“I’m sorry, young lady, what did you say about the water being funny?” the elderly man asked the cashier. “Money!” she groaned. “I said you don’t have enough money, sir!” “Yes, it was a sunny day!” replied the man with a frown.

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“You require additional funds! In favor of the water! The man flinched when a younger guy behind him grabbed his shoulder and screamed in his ears.

Brandon took note of everything. He was itching to intervene, but he didn’t want to enrage the customers. The old man, in the meantime, asked to receive a smaller bottle of water because he wanted to take his medication and explained that he didn’t have enough money.

“If you can’t afford to pay, you’ll have to go!” shouted the cashier.

“I can go?” He smiled and turned to leave, but the cashier lunged across the counter and snatched the water bottle from his hand. “Just get out, old man!” she hissed. “You’re way too much trouble!”

“Yeah, get lost, old fart!” A woman standing in the middle of the queue yelled.

The old guy begged to be reminded to take his medication, but his requests were ignored.

It was enough for Brandon. Approaching the cashier in a march, he volunteered to pay for the elderly man.

He responded, “Have a heart, lady,” and set his cup down on the counter. The woman counted the money after giving him a disgusted look.

“It will take care of it,” she stated, taking all of the cash, including his last $2. “Now move aside. The line is being held by you.

As he gave the elder guy the water, Brandon left his can of beans on the counter.

“All right, sir. He assured the man he could see his face in case he needed to lip-read, saying, “I got you water.” He spoke slowly and clearly. He was thanked by the man. Together, they exited the store, and Brandon started to walk to his tent on the vacant lot next to the station, but the man stopped him.

“Apause!”

Brandon pivoted around.

The older man said, “Why did you help me when you obviously needed the money?” after spotting Brandon’s tent, where his oldest daughter was using a bucket to assist her two brothers with their laundry.

“Being homeless has taught me one thing, sir: when people are nice to one another, the world functions.” stated Brandon. Sadly, there was no one at the store that could assist you.

However, what will your children eat? You left the beans on the counter, and I observed that.

Brandon answered, “We have the last of yesterday’s bread, and I’m pretty sure I’ll find some scraps at that fast-food place across the street.” “We’ll manage.”

The man frowned as he turned to go. When Brandon saw that he was getting into a shiny SUV, she questioned why a man of his caliber couldn’t afford a bottle of water.

The following day, a silver vehicle came up next to Brandon’s tent as he was sharing cold fries with his three children. A man emerged wearing a dapper suit and walked over to him.

Good morning, gentleman. “I am delivering this to you per Mr. Grives’s last request,” he added, holding out an envelope.

After wiping his hands, Brandon accepted it. Enclosed was a missive.

“Dear sir,

You showed me that you are a man of integrity yesterday by getting me a bottle of water with your last few dollars. Your generosity and conviction in doing good deeds for others have motivated me to return the favor by giving you the best present I can: my company.

I’m nearing the conclusion of my tenure on this planet. I’ve recently been wary of passing my business to my son since I now realize he is a self-centered, conceited man with a hard heart. If you were to inherit the company instead, my conscience would be much eased. All I ask is that you ensure my son is taken care of and may continue to enjoy a safe, comfortable life.

I have to let you know, though, that my son will not agree with my choice. Indeed, it is likely that he will exert every effort to seize command of the company. You’ll need to exercise caution.

Is this a joke of any kind? Brandon gave the man a raised gaze.

The man produced a pen and a stack of printed papers. Mr. Grives spoke in a serious tone. And it will become official as soon as you sign these documents. Together with other personal belongings, you will inherit his business.

“But I just met the guy yesterday. And now he’s dead and leaving me everything?” Brandon asked as he studied the documents. He was no stranger to legalese and had managed several small businesses before he fell on hard times.

“I understand your concerns, sir, but these papers were drawn by the finest lawyers. Mr. Grives was quite clear in his intent. All we need to do is fill in your name, and the lawyers will proceed with the rest.”

Brandon signed the papers because he saw this as his opportunity to give his children a better life. The man then took him and the kids to their new residence.

Brandon looked up at the enormous colonial-style estate at the end of the road as soon as they got there.

Little Derrick said, “Can we set up a tent under that tree with pink flowers?”

“Silly, we’re going to live in that house! Yes, Father? Kelly queried.

Though he could hardly believe it himself, Brandon nodded. However, as soon as he pulled open the double doors, he felt uneasy. The place was disorganized, with a wardrobe overturned, a painting impaled on the banister, and a table on its side in the corridor.

After dropping the bags on the top step, Brandon chased the car and instructed the driver to dial 911. A few hours later, he was talking to the police while surrounded by smashed couches and damaged furnishings.

The officer stated, “We’ve looked around the entire house and there are no signs of forced entry, sir.” This, along with the observation that the security mechanism seems to have been bypassed with the appropriate code, suggests that whoever vandalized this place had a legitimate means of gaining entry.”

Similar to a key? Are you saying that the perpetrator of this simply strolled into this place?

“Sir, I think you should change the locks,” the officer nodded. “Whoever did this was searching for something, and when they couldn’t find it, they became very upset.”

Brandon had a suspicion that the old man’s son was behind everything as the police were leaving.

For illustrative purposes only Extracted from Pexels
Mr. Grives’s secretary showed there early the following day. Before bringing Brandon to the company, she took him shopping and to a barbershop to get his hair done. Brandon was ready to search through the computer files in the office that used to belong to Mr. Grives when the doors suddenly flew open.

“You must be Brandon!” A middle-aged man in a dark suit entered the office and shut the door behind him. “I’m Christopher, one of Mr. Grives’s former business partners, and I’m here to save you from a whole heap of trouble.”

“I’m sorry? What trouble?” Brandon asked.

With a smile, Christopher clarified that he was in charge of sales for one of Mr. Grives’s “specific” companies. Brandon realized right away that it was against the law. He declined to carry on with those services, but Christopher would not listen.

“Hey, you stupid person! Grives owes me two million dollars for managing his illegal operations! That debt is now your responsibility,” he said. And I’ll report everything to the police if you don’t pay up. In addition, you will be responsible for any damages and associated legal costs as the business’s owner. I therefore plan to receive my $2 million by Saturday. Alternatively, you might give me full ownership of the business.

“What? This is extortion! You can’t be serious!” Brandon retorted.

“Yes, it is. And just in case you think I’m not deadly serious…” Christopher pushed back his suit jacket and placed his hand on the butt of a gun holstered at his side. “…rest assured that if you cross me, Brandon, I’ll make you disappear. The police won’t even find enough of you to ID the body.”

Brandon remained silent and complied with Christopher’s requests. He was curious, though, if Christopher was conniving. Brandon then looked for any signs of this illegal aspect of the company, but the computer’s files and data did not provide him with the information he required.

By that evening, Brandon was certain that Christopher was lying after going over the data from every other department. But then he saw it—the filing cabinet buried away in one of the room’s corners. Using the keys he’d discovered earlier on his desk, Brandon opened it. And nestled within the drawer was an antiquated file box, which caught his attention right once.

Brandon realized Christopher wasn’t lying when he saw a ledger with entries written in some sort of abbreviated form within. Hopeless, he pulled into a drawer to retrieve some booze, assuming wealthy businessmen would have pricey scotch close at hand, only to see a picture.

Mr. Grives was pictured standing next to a younger man. When Brandon noticed how much they looked alike, his eyes widened in dread. Christopher, the young man, was the son of Mr. Grives!

For Brandon, everything started to make sense. It was unbelievable to him that Mr. Grives, a decent man, would engage in unethical commercial activities. Brandon concluded that Christopher was probably blackmailing him through his own dubious activities.

Everything was occurring far too quickly—a freak twist that threatened to take it all away, along with a lucky break. Fortunately, Brandon had some experience in the tumultuous world of business; prior to his downfall and eventual homelessness, he had pursued his share of entrepreneurial endeavors.

In the subterranean parking lot on Saturday morning, Brandon confronted Christopher with a counterproposal.

Brandon said, “I’ll give you 49 percent of the company while I keep the remaining 51 percent because I have to maintain my word to your old dad. I take it that’ll be sufficient for you to live comfortably? And I’ll hold onto the right to run the business the way your father desired.

But Christopher refused. “I’m not a fool! I deserved all of it, not some token! Let’s talk when you come to your senses!” he hissed and left.

Brandon went back to the office. He decided to pay Christopher his $2 million and be done with this but found the company’s money was tied up in assets or allocated to monthly expenses. Brandon was helpless.

He returned home, dejected, where another trouble awaited him. As he opened the front door, he found his kids’ nanny tied to a chair and gagged.

“He took the kids! He said to tell you that this should be your wake-up call!” she cried as he freed her, and Brandon knew who she was talking about.Calling Christopher, Brandon begged him not to harm the kids and agreed to turn over the business. They agreed to get together at noon. However, Brandon also made a police call, and within thirty minutes, he was seated next to an FBI agent.

“Just do as I say, and we’ll get your kids back.” He was reassured by Agent Bates.

Christopher was lounging by the pool of a hotel he had rented out that midday. With the exception of the manager, whom he had lavishly rewarded, he had fired all hotel employees and imprisoned Brandon’s children in a cupboard.

When five minutes were left until the deadline, and he didn’t hear from Brandon, Christopher lost his calm. He decided to drown one of the kids in the pool and send the video to Brandon.

“Excuse me, sir,” the manager interrupted him. “You have a package.”

When Christopher checked the envelope, he grinned, forgetting his anger. He strode to his room and signed the paperwork he found inside the envelope. The company was finally his! Then, he freed Brandon’s children. “I’m sure a bunch of ragamuffins like you three can find your way. Now, get lost!”

Rejoicing his victory, Christopher finished getting ready and went to the mirror to fix his tie. Suddenly, he heard a click behind him. Although soft, Christopher instantly recognized the sound of a gun’s safety selector.

“FBI! Put your hands in the air and get onto your knees! You’re under arrest.”

Christopher surrendered. Meanwhile, Brandon held his children close on the sidewalk. Thanks to Agent Bates’s idea of putting a tracker in the documents, Christopher was caught.

“You’ll be filing for bankruptcy before this month is over! And you’ll pay off fines until you die!” Christopher screamed as he was led into the police car.

Brandon took the children home, ready to make everything right. And when the FBI’s fraud division showed up with a warrant, he handed over the evidence—the copy of the company’s records and the ledger he’d found in his office—to the agents, knowing that by the time the investigation was over, he wouldn’t have a penny to his name. But he’d be free.

“Daddy, are we going to leave our home again…just like we did when Mommy died?” Kelly asked him once the agents were gone.

Brandon got down on one knee and hugged his kids.

“Listen, you three, there’s a lot of details that still need to be sorted out, but we’re going to be okay. You want to know why?”

Kelly, Derrick, and his middle child, Sam, looked at him earnestly and nodded.

“It’s because the most valuable thing we have is right here, in my arms. So long as we stick together, we’ll always be rich in the most important way: love. The world’s wealth comes and goes, kids, but the love we share for each other is a treasure nobody can take away from us.”

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