Chapter 1 - THE WOMAN WHO WAS NEVER POOR
Adrian Voss looked directly at me, then turned his attention toward the elderly woman sitting beside the window.
"Miss Carter, before you leave, there's something you need to know about the woman whose lunch you just paid for."
My stomach tightened.
Mrs. Ellis sat frozen in her chair, her trembling fingers wrapped around a glass of water.
"What about her?" I asked.
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward Daniel Mercer.
"Bring me the security footage from the last thirty minutes."
Daniel swallowed.
"Mr. Voss, I'm sure whatever misunderstanding occurred can be resolved privately."
Adrian's expression remained perfectly calm.
"Did I ask for your opinion?"
"No, sir."
"Then get the footage."
Daniel practically ran toward his office.
I stood near the entrance, clutching my worn purse.
"Look, Mr. Voss, whatever this is, Mrs. Ellis doesn't deserve another embarrassing scene."
Adrian studied me.
"You believe she forgot her wallet?"
"She said she did."
"And you believed her?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
I stared at him.
"Because not everyone is lying all the time."
Something flickered across his face.
For the first time, his expression seemed almost sad.
He looked toward Mrs. Ellis.
"Margaret."
The elderly woman's head lifted.
"Adrian."
My eyes widened.
"You know each other?"
Mrs. Ellis gave a small, trembling smile.
"I'm afraid we do, sweetheart."
Adrian approached her table.
"How long have you been coming here?"
"Six months."
"And how many employees have treated you kindly?"
She looked down.
"Some."
"How many paid for your food when you couldn't?"
Mrs. Ellis hesitated.
Then looked at me.
"Only Sophie."
I shifted uncomfortably.
"This is getting ridiculous. I paid twelve dollars. Can we please stop acting like I rescued somebody from a burning building?"
Adrian almost smiled.
But his next words made my heart stop.
"Margaret Ellis has been visiting restaurants across Chicago for six months. She's been documenting how elderly customers are treated when staff members believe they have no money."
I stared.
"What?"
Mrs. Ellis reached into her purse.
Her trembling hands suddenly became steadier.
She removed a small leather wallet.
Inside was an identification card bearing the name Margaret Whitcomb Ellis.
Beneath it were the words:
Chairwoman, Ellis Family Foundation.
I blinked.
"Wait."
Adrian nodded.
"Mrs. Ellis controls a charitable foundation worth more than nine hundred million dollars."
I looked at the sandwich receipt still sitting on her table.
"Twelve dollars and forty cents?"
Mrs. Ellis smiled sadly.
"It was never about the money."
I stepped backward.
"Then why pretend?"
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Because I wanted to know whether kindness still existed when nobody expected a reward."
Before I could answer, Daniel returned carrying a tablet.
Adrian watched the footage.
His expression changed.
"Interesting."
Daniel went pale.
"What is it, sir?"
Adrian turned the screen toward me.
The recording showed Daniel standing beside the restaurant register fifteen minutes before Mrs. Ellis arrived.
He opened a file containing my employee information.
Then he placed a call.
Adrian looked at him.
"Why did you contact someone the moment Sophie started her shift?"
Daniel's lips trembled.
"I..."
Adrian's voice dropped.
"Answer me."
May you like
Daniel swallowed.
"Because someone paid me to fire her today."
