frustration he was feeling right now could not be measured right now, even though he pretty much expected it, the same smell and the same clicking always threw him off. If things continued at this rate, in the next five months he could see himself working as a sewage inspector and that was if things were looking bright.
Pulling up his seat to the laptop and he searched 'How to make money Online', which was by all means arguably the most searched topic. What came up was not what he expected. It was the same crappy ad about eNNOVO. What caught his attention this time was the reviews surrounding the game. It was an average of 4.9! Not to be a gaming geek, in a world where HD Graphics were extinct and Critics nitpicked on the littlest of details such as the texture of water, even 3.7 r4view would be surprising.
As he scrolled down, he became more shocked, there was practically a whole world out there and the best part was that he could make money by selling in-game items to other users and for a game as huge as this, this was basically jackpot! Looking at the amount of things he would have to buy if he wanted to play discouraged him, the recommended VR-Pod was $5000, no negotiations allowed and the game itself cost $1000, add that to a monthly subscription of $300, this was practically a money grubber.
With $15000 to his name and rent payment coming up, playing this game was a bad idea from all angles, but the thought of another world and infinite possibilities plus being able to control your whole in-game life drove him to click on the order button. It was after he had finished sending his credit card details that he came to his senses that he just wasted $6300, a whole month of sales. Since there was no reason to cry over something that had already happened he decided to look for ways to maximize his chances of actually earning something.
After two hours of research, he had to face the simple truth, the chances of earning something was nil. For a game that was already three weeks old, he was a late-comer, which simply meant that no one would want what he would sell. Remembering the spent $6300 just made the whole situation more painful. Being a CEO of his own company had taught him that there were opportunities everywhere and in a world like this, he was determined to make use of the game world.
Information about the game was either blocked or needed login details as a registered user of the game. The only source of information on the game was the sub-reddit. Even there, the most vital pieces of information seemed to be vu directly from posts and sometimes, completely deleted.
Knocking sounds on his door pulled him out of his deep thoughts, with the strength behind the knocks he knew immediately that it was the co-founder of his company and immediately rushed to open the door. Pushing the door more than it needed to be, Athan Hergio, a short, stout man entered the room. He was mostly known for his anger and irrational decisions, but despite all that still managed to reach impressive heights in the social ladder. At times, Jake had considered cutting Athan off from their partnership, but with Athan being the guy with the deep pocket, that would be considered business suicide.
"Shit, government and their stupid taxes", Athan said as he sank into the only sofa in the room. Jake said nothing as he watched on; knowing what was going to come next.
"Those Bastards, can you believe that they threatened to take my properties if I did not pay up!"
"They do that to everyone, you know". Jake replied as threw a bottle opener over to Athan, headed for the freezer.
"But... they know me man, just a little extra time and Bam! I pay up", grabbing the drink that Jake had brought for both of them.
"How much do you owe?" Jake was curious, for Athan to owe and to even tell someone about it, it meant that the situation was serious.
"Just some $56000"
"You could easily pay that up"
"Business is now going slow with this new VR game by iNNOVO"
"You mean eNNOVO"
"Yeah, serious wall"
"So, what do you want me to do?"
"I was thinking of selling all my shares in our company"
"What! How would I then run the business?"
"That is your problem not mine"
"Who are you going to sell to; its only me and you"
"I got this guy at the next state..."
"Is it Johan?"
"Maybe, maybe not"
"You know I hate that guy", Johan was their direct competitor in the tech market, rather they viewed him as a competitor while he looked at them as another startup to be bought.
"I think you should do the same", Athan said in between the last sips of his drink.
"So you are trying to tell me I should sell out like that", Jake said as he looked at the Athan who remained unfazed as he looked back.
"As I see it, you don't have much time to last, and remember that you also have to pay tax for the business", Athan said as he looked around the house. Jake them realized he was right, with the new expenses he had stupidly made plus the tax payment coming up, he barely had two weeks before he faced poverty.
"You... you... are actually... right", Jake said as he drank what remained in the cup.
"Were you able to negotiate a good price with him?" he asked
"Not a good price, but at least manageable" Athan answered, his eyes now fixated on the cup.
"Did he agree to pay the tax?" Jake asked, this was a paramount question, it practically decide where he would go room now onwards.
"Obviously! What do you take me for?" Athan said, actually sounding hurt. Jake sighed in relief as he and Athan stood up. He talked about the Change Of Ownership with Athan and left the rest to him.
As they shoot hands over the table, they looked into each other's eyes, no longer as make-believe friends, but as true businessmen. Then Jake saw him out. With the adrenaline-moment gone, he went to his room bed and slept.