Charlie and the Zombie Factory

By K. J. Gillenwater

Experience the spine-chilling adventure of "Charlie and the Zombie Factory" as Zane Zago's renowned and enigmatic chocolate factory finally unveils its secrets! Prepare to be captivated by a tale where only five extraordinary chocolate sales experts gain coveted access to the prestigious Chocolate Salesman of the Year competition.

 

Delve into the lives of the competitors, each with their unique strategies: Jacqueline, an alluring blonde who skillfully utilizes her charms to secure lucrative sales contracts; Devon Miles, a passionate golf enthusiast who shrewdly leverages his influential family connections for professional advancement. Witness the ruthless tactics of Agnes Ackerby, a cut-throat and deceitful individual willing to go to extreme lengths for a sale. Meet Harold Washington, a former high school football star who has ridden the coattails of his teenage fame for the past three decades. And last but not least, discover Charlie, Our Hero—a quick-witted, resourceful individual embodying bravery and integrity—thrust into the most unexpected and bloodcurdling competition of his lifetime.

 

Uncover the hidden horrors that lie within the Zombie Factory, and join Charlie on a pulse-pounding journey that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Immerse yourself in this thrilling tale, filled with suspense, unexpected twists, and a fight for survival like no other. Don't miss your chance to explore the darkness that lurks behind the chocolate-coated facade in this must-read book that will keep you up at night.

• Language: English
• Publisher: K. J. Gillenwater
• Release date: Apr 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393674979

Book preview

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Zane Zago's famous and mysterious chocolate factory is opening at last!

But only five lucky chocolate sales experts will be allowed inside to compete for Chocolate Salesman of the Year. And the competitors are: Jacqueline Smythe, an incredibly attractive blonde who knows how to use her assets to land big sales contracts; Devon Miles, a golf fanatic who uses his family connections to further his career; Agnes Ackerby, a cut-throat two-faced witch who'd step over her own mother's dead body for a sale; Harold Washington, a former high school football star who'd ridden on his teenage fame for the last thirty years; and Charlie, Our Hero, a person who is wily and clever, brave and true, and finds himself in the most unexpected—and bloody—competition of his life.

Chapter One

The large iron gates squeaked open. The five of us slid thought the narrow opening. Behind us, our families hugged each other in excitement. Mothers clutched children, wives waved and smiled with lipsticked mouths, husbands grimaced with embarrassment at all the hype.

Forward, winners, a deep masculine voice in the style of Michael Buffer, the famous boxing announcer (let's get ready to rum-ble!), shouted from some unknown place. His words echoed through the empty courtyard that separated the gate from the big gray building in front of us.

Winner. Yes, I was a winner. Hard to believe.

I'd managed to get this ticket through good, old-fashioned hard work and determination. Rumors swirled around the other winners: pay-offs and graft, murky contracts and suspect sales practices. Although I hated to think poorly of my fellow salesmen, some of their quarterly numbers had been hard to believe.

I clutched the shiny black ticket in my sweaty palm.

A door opened up in the huge building towering in front of us. It appeared small in the vast wall that rose three or four stories high. No windows. Just industrial cinderblock stacked up and up. The open door reminded me of a worker's entrance you'd find in an alley somewhere in the city, at the back of a restaurant, by the dumpsters and the rats and the filth.

I hung back and let the other four move ahead first. My gut clenched. I should be excited, but instead, I was nervous as hell. I'd dreamed of this moment, of achieving this reward, and now I didn't know if I wanted it.

How stupid. Of course you want it. Everybody wants this chance to see the inside of the mysterious factory and compete for the ultimate prize: Salesman of the Year.

The award came with a sizable bonus, travel perqs and a corporate gig. Meaning the daily grind of meeting sales quotas and