The Harsh Reality of Business
Adam stood frozen in his seat, his mind reeling from the sudden turn of events. He could barely process the chaos that had erupted moments ago.
"What the hell is going on? Why is he so angry?" The question echoed in his mind as he tried to piece together the meaning behind the businessman's outburst.
He had come here with a genuine alternative for their oil supply—a proposal that promised a new way to handle crude oil in a country desperate for change. Yet, the reaction he received was as if he had personally insulted the businessman.
Before Adam could say another word or explain himself, the heavy office doors burst open with a loud crash. Three security guards stormed into the room, their faces set in expressions that were cold and serious.
Their determined march left no doubt: they were here to remove him. Adam's heart pounded as he instinctively stood up, but before he could gather his thoughts or offer any explanation, the guards reached him.
They grabbed him by both arms firmly, leaving him with little choice but to surrender to their forceful grip.
"Wait, are they really throwing me out?" Adam wondered internally. He glanced sideways and saw the security chief—the same man who had allowed him into the building earlier—now standing near the entrance.
The chief's face was pale with fear and regret. His eyes seemed to silently plead, "Sir… what have you done?!" Yet, there was no time for words. The guards' hold was unyielding, and without mercy, they began dragging Adam toward the exit.
As he was led along the corridor, Adam's eyes caught sight of a commotion further inside the factory. A man, likely in his early thirties, was arguing heatedly with some staff and additional security guards near the production area. The voices were raised in anger and frustration.
"Now what's going on over there?" Adam thought briefly, but before he could try to understand the situation further, the guards hurried him past the scene. They moved him quickly toward the main gate, not allowing any pause for explanation or protest.
With zero hesitation, the guards threw him out—quite literally. Adam was forcefully ejected from the building, landing hard on the ground outside.
Dust rose around him as he hit the pavement, and he lay there for a moment, disoriented and staring up at the open sky. In that instant, a stark realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
"This world isn't so simple. You can't just walk in, offer something valuable, and expect people to accept it. Power, connections, hidden agendas—these are the real forces at play."
The bitter truth settled into his bones. The world of business, especially in this ruthless environment, was not governed by merit or good ideas alone. It was a game of power and influence, where one wrong move could lead to humiliation and exile.
Groaning from the impact, Adam slowly pushed himself up off the cold ground, his body aching from the harsh treatment. He dusted off his clothes as best as he could, his eyes never leaving the building from which he had been violently expelled.
The memory of the forceful exit and the stern faces of the guards replayed in his mind, each image sharpening his resolve.
His expression hardened as he stood up and looked back at the building. "I was a fool to think I could just walk in, hand them a deal, and they'd accept it. That was pure stupidity," he thought bitterly.
His fists clenched as he recalled every moment of rejection and every sneer he had witnessed. "No matter how I approach them, they won't accept my offer so easily. There's a bigger game being played here."
Adam's mind went back to the businessman's expression when he mentioned crude oil. He remembered the cold, hard look in his eyes and the abrupt shout of "Get out!" that had sealed his fate.
"That guy understood exactly what I was offering. So why the anger? Why the immediate rejection?" he wondered aloud, feeling the sting of his failure.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Adam tried to push aside the bitterness of the moment. But before he could dwell further on his setback, the main gate of the building suddenly swung open once more.
Out of the building, another man was forcefully thrown out, much like Adam had been.
Adam watched closely as the man, who appeared to be in his early thirties, tumbled to the ground with a thud. He landed hard on his hands and knees, dust and debris clinging to his clothes.
The sight of this man caught Adam's attention. He noticed that the man was wearing a black coat, now caked with dust from the forceful exit.
On his chest, a badge was clearly visible with the words "Green Refinery" engraved on it. "An employee of this company?" Adam realized. The fact that even an employee had been thrown out like trash made him wonder about the true workings behind the scenes.
As the man lay there on the ground, struggling to regain his composure, he suddenly slammed his fist against the pavement. His voice rang out, filled with frustration and anger:
"Why the hell won't you people listen?! This company's fundamental business model is broken! It's on the path to collapse!"
His words echoed in the quiet street, resonating off the nearby walls. Yet, despite the raw emotion in his outburst, the workers and staff inside the factory barely glanced at him.
They returned to their duties as if such displays of anger were commonplace and not worth the interruption.
Adam narrowed his eyes as he watched the scene unfold. "So, this guy isn't just any employee… He actually understands the flaws in their business. Interesting," he mused.
The man's outburst suggested that he saw beyond the rigid rules and the cold, profit-driven mindset of the company. In that moment, Adam's mind sparked with an idea—a new opportunity.
A slow, sly grin spread across Adam's face as he began to approach the frustrated man.
The employee was now standing, brushing off dust from his black coat and fixing a stern gaze on the factory in the distance. In a low voice, the man muttered to himself,
"If only I had the power, I'd create a company better than this one…"
The words, filled with despair and ambition, did not go unnoticed by Adam. He couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, recognizing in that man a kindred spirit—someone who also saw the broken system for what it was.
As Adam drew near, the man turned sharply, finally noticing the young stranger standing behind him. His eyes narrowed, and he asked in a gruff tone,
"Kid, what the hell are you doing here?"
He then added, with a tone that blended mockery and genuine concern, "Let me guess—you came to apply for a job? Well, let me save you the trouble. This company will be bankrupt in a few years."
Adam simply smirked, shaking his head as he replied coolly,
"No," he said firmly. "I actually have an offer for you."
The man's expression shifted in surprise, a mix of skepticism and curiosity playing across his features. For a moment, the air between them seemed charged with new possibilities. Adam's offer was unexpected, and now he had caught the attention of someone who truly understood the state of the industry.
In that brief exchange, a seed was planted—a seed of potential collaboration in a world where power and opportunity were often hidden behind layers of bureaucracy and greed.