As the Maserati cruised towards KBank, the soft purr of the engine filling the air, Zero turned his attention to Tom, outlining the plan ahead.
"Listen, once we get there, we'll be setting up two accounts. One for my personal use and the other for the business. We just spent approximately $230,000 from the car dealership, leaving us with about $2.67 million. From my calculations, we'll need around $500,000 for the company's initial expenses. This covers payments for the graphic designer, music arrangements, and all necessary legal documentation, like patents and contracts."
Tom's fingers tightened on the steering wheel, processing the numbers. Zero continued, "Out of the remaining amount, allocate $1.5 million to the business account. I want $170,000 placed on a personal card, under your name, for me. Whatever's left, you can handle as you deem suitable."
Tom's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his grip on the wheel loosening a tad. "Wait boss, you're giving me $500,000 as my first payout?"
Zero glanced over, his expression nonchalant. "An average programmer in a top-tier company might make around $120k annually. But with me, as long as you're loyal and efficient, you'll always be compensated fairly. Besides," Zero leaned back, gazing out the window, "with the kind of groundbreaking game we're developing, we'll be seeing returns in no time."
Feeling a bit overwhelmed but grateful, Tom nodded. "Understood."
Zero, not finished, added, "From that business fund, I also want you to scout a suitable property for our headquarters. I'll provide specifications later."
Before Tom could respond, the Maserati glided smoothly into the parking area of KBank. As they disembarked, a young bank manager, noticing their approach, stepped forward with a welcoming smile.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," she greeted, extending a hand. "How can I assist you today?"
Tom, gathering his thoughts, replied, "We're looking to open two accounts – one for personal and another for business."
She nodded, "Of course, if you'd follow me."
Suddenly, Zero's phone buzzed. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen, and his face shifted ever so slightly. It was a text from his father.
Father: "Son, are you coming home this weekend?"
Zero paused momentarily, gathering his thoughts. He had plans to surprise his parents and didn't want to give it away.
Zero: "Not this weekend, Father. I have a lot on my plate right now."
In truth, while school had grown monotonous for Zero, the newfound presence of his family – remnants of his past life – brought warmth and comfort. And though he knew his response would bring a twinge of disappointment, the forthcoming surprise would make up for it.
Father: "Alright, take care of yourself."
Zero: "I will, Dad. And don't worry, I'll visit soon."
Closing the text thread and pocketing his phone, Zero rejoined Tom, who was engrossed in the paperwork. With a certain adult gravitas, he addressed the young bank manager, "Regarding the credit card options and their benefits?"
She blinked, seemingly startled by Zero's demeanor, and then proceeded. "Certainly. We offer three membership tiers. The Red card, priced at $1,000, the Grey card at $5,000, and the premium Black card at $20,000."
Zero didn't hesitate. "We'll opt for the Black card, thank you. Tom, cover it from the business account."
Tom, catching on, nodded in acknowledgment, "Yes boss."
The manager's brows quirked in surprise, her thoughts transparent, 'Boss? He seems so young!' But she brushed the thought aside, her professionalism taking over. "Of course, sir."
Another hour saw the completion of all formalities. With paperwork in hand and their tasks accomplished, Zero and Tom exited KBank, the doors sliding behind them in quiet finality.
Tom maneuvered the Maserati through the city streets, following the directions Zero provided. "Where are we headed now, boss?" he inquired, trying to peek at the address.
"We're getting some food for my folks. Once we have that, you can drop me off at their place," Zero responded, leaning back in his seat.
Tom grinned, "For all your tough talk, you're still a mama's boy at heart, huh?"
Zero rolled his eyes, "Love for family isn't a sign of weakness, Tom. But if you tell anyone, I'll deny it and then ensure you're debugging code for the next month."
Tom chuckled, "Oh no, anything but that! The horror of finding that missing semicolon!"
Zero smirked.
Their banter continued until they pulled up to a cozy-looking street stall, the alluring aroma of fried chicken wafting through the air. A cheerful sign announced it as 'Auntie's Fried Chicken'. The warm glow of the evening sun reflected off the crisp chicken pieces displayed behind the glass counter.
A familiar face brightened up as they approached. "Welcome back, sweetie! The usual order? The one from last week?" Auntie, the owner of the stall, greeted Zero with motherly affection.
"That's right, Auntie. But add an extra box of chicken this time. It's for a friend," Zero said, nodding towards Tom, who was looking on with a mix of amusement and hunger. "Both orders are take-out, please."
Auntie busied herself with packing their order, placing generous servings of crispy golden chicken into boxes, accompanied by side dishes of tangy pickles and spicy sauces. The boxes were neatly wrapped and handed over, the tantalizing smell making Tom's stomach growl audibly.
Zero smirked, "Hungry much?"
Tom just grinned sheepishly, "Your fault for introducing me to this heavenly place."
as they were driving and nearing to zero's parent house, zero gave tom one box of chicken zero said "careful you'll get addicted".
Tom's eyes widened as he held the box, "Thanks, boss! Smells amazing."
As Zero was about to caution him about the addictiveness of Auntie's chicken, his attention shifted abruptly. His expression hardened as he noticed four burly men dragging his father down a narrow alleyway. The emblem on their jackets was unmistakable—a sharp knife encased within a circle. Zero knew all too well about this particular insignia; it represented a notorious underground loan syndicate notorious for their exorbitant interest rates and ruthless methods.
Zero's mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle. From what he knew, his family had never been in a position to borrow money. What had changed? He wondered if his actions somehow inadvertently triggered this unexpected turn of events.
"Tom," Zero whispered, his tone deadly serious, "Stay in the car and keep the engine off. If you don't hear from me in twenty minutes, get out of here and call the authorities."
Tom nodded, recognizing the gravity of the situation, and watched as Zero slipped out of the vehicle, moving stealthily, yet with a clear determination.
As Zero approached the alley, he stayed close to the walls, ensuring his footsteps were nearly inaudible. He could hear his father's strained voice, pleading with the men. "I promise I'll pay it back, just give me a bit more time."
One of the goons, evidently the leader given his authoritative tone, snapped back, "You've already had plenty of time. Now, we're running out of patience."