The Commission Thief, The Cancelled Deals

The day before the annual performance review, my boss called me into his office.

He told me my commissions were too high and it was hurting the team's morale.

He suggested I share my hard-earned money with the new guy, a spoiled brat with some high-level connections.

I smiled and said, Sure, no problem at all.

That night, my boss received cancellation notices for over 300 luxury properties.

He called me in a panic, begging me to win the buyers back.

I just laughed and told him, "Sorry, I wouldn't want to hurt the team's morale."

The atmosphere in the boss's office was thick with tension.

"Lucas, your results this year are truly impressive. Your commission check is going to be massive," Mr. Harrison said, leaning back in his leather chair.

"But it's the end of the year, and I have to think about the harmony of this office. Some of your colleagues have mentioned how unfair it feels for one person to take such a huge piece of the pie."

I kept a polite smile on my face, my voice remaining flat. "The commission is exactly what I earned based on my sales."

He didn't seem to catch the coldness in my eyes. He continued with that fake, fatherly tone he loved to use.

"We want everyone to feel like they belong here. Everyone knows you're talented, but the newcomers need support."

"Take Xavier, for example. He's got a great background, but he's struggling to get his feet under him."

I nodded slowly, pretending I didn't see where this was going. "And what exactly are you suggesting, sir?"

He realized I wasn't going to make it easy for him, so he finally dropped the act.

"I'm saying you should give a portion of your commissions to him. It helps him start strong and keeps the team united. A leader like you should be happy to contribute to the group."

"Sure, no problem. I'll do it," I replied instantly. The look of shock on his face was almost funny.

As soon as I walked back to the showroom floor, the vibe shifted.

The colleagues who used to kiss my ass were now giving me the cold shoulder.

"See? Some people just can't hold onto their money. No matter how much you sell, you still have to hand it over," someone whispered loud enough for me to hear.

"Exactly. He acts like a big shot, but in the end, Xavier is the one getting the payday."

Xavier walked over with a smug grin, trying to look humble. "Hey, thanks for looking out for me, man! They say it's good to stand in the shade of a big tree. With you backing me, I'm all set."

I smiled thinly. "True. It's always good to have someone lead the way so you don't trip."

Xavier's grin faltered for a second. He quickly put on a pouting face. "I'm the new guy, so I'm really counting on your help, Lucas."

The group of sycophants around him immediately changed their tune. "Xavier is different. He's got real class and powerful friends helping him out."

Another person let out a low laugh. "Lucas's days as the Top Producer are numbered. There's a new king in town."

I watched them flock to Xavier like sheep. I didn't say a word.

Usually, when I closed a deal, I'd buy everyone Starbucks or lunch. Now, all I heard were insults.

I started packing my things to leave.

Mr. Harrison rushed over, frowning when he saw me cleaning out my desk. "Lucas, it's not even lunch break. Where do you think you're going?"

I smiled at him. "I'm not feeling well. I need to take a medical leave."

His expression darkened. "Are you throwing a tantrum because of the new arrangement?"

I shook my head innocently. "Not at all. The company asked for cooperation, and I'm cooperating. I just need some rest."

He seemed restless. "What about your pending files? You have clients who haven't paid their final deposits yet. You need to handle that."

I looked up at him, my smile widening. "The hand-off? Perfect timing. Xavier is so talented, right? Let him handle the closings. It'll be great practice for the 'Rising Star.'"

Xavier immediately chimed in, looking eager. "Don't worry, Boss. I've got this!"

Mr. Harrison patted his shoulder, beaming. "That's the spirit! You're a natural. Lucas is just doing the grunt work; you'll be the one to bring it home."

I walked out of the office without looking back.

As soon as I hit the parking lot, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to the Family Group Chat.

"Hey everyone, don't pay the final installments on those properties yet. Things have changed. Wait for my signal."

The moment I sent the message, my phone exploded with notifications.

"Lucas, what happened? Is someone giving you a hard time?"

"I told you, kid, don't be too nice! Nobody messes with a Thorne!"

"If you really like selling real estate, why don't we just buy the company for you? You can be the CEO by Monday!"

I was laughing at their aggressive displays of affection when my father called.

"Lucas, talk to me. Did someone at that office disrespect you?"

I lowered my voice. "It's fine, Dad. Just some small-minded people playing games."

He let out a sharp snort over the line. "If you can't stomach it, we'll just acquire the firm and fire everyone. Stop hiding who you are. Let them see what they're dealing with."

I smiled. "No thanks, Dad. I like the hustle. I like the feeling of earning my own commissions. The rush of closing a deal is what keeps me going."

He sighed, his tone softening with concern. "You're just like meDalways looking for a challenge. A billionaire heir playing salesman in a suburban real estate office. It's ridiculous."

"You've known that for a while," I teased. "I like being a nobody and winning on my own merit."

"Hmph. Fine. But remember, when your aunts and uncles heard you were working there, they wanted to buy those units as employee bonuses just to support you. You stopped them then."

"I know. I wanted to earn those sales fairly."

"Well, don't let them push you around. If they try to steal your money, we're not letting that slide. Nobody pushes a Thorne out the door!"

After hanging up, I felt great. I went to a nice steakhouse and enjoyed a long, quiet lunch.

I used to spend all day on my feet at that office. If they wanted my territory so badly, they could have it.

When I got home, I took a nap and muted my phone.

By late afternoon, Mr. Harrison was calling me.

I picked up, sounding sleepy. "Lucas, why aren't you back yet?" he barked.

"I'm at the doctor's. I pushed myself too hard for those year-end goals. I need to take care of myself."

His voice got even more frantic. "A little check-up shouldn't take this long! Everyone else is working their tails off while you're nowhere to be found."

I chuckled. "Boss, I'm legally entitled to my sick leave. I haven't taken a day off in a year. My body finally gave out."

He sounded disgusted. "You really think you're indispensable, don't you? Making such a scene over a cold."

I kept my voice calm. "If you keep talking like that, I might have to start recording this call. I want to make sure my legal rights as an employee are protected."

That shut him up. He slammed the phone down.

A few minutes later, the company group chat pinged. The boss had posted a long, passive-aggressive rant.

The gist was clear: Some people think they are bigger than the team. They have no discipline and are destroying our harmony.

I smiled as my colleagues started chiming in. "So selfish," one wrote. "Some people sleep while the rest of us sweat."

I screenshotted every single message. Once they were done venting, I sent one final text.

"All recorded. Thanks for the feedback, everyone."

The chat went dead silent. A second later, the messages started disappearing one by one as they scrambled to delete them.

When I walked into the office the next morning, Xavier was sitting at my desk. He didn't even try to hide his smugness.

The boss saw me and put on his professional face. "Lucas, since you asked Xavier to handle your deals, it makes sense for him to use your workstation. Consider it a formal handover."

I shrugged. "Whatever works for you."

A few minutes later, a high-profile client walked through the doors. He headed straight for my usual desk.

Xavier jumped up, flashing a bright, fake smile. He started his pitch, and it seemed to be going well.

Mr. Harrison stood nearby, glancing at me with a sneer. "See, Lucas? You aren't the only one who can close. Xavier is doing just fine."

Soon, Xavier was getting the client to sign the paperwork. The office erupted in applause.

"Incredible!" someone shouted. "The new Star of the North!"

Xavier beamed. He looked at me and then at the group. "Drinks are on me today! Order whatever you want from the cafe downstairs!"

Everyone started shouting their orders, intentionally leaving me out of the conversation.

Suddenly, the client heard the noise and looked around. "Wow, you guys have great energy. You all must really respect Lucas."

The boss's smile faltered. "Oh, we have great teamwork. Xavier is actually handling all of Lucas's accounts now."

"Xavier?" the client asked.

"Yes, the young man who just helped you."

The client's face fell. He pulled the contract back. "In that case, I'm not signing. I only came here to do business with Lucas."

Mr. Harrison froze. "But it's the same company. The service is the same."

Xavier rushed over. "Sir, is there something I did wrong? I can fix it!"

The client sighed. "It's not about you. I was specifically told that this deal is for Lucas only. If he's not the one handling it, the deal is off."

The office went silent. A few people looked at each other, confused.

The boss's face turned a nasty shade of purple. Xavier looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor.

One colleague whispered awkwardly, "So... are we still getting those drinks?"

I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing.

Before leaving for the day, I headed to the restroom. I could hear several colleagues gossiping by the sinks.

"Do you really think Lucas's sales are legit? He probably has some sugar mummies buying those houses. How else could he be the top seller every year?"

"For real. He isn't selling houses; he's selling himself."

I didn't hold back. I punched the door of the stall hard, making a loud bang. "If you have something to say, say it to my face!" I shouted.

The door creaked open, and two guys stepped out. They looked guilty for a split second before putting on their "tough guy" acts.

Mr. Harrison heard the commotion and came running over. He just stood there, watching with cold eyes.

Xavier joined him, looking down his nose at me. "Lucas, the truth hurts. You're the Top Producer, but everyone knows how you get those numbers. It's not talent."

I glared at him. "Keep your mouth shut unless you want to see what a real problem looks like."

The boss sighed, sounding bored. He gave Xavier a supportive look. "Lucas, stop being so sensitive. Xavier is the son of the CEO of the Belmont Conglomerate. He knows how the world works."

I laughed harshly. "So you're protecting him? Letting him spread lies because of who his daddy is?"

The boss stepped forward, acting like a disappointed mentor. "It's not protection. It's the consensus of the office. Don't think your few clients make you special. We don't need your BS here."

I looked him dead in the eye. "Fine. Then don't ask for it ever again."

He sneered. "What a joke! You think this company will collapse if you leave?"

Xavier jumped in, sucking up to the boss. "Don't worry, sir. Tomorrow, I'll bring in a massive partnership from my family's company. Our year-end numbers are going to skyrocket!"

I smiled softly. "I wish you both the best of luck with your sales."

I walked out of the restroom and pulled out my phone. I sent a quick text to the family chat.

"Alright, everyone. It's time. Have the lawyers call the office. Cancel every single unit."