Liam's Downfall

Liam woke up to the Parisian sun gently kissing his face. Golden rays streamed through the large bay windows of his apartment, flooding the room with a warm and welcoming light. Liam stretched lazily, relishing the feeling of well-being that enveloped him. He was happy, even fulfilled. He had succeeded in life.

From his 38th-floor perch, he towered over the city. His apartment offered a breathtaking view of Montmartre, with its red-tiled roofs and picturesque alleyways. He loved perching on his terrace and admiring the panorama, the city spreading out at his feet like an ocean of lights at night.

Today was an important day. Liam had to present the conclusions of the legal audit he had conducted for several months for a major French oil group. It was a crucial file, the most important of his career. He had worked tirelessly, meticulously, conscientiously. He was sure of his findings, convinced that his work was impeccable.

He got up and headed to the bathroom. As he brushed his teeth, he thought back to his meteoric rise. He had arrived in Paris ten years ago, a young ambitious and determined provincial man. He had climbed the ranks one by one, thanks to his hard work and intelligence. Today, he was a manager at one of the world's largest audit firms. He had everything: a good job, a sumptuous apartment, a beautiful girlfriend.

Liam smiled. Life was beautiful.

He quickly got dressed, put on an impeccable suit, and carefully styled his hair. He was ready to face the world. He picked up his cell phone to check his emails and was surprised to find it turned off. He turned it back on and saw that he had missed about twenty calls and thirty messages. His heart clenched with anxiety. A bad feeling engulfed him.

He frantically opened his messages. They were all from his colleagues and superiors. They were all panicked. The major oil group he worked for was accused of tax evasion, and his audit firm was suspected of covering up its actions.

"Damn," Liam thought. "I'm in deep trouble."

He called his superior, Martin Fernand. Martin's voice was tense, full of anger.

"Liam, where were you?!" he thundered. "You don't answer your calls, you don't read your messages! It's a scandal! Do you realize how serious this situation is?"

Liam tried to explain, to justify his lateness, but Martin abruptly interrupted him.

"Silence!" he shouted. "We don't have time for your pathetic excuses! The firm is in shock! The client is screaming, the media is getting involved! And all because of you and your team! You saw nothing? Noticed nothing? A blind man could have spotted the fraud! It's sloppy, incompetent work! Or worse... Don't tell me you were in cahoots with them!"

Liam was stunned. He felt humiliated, betrayed. He wanted to defend himself, explain that his team and he had done their best, but the words failed him.

"Martin, I swear..."

"I don't want to hear it!" Martin cut him off. "You're fired, Liam. Fired in disgrace. And you're going to face the consequences of your actions. The firm will sue you for gross negligence, maybe even complicity. You'll go to court. You'll lose your job, your reputation, everything."

Liam hung up the phone, devastated. He collapsed into a chair, unable to move. His world was crumbling around him. He had lost his job, his reputation, his life.

Liam's heart sank. The stress of the situation was overwhelming, and he knew he needed to talk to someone, someone who could offer support and understanding.

Camille, his loving girlfriend, was the first person who came to mind. He dialed her number, his fingers trembling slightly as he waited for her to answer.

"Camille?" he said, his voice heavy with dejection. "I need to talk to you about something important."

Camille's voice was warm and reassuring, a welcome contrast to the turmoil within him. "What's wrong, Liam? You sound upset."

Liam took a deep breath, steeling himself for the difficult conversation. "I just lost my job, Camille. I don't know what I'm going to do."

Camille's response was immediate and empathetic. "Oh, Liam, I'm so sorry to hear that. I know how much you loved that job."

Liam's voice trembled, "I've lost everything," he confessed. "They've let me go, and now they're threatening to take me to court. I don't know what to do."

"You're going to be okay, Liam," she said firmly. "You're a strong and capable person. You'll find another job, one that's even better."

Her words were a balm to Liam's wounded spirit. He felt a surge of gratitude for her unwavering support.

"Thank you, Camille," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Just when Liam felt like he was finally getting back on his feet, Camille's tone shifted. Her voice became hesitant, laced with a hint of sadness.

"Liam," she began, "there's something I need to tell you."

Liam's heart skipped a beat.

"What is it, Camille?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Camille took a deep breath, her voice filled with a mixture of regret and determination. "Liam, I'm leaving you."

Liam's world crumbled around him. The woman he loved, the woman he had envisioned a future with, was walking away. He felt a wave of despair wash over him, threatening to drown him in its depths.

"But...but why?" he stammered, his voice barely a whisper.

Camille's voice was firm, devoid of any hint of compromise. "It's not about you, Liam. It's about me. I've realized that we're not meant to be together."

Liam's mind reeled, struggling to process her words. The pain of losing his job was compounded by the loss of the woman he held dear. He felt utterly alone, adrift in a sea of despair.

He hung up the call without even realizing it and stepped out onto the terrace of his apartment before gripping the railing and gazing out at the city below.

As he observed the vast expanse below, mirroring the turmoil within him, a dark thought crossed his mind. The ground seemed so far away, a stark contrast to the pain that consumed him.

The idea of jumping seemed like an escape from all his worries, the peace below appearing so tempting.

Just as he was about to climb over the terrace railing, his phone buzzed, breaking the silence. A message flashed on the screen.

[Do you want to start over and become the first representative of the vampire race in a new world?]

With options for both [yes] and [no].

He noticed with astonishment that the message took up the entire screen, and there was no way to close it, leaving him only the choice to respond with either "yes" or "no."

"What the hell is this?" Liam thought.

But at this point, he didn't care if he had caught a virus.

Liam thought to himself, "If only such a thing were possible," pondering how nice it would be to start over in another world. Despite his disbelief, he couldn't shake off the idea of a fresh start. With a tired smile, he clicked on "yes."