I\u2019m sorry, young lady, what did you say about the water being funny?\u201d the elderly man asked the cashier.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cMoney!\u201d she groaned. \u201cI said you don\u2019t have enough money, sir!\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cYes, it was a sunny day!\u201d replied the man with a frown.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need more cash! For the water!\u201d A younger guy standing behind the man grabbed him by the shoulder and yelled into his ears, causing him to recoil.<\/p>\n
Brandon noticed everything. He was tempted to step in, but he didn\u2019t want to attract the shoppers\u2019 ire. Meanwhile, the elderly man explained he didn\u2019t have enough cash, asking if he could get a smaller bottle of water as he needed to take his pills.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you can\u2019t afford to pay, you\u2019ll have to go!\u201d shouted the cashier.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can go?\u201d He smiled and turned to leave, but the cashier lunged across the counter and snatched the water bottle from his hand. \u201cJust get out, old man!\u201d she hissed. \u201cYou\u2019re way too much trouble!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, get lost, old fart!\u201d A woman standing in the middle of the queue yelled.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash<\/p>\n
The elderly man requested that he needed to take his pills, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.<\/p>\n
Brandon had had enough. He marched to the cashier and offered to pay for the old guy.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave a heart, lady,\u201d he said and emptied his cup on the counter. The woman looked at him in distaste before she counted the money.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019ll cover it,\u201d she said, taking all the money, including his last $2. \u201cNow step aside. You\u2019re holding the line.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brandon abandoned his can of beans on the counter as he offered the water to the older man.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere you go, sir. I got you water,\u201d he spoke slowly and clearly, ensuring the man could see his face if he needed to lip-read. And the man thanked him. They left the store together, and Brandon headed to his tent on the bare patch of ground adjacent to the station, but the man stopped him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait!\u201d<\/p>\n
Brandon turned around.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you help me when you obviously needed the money?\u201d asked the older man, noticing Brandon\u2019s tent where Brandon\u2019s eldest daughter was helping her two siblings wash up in a bucket.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve learned from being homeless, sir,\u201d said Brandon, \u201cit\u2019s that the world works when people are kind to each other. Sadly, nobody was going to help you at the store.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cBut what are your kids going to eat? I saw you leave the beans on the counter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the last of yesterday\u2019s bread, and there\u2019s a good chance I\u2019ll find some scraps at that fast food joint across the street,\u201d Brandon replied. \u201cWe\u2019ll get by.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man walked away but with a frown. Brandon noticed he got in a gleaming SUV and wondered why a man like him couldn\u2019t afford a bottle of water.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
The next day, while Brandon was dividing cold fries among his three kids, a silver sedan pulled up near his tent. A man in a fancy suit got out and approached him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMorning, sir. Mr. Grives\u2019s last wish was for me to deliver this to you,\u201d he said, extending an envelope.<\/p>\n
Brandon wiped his hands and took it. There was a letter inside.<\/p>\n
\u201cDear sir,<\/em><\/p>\n
Yesterday, you proved yourself to be a man of good character when you spent your last few dollars on a bottle of water for me. Your kindness and belief in doing good for others have inspired me to repay your goodness with the greatest gift I can give you: my business.<\/em><\/p>\n
My time in this world is coming to an end. I have recently become apprehensive about leaving my company to my son, as I\u2019ve come to see that he is a selfish, entitled man with a heart of stone. It would greatly ease my conscience if you inherited the company instead. All I ask is that you ensure my son is taken care of and can continue to live a safe, comfortable life.<\/em><\/p>\n
However, I must warn you that my son will not readily accept my decision. In fact, he will probably do everything in his power to take control of the business. You will have to be on your guard.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cIs this some kind of joke?\u201d Brandon looked up at the man.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
The man produced a stack of printed papers and a pen. \u201cMr. Grives was quite serious. And the moment you sign these papers, it\u2019ll be official. You\u2019ll inherit his company as well as other personal assets.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I just met the guy yesterday. And now he\u2019s dead and leaving me everything?\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
This was his chance to provide his kids with a better life, so Brandon signed the documents. Then, the man drove him and the children to their new home.<\/p>\n
As they arrived, Brandon stared up at the massive, colonial-style mansion at the top of the driveway.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash<\/p>\n
\u201cCan we put up a tent under that tree with pink flowers?\u201d little Derrick asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to live inside that house, silly! Right, Dad?\u201d Kelly asked.<\/p>\n
Brandon nodded, although he could barely believe it himself. But the moment he pushed the double doors open, he sensed something was wrong. The house was a mess\u2014a table lay on its side in the hallway, a painting was impaled on the banister, and a closet had been toppled over.<\/p>\n
Brandon dumped the luggage on the top step, ran after the car, and told the driver to call 911. A few hours later, he stood among slashed sofas and broken furniture, speaking to the cops.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve examined the entire perimeter of the house and found no sign of forced entry, sir,\u201d the officer said. \u201cThis, combined with the fact that the security system appears to have been overridden using the correct code, suggests that whoever vandalized this place had a legitimate means of gaining entry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike a key? You\u2019re telling me the person who did this just walked in here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d suggest you change the locks, sir,\u201d the officer nodded. \u201cWhoever did this was looking for something and got very angry when they didn\u2019t find it.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\n
\n
As the cops left, Brandon suspected the elderly man\u2019s son was behind everything.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
The next day, Mr. Grives\u2019s secretary arrived early. She took Brandon shopping and got him cleaned up at a barber before taking him to the company. In the office that once belonged to Mr. Grives, Brandon was about to go through the files on the computer when the doors burst open.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cYou must be Brandon!\u201d A middle-aged man in a dark suit entered the office and shut the door behind him. \u201cI\u2019m Christopher, one of Mr. Grives\u2019s former business partners, and I\u2019m here to save you from a whole heap of trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry? What trouble?\u201d Brandon asked.<\/p>\n
Christopher grinned and explained he handled the sales for one of Mr. Grives\u2019s \u2018specific\u2019 businesses. Brandon quickly understood it was something illegal. He refused to continue those services, but Christopher was having none of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cListen up, you moron! Grives owed me $2 million for handling the illicit side of his business! You\u2019re now responsible for that debt,\u201d he snarled. \u201cAnd if you don\u2019t pay up, I\u2019ll go to the police and tell them everything. Furthermore, as the company\u2019s owner, you will be liable for all damages and legal ramifications. So, I\u2019ll be expecting my $2 million by Saturday. Or, you can transfer ownership of the entire company to me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I\u2019m sorry, young lady, what did you say about the water being funny?\u201d the elderly man asked the cashier. \u201cMoney!\u201d she groaned. \u201cI said you don\u2019t have enough money, sir!\u201d \u201cYes, it was a sunny day!\u201d replied the man with a frown. For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels \u201cYou need more cash! For the…<\/p>\n
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