Richard, a successful business owner, approached one of his company’s offices on a cold, unforgiving day. He pulled his coat tighter as he braced against the biting wind. For the past month, Richard had been on a covert mission, visiting every branch of his company in disguise, hoping to find someone who still embodied the values he had instilled. But each visit left him disheartened. Indifference, disdain, and rejection greeted him at every turn. This branch, managed by Tom, a young man Richard had mentored since his university days, was his last hope.
As Richard made his way to the entrance, he reminisced about the past. There was a time when his visits were grand events. Employees would line up to greet him with champagne and warm smiles, eager to impress the wealthy owner. But those days were gone. Lost in thought, Richard didn’t notice a man heading toward him until they collided. The man shot him a disgusted look and spat, “Watch where you’re going, you bum!” before disappearing into the building. Richard didn’t respond. He was used to such insults by now, having spent the last month living as Richie, a homeless man in search of a bit of warmth and kindness.
With renewed resolve, Richard entered the office and approached the security guard, hoping for a different outcome this time. The guard eyed him up and down with a scowl. “What do you want, bum?” he asked harshly. Richard, keeping his voice steady, replied, “I just need to warm up and maybe get something to eat.” The guard shook his head dismissively. “This isn’t a homeless shelter. Get out of here. Now.”
Richard stayed calm. “I’m only asking for some food. Can you call Tom? I think he would help me.” The guard let out a bitter laugh. “Tom? He’ll throw you out the second he sees you.” Despite the guard’s hostility, Richard softly pleaded, “Please, just ask him.” Reluctantly, the guard rolled his eyes and called Tom.
As Richard waited, he noticed a comfortable-looking couch nearby and thought about sitting down. But before he could move, the guard barked, “Don’t even think about it. Stay where you are.” Richard nodded, stepping back to his spot. Moments later, a young woman entered the building, greeting the guard with a friendly smile. Her eyes fell on Richard, and her expression softened.
“Sir, are you alright? Do you need help?” she asked, genuine concern in her voice. Richard hesitated, then said, “I just need to warm up and maybe get something to eat.” Without hesitation, the woman handed him a bottle of water and said, “Here, take this. Let me take you to the office. We have food there.”
Richard looked at the bottle. “But it’s your water,” he said. “It’s no problem,” she reassured him. “Please, come with me.” As they moved, the guard intervened. “Tom said not to let anyone in without his permission.”
The woman frowned, her compassion evident. “But this man just wants to eat. What’s your name, sir?” “Richie,” Richard replied. “Richie just wants to eat,” she repeated firmly. The guard crossed his arms. “Tom’s coming down now. Until then, this bum isn’t going anywhere.” The woman’s expression hardened. “What disrespect! He’s a person just like you and me. Why should he be treated any differently?”
Before the guard could respond, the elevator doors opened, and Tom stepped out, visibly irritated. “What’s going on here?” he demanded. Richard spoke calmly, “Good afternoon, sir. I just wanted to warm up and have something to eat.” Tom’s face twisted with disdain. “Do I look like a volunteer? Get out of here! Now! You’re ruining the company’s reputation. What if a client sees a bum in the office?”
The woman tried to reason with him. “But Tom, he just wants to eat.” Tom turned on her sharply. “And what’s it to you, Lindsay? You’re just an assistant! Go back to work!” He then barked at the guard, “Get him out. And you,” he pointed at the woman, “follow me.”
As she passed by Richard, she whispered quickly, “Go to the back entrance. I’ll take you to lunch.” Richard barely had time to nod before the guard grabbed him by the elbow and roughly shoved him toward the door, throwing him out into the cold street without a second thought.
Richard made his way to the back entrance, shivering slightly from the cold. After a few minutes, the same woman who had helped him earlier came out, carrying a warm smile. “Let’s go. There’s a nice little restaurant nearby. It’s nothing fancy, but the food is really good,” she said, nodding toward the street. Richard followed her, grateful for her kindness. “I don’t even know how to thank you. Lindsay, right?” he asked, trying to remember her name.
She smiled, shaking her head. “My name is actually Nancy. Tom never gets it right. He gives me a new name every day. I guess he thinks it’s easier that way. But really, there’s no need to thank me. It’s the least I can do.” They walked in silence for a few moments until they reached the small restaurant. The waiters glanced at them with disapproving looks, but Nancy didn’t seem to care. She led Richard to a table and sat down across from him.
“Order whatever you want; it’s my treat,” she said, pushing the menu toward him. Richard hesitated, then asked, “Thank you. Do they pay you so well that you can buy food for a stranger so easily?” Nancy sighed, her smile fading slightly. “Not really. When I interviewed for the job, Tom promised me a much higher salary. But later, he decided it was too much for a girl fresh out of university.”
Richard clenched his fists under the table, anger boiling inside him. Tom had turned into someone Richard no longer recognized. Nancy noticed his expression and quickly added, “But it’s no big deal to treat you. My grandmother always taught me that kindness is its own reward. Even if it’s not, I like helping.”
Nancy blushed a little and stammered, “Oh, that probably sounded insulting. I didn’t mean to…”
Richard reached across the table and gently interrupted her. “It’s alright. I do need help, and your grandmother was a wise woman.” Nancy smiled warmly as she reached for her wallet, paying for the entire meal without a second thought. She then insisted that Richard take some extra food to go, packing it up neatly and handing it to him with a gentle smile. Richard hesitated but accepted her kindness, feeling a warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time. As he looked at the young woman, he saw not just kindness but a genuine heart. In that moment, Richard realized that he had finally found what he had been searching for all this time—someone who truly cared.
Nancy walked back into the office, ready to face another day of Tom’s insults. But something was different. The usual hum of chatter was replaced with frantic whispers. People huddled in small groups, their faces tense. Sensing something was wrong, Nancy approached a colleague she trusted. “What’s going on?” Nancy asked, trying to keep her voice steady. Her colleague looked at her, eyes wide with shock. “The owner of the company has died. Since he had no children, no one knows who will inherit the company.”
Nancy felt a chill run down her spine. “What does that mean for us?”
“Tom thinks he’s next in line,” her colleague explained. “He was the owner’s protégé, after all. We’re all waiting for the lawyer to arrive and clear things up.” As if on cue, the elevator doors slid open, and the lawyer stepped out. Tom, looking eager, rushed over to greet him, practically blocking his path. The lawyer didn’t even acknowledge Tom’s enthusiasm. “I’m not here for idle talk,” he said, his tone brisk. “I need to see Nancy.”
A hush fell over the office as all eyes turned to Nancy. She felt her heart race, not understanding why she was suddenly the center of attention. “Me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The lawyer glanced at her. “Are you Nancy?”
“Y-yes,” she stammered, confusion growing.
“Then you’re the one I need to speak with. Can we discuss this privately?”
Stunned, Nancy nodded and led the lawyer into the conference room. As soon as the door closed behind them, she couldn’t hold back her questions. “I don’t understand what’s happening.”
The lawyer’s expression was unreadable. “You’re the new owner of the company. Congratulations.”
“WHAT?!” Nancy’s voice echoed in the small room, louder than she intended.
The lawyer calmly placed a folder on the table. “Here are the documents, already signed by Richard. All you need to do is sign, and the company is yours.”
“But… I don’t understand. Why me?” Nancy felt overwhelmed.
“Richard bequeathed the company to you,” the lawyer said, reaching into his briefcase. “Oh, and there’s a letter too—I almost forgot.” He handed the letter to Nancy, who immediately tore it
