After giving his last $2 to an elderly man at a gas station, Brandon, a homeless and struggling man, inherited a company the very next day. He believes his family’s life is about to change for the better, but a powerful adversary threatens to ruin everything.
Brandon shuffled into the gas station store, clutching his cup of coins. He was about to cross an aisle when he heard a loud voice and saw an elderly man with hearing problems struggling to pay for water, while a line of impatient customers grew behind him.
The old man asked the cashier, “I’m sorry, young lady, what did you say about the water being funny?”
“Money!” she exclaimed. “I said you don’t have enough money, sir!”
The old man misunderstood and replied, “Yes, it was a sunny day!”
“You require more money! For the water!” The cashier raised her voice, causing the old man to flinch when a younger guy behind him grabbed his shoulder and shouted in his ear.
Brandon observed everything, feeling an urge to help but not wanting to anger the other customers. The old man, needing to take his medication, asked for a smaller bottle of water because he didn’t have enough money.
“If you can’t afford to pay, you’ll have to leave!” the cashier yelled.
“I can go?” The cashier snatched the water bottle from his hand and growled, “Just get out, old man! You’re too much trouble!”
A woman in line shouted, “Yeah, get lost, old fart!”
The old man pleaded for help with his medication, but his requests were ignored. That was enough for Brandon. He approached the cashier and offered to pay for the elderly man’s water.
“Have a heart, lady,” he said, placing his cup of coins on the counter. The cashier counted the money with a look of disgust.
“That’ll cover it,” she said, taking his last $2 along with all his coins. “Now move aside. You’re holding up the line.”
Brandon handed the water to the old man and left his can of beans on the counter. “Here you go, sir. I got you water,” he said slowly and clearly, ensuring the man could read his lips. The old man thanked him, and they left the store together.
As Brandon started to walk to his tent in the vacant lot next to the station, the old man stopped him. “Wait!”
Brandon turned around. The older man, seeing Brandon’s tent where his oldest daughter was helping her brothers with their washing, asked, “Why did you help me when you obviously needed the money?”
“Being homeless has taught me that kindness keeps the world going,” Brandon replied. “No one else in the store was going to help you.”
“But what will your children eat? You left the beans on the counter.”
“We have the last of yesterday’s bread, and I might find some scraps at the fast-food place across the street,” Brandon said. “We’ll manage.”
As the man turned to leave, Brandon noticed him getting into a shiny SUV and wondered why he couldn’t afford a bottle of water. The next day, a silver car pulled up next to Brandon’s tent while he was sharing cold fries with his children. A well-dressed man stepped out and approached him.
“Good morning, sir. I’m here on behalf of Mr. Grives,” he said, holding out an envelope.
Brandon wiped his hands and took the envelope. Inside was a letter.
“Dear Sir,
Yesterday, you showed me your integrity by buying me water with your last few dollars. Your generosity inspired me to give you the best gift I can: my company.
I’m nearing the end of my life and I couldn’t leave my business to my selfish, hard-hearted son. But if you inherit it, I’ll have peace of mind. All I ask is that you ensure my son is cared for and lives comfortably.
However, my son won’t agree with my decision and will likely try to take control of the company. You’ll need to be cautious.”
“Is this a joke?” Brandon asked the man.
“Mr. Grives was very serious. Once you sign these documents, it will be official,” the man replied, handing him a pen and a stack of papers.
Though skeptical, Brandon signed the papers, seeing it as a chance to give his children a better life. The man then took them to their new home, a grand colonial-style estate. As they arrived, Brandon’s youngest asked if they could set up a tent under a tree with pink flowers.
“Silly, we’re going to live in that house! Right, Dad?” Kelly asked.
Brandon nodded, though he could hardly believe it himself. However, as soon as he opened the doors, he felt uneasy. The place was in disarray, with overturned furniture and broken items.
After dropping their bags, Brandon instructed the driver to call 911. A few hours later, he was speaking with the police amidst the mess.
“There’s no sign of forced entry, sir,” the officer said. “It looks like someone who knew the security code did this.”
Brandon suspected Mr. Grives’ son was behind it. The next day, Mr. Grives’ secretary took Brandon shopping and to a barbershop before bringing him to the company. Just as he was about to search through the computer files, a middle-aged man in a dark suit barged into the office.
“You must be Brandon! I’m Christopher, one of Mr. Grives’s former business partners, here to save you from trouble.”
“What trouble?” Brandon asked.
Christopher revealed he handled sales for one of Mr. Grives’s illegal businesses. When Brandon refused to continue these operations, Christopher demanded $2 million, threatening to go to the police if Brandon didn’t pay up or hand over the company.
“This is extortion!” Brandon protested.
Christopher, revealing a gun, made it clear he was serious. Brandon, complying for now, searched for evidence of illegal activities but found nothing on the computers. However, he discovered a ledger in a filing cabinet that confirmed Christopher’s claims.
That Saturday, Brandon met Christopher in the underground parking lot with a counteroffer: 49% of the company in exchange for keeping 51% and running the business as Mr. Grives intended. Christopher refused, demanding the entire company.
Brandon, realizing he couldn’t pay the $2 million and that the company’s funds were tied up, returned home to find his children’s babysitter tied up and his children kidnapped. Desperate, he called Christopher and agreed to hand over the company, then contacted the police.
At the hotel where Christopher held the children, the FBI set a trap. Christopher, distracted by an envelope he believed contained the signed documents, was arrested by the FBI who had included a tracker in the package.
“You’re going to pay for this!” Christopher yelled as he was taken away.
Brandon handed over all evidence of illegal activities to the FBI, ensuring his freedom. Though worried about their future, he reassured his children.
“Kids, the most valuable thing we have is right here in my arms. As long as we stick together, we have a treasure no one can take away: our love.”
