The Prank That Cost a Billion Dollars

On April Fools' Day, I received a promotion email.

I thought my five years of hard work had finally paid offI was finally being promoted to Sales Director.

Full of joy, I moved my belongings to the door of my new private office.

But when I pushed open the door, there wasnt even an office chair insidejust a pile of stinking garbage.

Thats when I heard loud mocking laughter from my colleagues behind me.

Sasha, you actually fell for it? How pathetically shameless!

My boss also chimed in, Its just an April Fools prank. You can take a joke, right?

I became the laughingstock of the entire company, a complete fool.

But they forgotthis afternoon, I was scheduled to sign a one-billion-dollar contract that would determine the companys fate.

Since my boss loved April Fools jokes so much, Id give him a special April Fools gift of my own.

Whats wrong, Sasha? Its just an April Fools prank. You can take a joke, cant you?

My boss, Mr. Richards, looked down at me with unconcealed smugness.

Faced with his mockery, the entire office area erupted in piercing laughter.

Exactly, Ms. Turner! Did you really think you could become Sales Director?

Lily from reception covered her mouth, laughing so hard she was shaking.

She should look at her own credentialsa community college graduate thinking she can become a phoenix? As if.

I didnt lose my temper.

I just stiffly crouched down and began picking up the personal belongings Id just joyfully packed into the large cardboard box, one by one.

I was like a clown being paraded through the streets.

Under everyones unrestrained pointing and whispering, I walked step by step back to my cramped old desk in the main hall.

She usually acts so high and mighty just because shes the top salesperson, bossing us around. Now shes been put back in her place.

Behind me, I could hear my colleagues shameless gossip.

Mr. Richards followed me over, tapping my desk with the bottom of his coffee mug.

Sasha, dont take it to heart. Young people need to face some setbacksits good for you. Im just trying to build your stress tolerance.

He adopted the tone of a caring elder.

Youve been with this company for five years.

Even if you havent achieved great things, youve worked hard.

But the director position isnt something you can get just by working yourself to the bone.

You need big-picture thinking, you need to understand office politics. Understand?

I looked at him coldly.

Mr. Richards, last week you personally told me that if I secured Mr. Wilsons one-billion-dollar contract, the director position would be mine.

Mr. Richards scoffed.

That was motivational rhetoric. You couldnt even tell? Besides, we could land Mr. Wilsons deal even without you, just based on our companys reputation. Dont think too highly of yourself.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms.

Five years of my youth, countless days and nights of struggle.

In his eyes, it was all just a cheap game he could trample on at will.

I felt utterly humiliated and degraded.

But I forced myself to swallow this bitter pill.

Because this afternoon, I still had to represent the company to sign that one-billion-dollar contract.

It was the most important credential in my professional career.

I couldnt flip the table at this critical moment.

Youre absolutely right, Mr. Richards. I forced out a smile completely devoid of warmth.

Mr. Richards nodded with satisfaction.

Thats more like it. Girls shouldnt always be fighting for power.

He turned to the other employees who were watching the spectacle.

What are you all standing around for? Dont you have work to do? Even though its April Fools Day, performance reviews are no joke!

Everyone immediately scattered, but the looks they gave me were still full of undisguised contempt.

Derek Shaw from the next desk leaned over.

Well, well, Ms. Turner, giving up so easily?

Derek usually got chewed out by me for his bottom-of-the-barrel sales numbers.

Now seeing my misfortune, he was happier than on Christmas.

Ive always said women in sales are just trading on their youth. Youre getting older now, youve lost your lookshow can you compete with those young girls?

He picked his teeth while giving me an extremely sleazy up-and-down look.

You should just find yourself an honest man to marry and be a housewife.

I whipped my head around, staring at him with icy eyes.

Derek Shaw, your sales this month are zero, and you still have time to worry about my marriage prospects?

His face stiffened, then flushed with embarrassed anger.

Who are you to act so superior! Youre not even a manager anymorewhat right do you have to boss me around?

I didnt bother with him. I needed to go over the final contract details one more time.

No matter what, this contract was my personal achievement, and I wouldnt allow any mistakes.

Just then, someone gently tapped my shoulder.

I turned around.

Ms. Turner, are you okay?

Marcus, a subordinate whod only been with us for two months, stood behind me.

I shook my head.

Im fine. Go back to your work.

I stood up, heading toward the break room to get some water.

The corridor was narrow. Derek saw me coming and deliberately stretched his leg into the aisle.

I tripped over it and fell hard to the floor.

My knee hit the hard surface, sending a sharp, drilling pain through me instantly.

Oh my! Why is our great Director Turner bowing so low?

Not only did Derek not apologize, he mocked me loudly with heavy sarcasm.

The surrounding colleagues burst into laughter again.

Sasha, are you blind or something?

I endured the searing pain in my hand and knee, struggling to get up from the floor awkwardly.

I looked coldly at Derek.

Get your dog leg out of the way.

Derek slammed his hand on the desk and stood up.

You walk without watching where youre going and blame others? You think youre still that high-and-mighty top salesperson? Youre nothing but a joke now!

Marcus walked over, his eyes red.

Ms. Turner, ignore them.

He helped me to my chair, his voice choked with tears.

Ms. Turner, what am I going to do?

I frowned, looking at the paper in his hand.

It was a demotion notice.

It stated that due to Marcuss failure to meet performance standards during his probation period, he would be demoted to reception assistant with his salary cut in half.

Whats this about? I asked.

Marcus wiped away tears.

Mr. Richards said Im too stupid and cant do anything right. Ms. Turner, I really need this job. I have a sick grandmother back home to support.

Seeing him like this, the anger in my heart subsided slightly.

In this cold company, perhaps only this fresh graduate still retained some human warmth.

Remembering how Id trained him hands-on these past two months, I softened.

I patted his shoulder consolingly.

Sales is tough for everyone. You just startednot having resources is normal.

I thought for a moment and pulled out a client list from my desk.

Tell you whatI have some repeat orders from old clients here. The profit margins arent high, but theyre enough to get you through probation. Take these and follow up on them. Theyll count as your sales numbers, give you a cushion.

Marcuss eyes widened in disbelief.

Really? Ms. Turner, youre really willing to share clients with me?

I nodded.

Everyones struggling. We should help each other out.

Marcus clutched the list tightly, breaking into a smile through his tears.

Thank you, Ms. Turner! Youre like a second parent to me!

Watching his joyful retreating figure, I sighed helplessly.

The wounds on my hand were still bleeding.

I went to the restroom to clean them up.

Otherwise, meeting Mr. Wilson this afternoon looking like this would be far too unprofessional.

I limped toward the restroom.

I firmly believed that as long as I held that one-billion-dollar contract in my hands, Id have the capital to turn things around.

But I never imagined that what I thought was kindness was just another carefully crafted joke.

A party popper went off in the office area.

Immediately followed by everyones cheering and celebration.

Come on, everyone! Lets congratulate Mr. Richards on his promotion to Sales Director!

I froze in place.

What should have been a quiet workspace now looked like a wild party.

I stood at the office entrance.

I saw Marcus, whod just been crying to me moments ago, now sitting brazenly on my desk.

He held a glass of freshly opened champagne, laughing his head off.

Did you all see how stupid Sasha looked just now?

She actually believed I was getting demoted and condescendingly offered me some trashy clients!

Those moldy resources of hersI wouldnt even use them as coasters!

Lily from reception approached with a wine glass, looking obsequious.

Exactly, Marcus! She doesnt know her place. Just because she landed a few big clients, her tails pointing to the sky.

She doesnt even know whose name is on this company.

Derek circled around Marcus like a lapdog.

Marcus is Mr. Richardss own nephew, an elite returnee from a prestigious university!

The Sales Director position was always meant for Marcus.

That nobody Sasha isnt even worthy of carrying Mr. Richardss shoes!

I stood in the corridors shadows, feeling all the blood in my body freeze instantly.

His own nephew?

I stared at Marcus sitting on my desk.

So all of this was fake.

The promotion email was fake.

The demotion notice was fake.

Only I was the fool, manipulated and mocked by the entire company in a conspiracy.

Mr. Richards emerged from the private office, holding a wine glass.

He looked at Marcus with a smile.

Marcus, how was my April Fools production? Pretty good, right? Did it help you vent?

Marcus jumped off the desk and threw his arm around Mr. Richardss shoulder.

It was awesome, Uncle!

You dont knowthese past two months shes been making me memorize product materials every day and forcing me to run sales calls in the blazing sun.

Ive never been treated like this in my entire lifenot even by my own mother!

Seeing her today like a stray dog moving her stuffI cant tell you how satisfying that was!

Mr. Richards laughed heartily.

Shes just meant for grunt work.

This afternoon, after she signs Mr. Wilsons one-billion-dollar contract, Ill just find some excuse to fire her.

Then that massive achievement will be yours! Im good to you, arent I?

I stood there watching their ugly faces, suddenly feeling my stomach churn.

Five years.

For this company, Id given up all my vacation days.

Id pulled a nearly bankrupt workshop up by its bootstraps into a well-known industry player.

I thought if I just worked hard enough, Id earn the respect and rewards I deserved.

But reality had slapped me hard across the face.

I pushed open the door and walked in expressionlessly.

The cheering stopped abruptly.

Everyone looked at me like I was some kind of monster.

The smile on Marcuss face froze for a moment, then returned to that same arrogant expression.

Oh, Ms. Turners back?

That demotion notice earlier was a misunderstanding.

My uncle said for April Fools fun, all decisions and responses today had to be reversed!

He boasted, So I actually got promoted!

I laughed coldly inside. Reversed. So thats how I got that ridiculous promotion notice.

Just then, Mr. Richards walked over with a cold expression.

He slammed a thick stack of documents against my chest.

Sasha, you still have the nerve to chat here? Get your ass to the conference room right now!

Mr. Richards pointed at my nose and cursed.

Mr. Wilsons already here with his legal teamgo sign that contract immediately!

I looked down at the contract that had fallen to the floor.

Just flipping to the first page, my brow furrowed tightly.

This contract was full of holes.

Not only were the profit margins completely wrong, even the breach of contract clauses were reversed.

Mr. Richards, this contract is unusable.

Shut up!

Mr. Richards rudely cut me off.

This is the proposal Marcus personally revised. Hes an elite returnee who understands advanced management concepts far better than you!

Marcus chimed in smugly from the side.

Exactly. Your outdated negotiation tactics are ancient history.

I looked at this ridiculous uncle-nephew pair, hardly believing my ears.

Signing this hole-riddled contract would destroy my industry reputation and lose all client trust.

Mr. Richards and Marcus could easily deflect all blame, but Id be finished in the industry.

Mr. Richards glared at me viciously.

Sasha, stop being alarmist! Im ordering you to go to the conference room and handle this right now, or youll bear all the losses and get out immediately!

He shoved me, pushing me straight through the conference room door.

Inside the conference room, the atmosphere was oppressively tense.

Mr. Wilson sat across the long table with his elite legal team, their expressions dark.

I looked at the wound on my knee from Dereks trip, then at the disgusting faces of this uncle-nephew duo.

Then at Mr. Wilsons extremely displeased expression across from me.

Five years of grievances, humiliation, and resentment reached their peak in this moment.

Mr. Wilson pushed the contract toward me.

I took a deep breath and picked up that contract.

Then I announced loudly to Mr. Wilson: On behalf of the company, I reject this partnership!

As soon as the words left my mouth, I gripped the contract with both hands.

With a loud rip

In front of everyone, I tore that billion-dollar contract to shreds.

Paper fragments floated down like snowflakes in the conference room.

The smile on Mr. Richardss face instantly froze.

Sasha, have you lost your mind!