Chapter 1 - The Unexpected Test
Daniel Brooks stared blankly at the printed receipt in his trembling hand.
He had just transferred his entire meager savings to cover the hospital deposit for the ragged elderly man standing across the counter.
Marcus, the arrogant shift manager, snatched Daniel’s employee badge with a cruel and immensely satisfied smirk.
"You are officially fired for blatantly violating our strict payment protocols, Daniel," Marcus announced loudly for the entire lobby to hear.
Daniel felt a sickening, heavy knot form deep in his stomach as he instantly thought about his mother’s overdue rent.
He desperately needed this job to survive, but his conscience could not let a sick old man be thrown out into the freezing rain.
The frail stranger suddenly stood up perfectly straight, his weak and trembling posture vanishing completely in an instant.
He casually reached into his torn, soaked coat and pulled out a sleek, solid gold smartphone that cost more than Daniel made in a year.
The old man dialed a number with steady, authoritative fingers and looked directly into Daniel’s panicked brown eyes.
"The young man at the front desk," the stranger spoke into the phone with a deep, powerful voice.
"He passed."
Marcus laughed mockingly, crossing his arms as he assumed the old man was suffering from severe, untreated dementia.
"Who exactly do you think you are calling on that stolen toy, old man?" Marcus demanded with harsh condescension.
The stranger ended the secure call and slipped the expensive device back into his inner pocket.
"I am Arthur Sterling, the billionaire founder who secretly owns this entire medical network," he stated with absolute, icy calmness.
Marcus turned entirely pale, his arrogant smirk instantly melting into absolute, unfiltered terror.
"And you, Marcus, are fired effectively immediately for your disgusting lack of basic human empathy," Arthur continued ruthlessly.
Daniel could barely process his shock as the most powerful man in Chicago turned to him and offered him the position of executive director.
Before Daniel could even formulate a proper sentence to accept the life-changing offer, Arthur suddenly gasped loudly for air.
The billionaire violently clutched his chest, his eyes rolling back as he collapsed heavily onto the hard marble floor.
Thick, white foam began bubbling rapidly from Arthur's pale lips.
Marcus immediately stepped forward, but instead of helping, he subtly kicked Arthur's dropped gold phone away from the dying man.
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Marcus looked up with a wicked, calculating smile and pointed a sharp finger directly at Daniel.
"Security, arrest this clerk immediately, he just poisoned Mr. Sterling!" Marcus screamed at the top of his lungs.
