CHAPTER 2 — The Woman Everyone Mocked Was Worth Billions
Exactly thirty minutes later...
Every employee froze.
Five black luxury vehicles entered the dealership parking lot.
One after another.
Security officers stepped out first.
Then several executives wearing expensive suits.
Finally...
The same elderly woman slowly emerged from the limousine.
Except now...
Everyone treated her as though she were royalty.
Richard frowned.
"What is this?"
One executive walked straight toward him.
"Who is Richard Collins?"
"I am."
The executive handed him a folder.
"I'm Daniel Foster, Chief Legal Officer for the Ashford Foundation."
Richard looked confused.
"So?"
Daniel's expression never changed.
"The woman you humiliated..."
He turned toward the elderly lady.
"...is Mrs. Eleanor Ashford."
Silence.
Someone dropped a coffee cup.
Richard forced an awkward laugh.
"That can't be right."
Daniel calmly opened the folder.
Inside were documents proving that Eleanor Ashford owned one of the largest charitable investment funds in the country.
Over forty billion dollars in assets.
Major shareholder in banks.
Hospitals.
Universities.
Technology companies.
And...
This dealership's parent corporation.
Richard's smile disappeared.
His face turned pale.
"No..."
Daniel continued.
"Mrs. Ashford deliberately visits businesses dressed in ordinary clothing."
"She believes character is revealed when money isn't visible."
He looked around the silent showroom.
"Congratulations."
"You all passed today's test."
Then he paused.
"Except this dealership."
The employees looked horrified.
Richard suddenly realized what he'd done.
He hurried toward Eleanor.
"I'm... I'm terribly sorry..."
"It was just a misunderstanding."
She quietly looked into his eyes.
"No."
"It wasn't."
"You simply believed poor people deserve humiliation."
Richard's knees nearly gave out.
Customers who had laughed only moments earlier now stared at the floor in shame.
Then Daniel made one final announcement.
"Effective immediately..."
"The Ashford Foundation is canceling negotiations to purchase fifty executive vehicles from this dealership."
Gasps filled the room.
Millions of dollars vanished in a single sentence.
Richard knew his career was over.
But Eleanor wasn't finished yet.
She slowly walked back toward the black SUV.
Placed her hand on the hood once again.
May you like
And said something that made every employee hold their breath.
"I still want to buy this car."
