Chapter 3 Abraham

IT WAS, Abraham Rochester thought, the worst possible kind of day to be wrestling with Santa Claus on a sloped, snow-covered roof. Almost six inches of snow had been predicted overnight by the weather department and it was what exactly happened which was enough to make his day go disastrous.

"Sir, we may have to take an emergency landing at Miami because of the bad weather." The pilot announced from the speaker.

He had finished his meeting with the Russian delegates and was on his way back to New York when nature rebelled. The air hostess fluttered her artificial eyelashes in an invitation. But Abraham wasn't ready. "Find out how long it would take to land."

"In ten minutes sir." The pilot replied.

The wind blew heavily as soon as his shoe-clad feet kissed the snow-covered land which brought chills. He read the time on his Rolex and grunted. "Lion, drive me to one of my branch offices in the city." He ordered the driver soon after getting down from his private chopper.

Fifteen minutes later...

The traffic had stagnated everywhere. But despite the uncooperative weather when he looked outside the floor-to-ceiling glass window of his opulent office, he saw the never-ending crazy crowd doing Christmas shopping. "What the fuck!"

He was pissed by the ridiculous crowd. How could people go so insane for just a festival that happens every year? Just then his phone in his pants pockets rang. "How are you, son? Will you reach home for Christmas?" It was his mom.

Abraham resisted the urge to roll his eyes. It has been more than six years since he went home on Christmas. His mother keeps inviting him year after year despite his negative replies. "Mom, I am busy. A new branch is about to open."

"You always give me the same response." Nancy left a tired sigh.

Abraham felt festivals and family gatherings as a pain in the ass and a form of deranged quest to earn happiness which can seldom be achievable. "Mom it is only because of my hard work today Rochester Industries is one of the top listed companies in the USA. I cannot take leave from work and chit-chat with you."

"You feel family as a burden. But one day you will realize your mistake. I will wait for that day to happen." His family called him a robot and his employees represented him as a Grinch, a stick in the mud who has zero emotions. Whatever the people thought about him Abraham is now used to the remarks. He least cared about them. Maybe that is what he is! Because there is nothing in this world that runs without money.

"Sir, we have only two days for Christmas. Could we have an annual break for a week?" His assistant requested him fearfully.

"Okay. Announce a week-long break for all the employees of Rochester group." Abraham announced. He may be represented as calculative, cold-hearted, and insensitive. If he is not shrewd he could not have raised his father's ten million worth textile firm to a turnover of a hundred million today. Addedly also spreading its wings to electronics and engineering.

"Sir, you received an invitation to Lincoln's charity show in New York." His secretary stuttered standing behind. Abraham's employees thought twice to talk to him. In the last four months, he had changed ten of his secretaries. But nobody knew why it was that way.

All the women changed only for one reason. They sought to please his cock more than his business. Abraham hated laziness and unprofessionalism. He loathed employees who sought shortcuts rather than work sincerely. He needed dedicated staff, not porn stars.

"Send them ten million in cash. I'm not interested in going there." Abraham looked at the uncooperative weather and huffed before he informed his secretary.

"Sir, the charity show is to raise funds for the downtrodden who are admitted to the American Cancer Institute."

Abraham took the invitation and read it. Famous models from all corners of the world will feature in the fashion show doing ramp walks and the highest bidder will date the model he bid followed by a one-night stand.

'What a stupid idea!' Abraham thought. But on contra examining, getting laid with no strings attached does not sound as a bad bargain. The pressure of work had only been exceeding for the last six months and he was not able to look after his bodily requirements. Letting out a few thousand and setting himself free at least for a few hours was a welcoming option.

"Okay tell the in-charge, I will be there." Two days later he was present in the State Fashion Association hall. Businessmen, film stars, and celebrities from all corners of the world assembled at the place to witness the fashion show. The paparazzi are also present. Winners from popular beauty pageants are taking part in it.

******

That was one of those horrible winter days in the city of New York. It was too late by the time Crystalline had finished the extra class on accountancy.

It has been a week already since her mom informed her about her dad's urgent heart surgery. Crystalline could not arrive at positive news to date. Arranging as big an amount of two million dollars within a month is not a child's play.

She had tried all sources. But the maximum she could collect even through loans is only 10,000 dollars. Where would she get such a huge amount of money?

It was then her friend Sasha showed her an advertisement in their university magazine. There is a charity show where international models from everywhere in the world are participating and raising funds for the diseased of the less privileged.

"Why are you showing this to me, Sasha?" Crystalline asked her annoyedly while packing her bags hastily.

"Read the advertisement thoroughly, my friend, it could be useful to you. There are two vacancies to do a ramp walk and become an international model." Sasha walked closer and cupped Crystal's cheeks.

"Darling you could be one of them. You are beautiful, intelligent, and talented." Sasha encouraged her.

Crystalline left an uncomfortable laughter. "Sasha I need money immediately maximum within three weeks. Whatever you are saying is like building castles in the air. How could a normal girl with ordinary looks be one of them? And if I turn famous and fortunate earning through modeling two million dollars cannot happen in the next fifteen "

"You call yourself ordinary? You're a very beautiful young girl, Crystalline. You can always give this a try. In case you are selected and could be one of the participants, you would get half the price of the bidding amount and in return, it's just a date with the man who bids for you." Sasha encouraged Crystal.

Sasha is the wellwisher of Crystal. She has been watching her friend turn from sorrow to a disaster after she heard the ill-fated news about her father's failing health. It is only her good intention to improve her financial condition of Crystal. But what Sasha hid from her friend only wishing the best for her is, that it is just not a date but also a one-night stand with the billionaire.