[ WP ] Realizing that there is no such thing as bad publicity , large companies have begun to pay money to families of anyone who commits suicide in a way that brings attention to their product . You are feeling suicidal , but want your family to get several large checks out of your death .

Coca Cola was a big corporation. There's no denying it. They owned the drink industry. If you drank something in a bottle, can, or carton, chances were that it was owned by Coca Cola. But having a company that big required some difficult decisions. Decisions that were beneficial for the company but terrible for the everyday office grunts working 9-5 for slightly above minimum wage. 
 
 Terrible for people like Floyd. His boss said they had to reduce overhead. His job was being eliminated. His life was ruined. He had worked for the company the last 6 years building up a reputation as a hard, honest worker. But the executives did n't care. All they saw were numbers on a sheet representing headcount. Nothing about work ethic, loyalty, overtime hours, or reputation. Just numbers. 
 
 So, with one broad sweep of some executive's scythe, 200 jobs were cut. 
 
 Now Floyd had no clue what to do. Finding another job would take too long while he say there without money. What would his wife and kids do? Collecting government benefits made him feel like a loser. But there was one last option. 
 
 For years, big corporations like Coca Cola had been paying anyone willing to commit suicide large sums of money to their family, provided that their suicide included the company's product in some way. The industry had grown, and all large companies did it for publicity. 
 
 The industry was so big, there were websites set up for anyone who wanted to find a final employer. Floyd logged on to one of these websites. 
 
 `` Hey I'm looking for someone to help me,'' he typed. 
 
 Instantly, three replies popped up. He figured they were bots. 
 
 `` We are here to provide you with some final help,'' McDonaldsCorp said. 
 
 `` Your needs will be fulfilled by us,'' somebody named AppleInc said. 
 
 `` Hello Floyd. You can help us help you. Your family will be provided for, and you can do something in return for us. It's a win win,'' 
 
 The name under the last reply, the one that appealed to him the most, read CCC for Coca Cola Corporation. 
 
 He worked for them for 6 years so why not, he figured. Might as well. No point in being angry about the past. 
 
 He entered private chat with the bot or man named CCC. 
 
 `` Hey so how does this work?'' 
 
 `` Please hold while a human operator comes online,'' 
 
 At least his question was answered. 
 
 `` Hey Floyd, I'm Joseph. I'll be talking to you about your situation. 
 
 `` Essentially, the arrangement is mutually beneficial. You get to do what you need to, and we pay money to your family,'' the man explained. 
 
 `` So do I need to do anything special?'' 
 
 `` Well I'm glad you asked. Yes you do. The transaction only completes if you record your action and send it to us via email, or livestream it. Your performance needs to include our product Coca Cola in some way. Any questions?'' 
 
 `` Actually yes. How will I know that you actually pay my family? I'll be dead.'' 
 
 `` Here's the thing, Floyd. This industry is about trust. We trust that you will be creative in your performance and you trust that we will pay up. The system works seamlessly, as long as both parties do their jobs.'' 
 
 `` Alright I'll take it. What's your offer?'' Floyd asked tentatively. 
 
 `` Our offer is $ 30,000.'' 
 
 `` Unacceptable. My family needs to survive. $ 50,000 or I'll find another service.'' 
 
 The man stopped typing for a second and Floyd wondered if he had made a mistake. There was no guarantee that any other company would offer him half that money. 
 
 `` Fine, Floyd. But only because you are a former employee of ours, we are willing to offer you $ 40,000. We normally do n't bargain with customers.'' 
 
 Now it was Floyd's turn to think. He probably was n't going to get anything above $ 40,000 from other companies. But his family would have some trouble surviving. Well actually it would last them until his wife could at least find a job to carry them. 
 
 `` Alright. I'll do it.'' 
 
 `` Great. Reply to us when you have an idea and we can set the while thing up. Have a great day.'' 
 
 And with that, CCC disconnected. 
 
 **** 
 
 Sitting in his creaky office chair in the dark attic of his breaking down house, Floyd took one last look at the creates of coke stacked around his room before pressing the space bar on his keyboard to start the livestream. He was going to drink as much of the coke in the room as possible before hopefully dying. Damn anyone who said it was n't possible to die from too much coke. He would make it possible. His family depended on it. 
 
 On the other side of the stream, some Coca Cola office grunt sat watching a man he once knew drink himself to death for money. What a sad life, he thought. He watched, emotionless, having been too accustomed to watching men die on his screen too be bothered. 
 
 As he witnessed Floyd's final breath, he dialled the phone on his desk. The message went up through the levels of management until somebody important enough authorized for the check to go through. The order came back down through the levels of management to the office grunt who put the check in the mail. 
 
 When the check reached Floyd's widow five days later, the grieving was staved temporarily. When the check bounced at the bank, the grieving only got worse. The CCC had managed to scam a widow of a man who killed himself following being fired by them. 
 
 After all, corporations have to save money wherever possible 
 
 **** 
 
 Feedback welcome. Felt like the reveal at the end could've been better but not sure hkw
