No he pretends like nothing ever happend

When he got home, he continued as if it were a normal day, as if he did not just get fired and as if their whole home wasn’t just at risk.

At supper he ate with his family.

As he is watching his brothers eat, he thinks about how he had to work from his younger brothers age and he does not want his brothers to have to waste their childhood with job after job.

He wants them to grow up normally and graduate with good grades, so that they can have a good life. He will do everything for them to have a great life, no matter what will happen tomorrow with Mr. Achilleos.

The next day he showered and put on the best clothes that he has, they were not great, but they at least make him look more like a businessman, than a poor factory worker.

Mr. Achilleoses house was a bit of a drive from Maxes apartment, it took him close to an hour to get there. It was in one of those rich people districts, there weren’t a lot of houses all around. But the houses, that were there, where the biggest mansions that Max has ever seen, beautiful elaborate buildings with big gardens and driveways that hold several cars that cost as much as he would earn in like 10 years of work.

After following his map, he walked to a street with only one mansion at the end, that was the biggest and most breathtaking of them all. Of course, this was the mansion, that the richest man in the world would live in.

He walked up to the security post at the gate and told them that he had a meeting with Mr. Achilleos. After verifying his claim, they let him trough and he walked up the street to the building. The nearer he got, the bigger it got. This building was just spectacular.

He got to the door and rang the doorbell, after a few seconds the door opened and in front of Max stood Apollo Achilleos, the richest man in the world.

The man was taller than Max, maybe around 6,3 foot tall, he has short light brown hair, dark brown almost black looking eyes, no beard, and a sharp jawline. He looked very attractive, even to Max, though Max didn’t like man, at least that’s what he thought. He never really had enough time for a relationship.

“You must be Max” Mr. Achilleos says in a for his age, pretty deep and attractive voice, “Thank you for coming all the way out here to meet me” he gave him a friendly smile.

“Of course, Sir, thank you for inviting me here, it is an honor to meet you, Sir” Max said.

“Oh, please call me Apollo, I would prefer that, I am only a few years older then you” the man said and held out his hand.

“Okay Sir, ah... sorry, Apollo”, Max took his hand and shook it, with that, Apollo got out of the way and he led him into the house.

From the inside this building was even more impressive then from the outside. The walls had this rich dark red color and the furniture looked to be out of beautiful hard wood.

Max was starstruck while looking around, he never saw something like this. His own apartment was probably much cheaper then on of the stools that stand around a table.

Apollo let him marvel at this room for a short while before saying “Let us continue to my office, so that we can talk about why I asked you to come here” Max was taken out of his thoughts “Of course Sir…” he cringed and just silently followed Apollo trough the mansion.

They walked trough several rooms on their way to the office, every new room they go trough looked more expensive then the one before. Max was not sure why anyone needed this many rooms, it doesn’t seem like Apollo is living with someone here. There could maybe be some maids, but that’s it.

They finally reached a big wooden door with a number pad on its side, Apollo quickly typed in the combination and the door opened.

“You can never be to save, you never know who could access your files and all those other important things” Apollo said with a chuckle, as if he knew more about Maxes situation than Max himself.

Max follows Apollo as he walks into the big office room, just this room alone looks as big as their apartment. Filled with bookcases, paintings and in the center is this beautiful big, hard wood table. Apollo gestures him to sit at the table and walks around to his chair.

As Max sits down he looks to his right side where a shelf which was out of metal stood, it doesnt look like any other kind of furniture in this room. Also strange was, that almost nothing was in there, it looks like it is meant for something bigger to be held there. But he couldn’t put too much thought into it, as Apollo takes him out of his thoughts.

"Pretty impressive right?” He asks, “Yes, the rooms I have seen are unlike anything I have ever been to in my whole life” Max answered with a chuckl.

"I can imagine that, but to be honest, for me it’s just the norm now, but I must admit, it can get pretty stale being here all alone with so much space.” Apollo said.

Max kind of understood, that such a big villa just for one person can probably make someone feel lonely.

But what is he thinking, this man can just buy anyone and anything, how could he ever be lonely?

“But anyways, let us get to why I invited you here!" Apollo says and continues.

"A few days ago, I walked down your station at the factory. As you know, we are letting all workers go, because we are upgrading that factory to be automated. It is very impressive how far technology goes today.” He says the last part a bit quieter, and continues “You catched my eye, such a young strong, good-looking man, working at a place like this?”

Max was taken aback by what Apollo said, why are all these things important for the slightly older man.

But before he could say something, Apollo continued “So, please tell me a bit about yourself, where are you from, how is your family and how did life treat you? Just a few things, for me to better understand who you are" he asked.

Those were some pretty big questions for Max, he is not sure if he really wants to answer them, since they are very personal. But then he remembers that he must do anything, to help his family and get a chance for a better life for them, even though he has no idea where this conversation will go.

“Okay. So, I grew up in this town, with my mother and two younger brothers, my father died many years ago, its been way harder on us since he’s gone.”

Max had to stop to catch his breath, but continued “My grandparents on both sides, were born in Germany, but migrated to the USA. I have been working several jobs since I turned 12, to help my family survive. But because of that, I had to stop going to school two years ago, because of that, I do not have a degree. Its hard do find a good paying job nowadays, with nothing to show, I am very lucky that I have a job in your factory.” He remembered that he just got fired yesterday and got sad again. “Well, I was very lucky…”

Apollo sympathetically smiled at him, as if he would understand anything, as if he is not the reason, he lost his job.

“I am very sorry about that, but we sadly couldn’t go another way with this. Please continue and tell me about your family, how are they right now?”

Max was a bit annoyed by what the other man said and how he sounded saying it. But had to continue for his family’s sake.

“My siblings are doing great, I do everything for them to have a great life and to make sure that they will have it way better then I had it as a kid. But my mother got sick a few months ago and because of that, she had to leave her job. Now I am the only breadwinner in my family and without me working tirelessly, we we wouldn't be able to pay rent, food, and my mothers’ treatment. We barely get through with the money, it is very tiering. So, loosing this job was the worst thing that could have ever happened to me and my family. I haven’t even told them yet, I’m scared how they would react to it. I have nowhere else to go, finding a better job today or even one that pays as much is just not possible!”

Max was completely exhausted after saying all that, it took a lot of courage for him to tell Apollo those things.

Max never had a chance to tell anyone his problems, because his life was never about him, only about his family. He sometimes thinks life would be way easier without having to worry so much, without him having to deal with all his family’s problems. So many thoughts in his head, so little capacity to really occupied himself with them. Its taking a hard toll on his mind, he could use a vacation, heck he could use a lifetime of vacations. Just chilling with nothing on his mind, a save space to live and everything taken care of.

Maybe when he is like 70, he could have that, if he could even save any money up to that point, or survive, he wouldn’t be surprised if he has a heart attack by 30, with all that stress.

Max took a second to realize what he’s thinking, and was immediately taken aback by that. No he has to work his whole life, for his family to have a good one, he can’t stop, he wouldn’t stop until he knew that they were save and had a good future, there is no time for a vacation or anything like it.

Why was he here talking to this rich, snob of a man, who made strange remarks about his looks and asks such personal questions, when he could be out somewhere looking for a job?

Now determined, “So, tell me again, why you wanted me to be here?” Max said clearly, in hopes that he could get a straight answer from Apollo.

“First of all, I have to say, that I am really sorry for what’s going on with your family, I cannot imagine dealing with all of these things on your own, it must be very hard for you. All alone with so many problems to deal with, hoping that there would be a time where all of it is just taken from your mind, your family is taken care of and you can just relax the rest of your life. No stress, no problems, never again!” Max was a bit confused, did he just read his mind? The things the man said seemed a bit strange to him. “But that is why I brought you here!” Apollo continued, and Max was happy, that the man would finally get to his point, it took him way to long to get this far.

"You know. I could help you! Give you more than enough money to save your family and even more than they ever wished for!" he looked the younger man right into his eyes "You just have to sign here!" he said and took out a piece of paper from one of the drawers in his table and tapped onto the dotted line with an X on it.

"That’s it?” the younger man was surprised, “You would pay for my mother’s medical bills, my sibling’s school and even more?” "Yes, of course, like I said, more money than you could have ever have even wished for” Apollo said again.

“But what is my part of the agreement?" Max asked suspicious of this all, “It can’t be that easy!”

This is very strange and concerning to him, “no one would give out free money”, Max thought to himself, even the richest person in the world wouldn’t do that!

The man smirked and answered "Well, it’s easy…" he said with a condecending smile, "You just have to write over your life to me!"

"WHAT?" Max was stunned and confused at what he meant by that. But before he could say or really think about it, Apollo continued saying, "Wasn´t it you, who told me that you and your family can just barely survive, not enough money for even food?", he continued “Didn’t you say, that you want your siblings to have a better life then you had, that they should concentrate on school, then on earning money, just like you had to?”

Apollo smirked and said "Also, didn´t you just tell me earlier, that you have no idea how to continue your life, that you are stuck in this place without even a degree?".

Max was still stunned, but he could finally talk again.

"Yes, I told you all those things, but... but signing over my life, isn’t that a lot to ask from a person?" Apollo still smiled and answered calmly "Yes it’s a lot! It is good that you can see that, but not as much as the money I would give your family for it, they would live like gods and never have to worry about anything again!"

He put one of his bigger hands on Maxes hand, that he had placed on the table near the contract and Apollo continued "Just think about it! Every single problem solved and a perfect life for your family, in exchange for your life. That’s not that bad. Many young men like you would give their life for less and remember, I don´t want you dead"

Max felt very uncomfortable with Apollos hand on his, he tried to gently shake it off, but Apollos where bigger then his and he wouldn’t let go.

Everything the other man said was very scary! Was giving his life away to someone like him, even for an unspeakable amount of money truly worth it?

What would he do to him? And most importantly, what exactly does he mean by that? “Giving his life over?” That makes no sense, is that even possible?

There were so many questions in his young mind and he doesn´t really know if he want’s answers for all of them.

Apollo squeezed Maxes hand lightly and said "I won't **** you to make a decision before you even really know what I mean. I just wanted you to know all the benefits of our little contract. Before we get to the specific stuff" he squeezed his hand again "Let me show you what would happen to you, if you were to sign the contract."

He finally took his hand of Maxes, stood up and motioned for the younger man to follow him as he opened the door out of his office into the corridor.