Throw Someone Under the Bus

In the crowded, smoky haze of a bustling city in the 1940s, Leo Sterling was a man on the make. He was a salesman, smooth-tongued and quick-witted, always on the lookout for an angle. He knew how to sell ice to an Eskimo, and often, he did it by promising more than he could deliver.

One sweltering afternoon, Leo found himself in a tight spot. He had promised a big order of high-quality goods to a very important client, a Mr. Harrison. But the goods he'd delivered were… well, they were not exactly high-quality. And the money from the difference had found its way into Leo's own pocket.

Mr. Harrison, a man with a reputation for being as sharp as a newly honed razor, had found out. He cornered Leo on a busy street corner, just outside the main bus terminal, his face red with fury. A small crowd had already started to gather, drawn by the rising voices.

Leo stammered, sweat beading on his forehead. His carefully constructed lie was crumbling around him. He could see his career, perhaps even his freedom, slipping away. He needed an escape. Fast.

Just then, a stroke of terrible luck, or perhaps divine intervention for Leo, walked into view. It was Frank, Leo's unassuming assistant. Frank was a good-natured fellow, a little naive, and entirely loyal. He was walking by, hands full of sample catalogs, heading towards the very same bus terminal.

Leo’s eyes darted from the angry Mr. Harrison to Frank. A cold, calculating idea formed in his mind. It was ugly. It was ruthless. But it might just save him.

Without hesitation, Leo pointed a trembling finger directly at Frank. His voice, once smooth and charming, now boomed with false indignation. 'It was him!' Leo cried, his eyes wide with feigned shock. 'Frank! He swapped the orders! He’s been skimming from the accounts, Mr. Harrison! I tried to warn you, but he’s so cunning!'

Frank froze, the catalogs slipping from his grasp, scattering across the pavement. His mouth opened, but no sound came out. He looked utterly bewildered, caught in a spotlight he never asked for.