Everything Jonathan offered to him hovered in the air like a bright glittering star waiting to be captured by his answer.
Money... it was the quickest way to get rich.
Land... finally, he’d have sothing under his na. A security that could never be repossessed.
A ready-made business... It was a shortcut most people could only dream of.
Gray exhaled through his nose, his eyes dropping to the polished desk. It would be so easy to grab the first option and run, he thought. But easy had never been his path, and shortcuts usually ca with strings he couldn’t afford.
Gray knew that one day, he’d be able to achieve those three with the help of his system.
So, what he wanted now was sothing that the System might not be able to give to him.
Gray slowly lifted his gaze, eting Jonathan’s expectant look.
"Sir, that’s... generous," he began slowly though a small smile was already playing on his lips. A genuine and kind smile. "But could I ask for sothing different?"
Jonathan’s brows rose, intrigued by it.
"Different how?"
"Soday..." Gray paused for a mont, searching for the right words. "Soday, I might co to you with sothing important. I don’t know what it is yet—I can’t really say. But when that day cos, I’d like to ask for you to hear out and lend a hand. That would an more to than anything right now."
For a second, Jonathan simply stared at Gray, the usual sharp glint in his eyes softening into genuine surprise. Then a deep, rolling laugh escaped his lips.
"Well, I’ll be damned," he said, shaking his head in obvious delight. "Here I am, offering you whatever you want, and instead, you ask for my support?" Jonathan found it amusing.
"That’s all I want." Gray managed a small sheepish smile.
Jonathan sighed and clasped his hands together on top of the desk. He’d entertained hundreds of etings in their house—executives angling for bonuses, business partners asking for money, even distant relatives hoping to borrow a slice of the Lancaster fortune.
Every one of them could list their price in dollars or deeds within thirty seconds if he asked them.
But this kid?
How co he was different?
He wanted a promise instead of material things. There was no greed in his eyes, just quiet confidence—as though he trusted he’d earn the rest on his own.
He didn’t know if Gray was stupid or just confident.
But still, there was sothing rare there. Jonathan watched Gray as he sat perfectly still.
’Ambition without entitlent,’ Jonathan mused. That’s new.
Jonathan let out a deep sigh, a thoughtful hum rumbling in his chest. Chloe had been right. Maybe Gray Adams really was different.
Jonathan smiled and cleared his throat before extending his hand, this ti with renewed respect.
"All right. You’ll have that promise, Gray. When you call for , I’ll answer. I’ll do anything in my power if you ask for my help."
Relief flickered across Gray’s face. He shook the offered hand firmly. "Thank you, Sir."
"But," Jonathan added, holding on to the handshake for another minute. "What you asked might not co so soon, so instead..."
Jonathan let go of Gray’s hand and called his assistant on the telephone. The two spoke in a language that Gray didn’t understand.
When the call dropped, Jonathan just gave him a aningful smile. After a few minutes, a brisk knock sounded, and the door of the study room opened to reveal a sharply dressed middle-aged woman carrying a slim leather portfolio.
"Mr. Lancaster," she said, giving Jonathan a respectful nod before turning to Gray with a polite smile. "These are the papers you requested, sir."
"Thank you, Irene," Jonathan replied.
She placed the portfolio in front of Gray, then left the room without another word, leaving the two n alone once more.
Gray glanced at the folder, then up at Jonathan, brow furrowing.
"What’s this?"
"Go ahead," Jonathan urged Gray, gesturing for him to open it.
With careful fingers, Gray unfastened the clasp of the folder. Inside lay several tidy stacks of docunts—title deeds, transfer forms, a concise financial summary, and on top, a one‑page overview stamped with the logo LanGro Market – Riverside Branch.
"It’s a neighborhood grocery," Jonathan explained, reading the confusion on Gray’s face. "It has a modest footprint, steady revenue, good foot traffic, and plenty of opportunity if soone gave it’s full attention unto it."
"What will I do with this, Sir?" Gray frowned.
"On the second page you’d see the terms. Forty‑percent equity and full managing rights," Jonathan smiled. "I am giving that to you, but my holding in the company remains. That ans you have access to our supply network and accounting support."
"..."
"You can run it yourself, hire a manager, or sell your stake later if you’d rather fund another venture." He spread his hands. "Your call."
Gray’s mouth opened... then closed again.
Was this really happening?
Quickly, Gray flipped to the terms page, half‑expecting the words to be a lie. But nope—there it was in black ink:
"Transfer of 40 % equity to: GRAY ADAMS, effective imdiately."
"What the—" He stopped himself before he could even curse. His gaze landed back to Jonathan.
"Mr. Lancaster, this is... this is too much. You’re handing a business like it’s take‑out."
"Wealth loses its point if you’re afraid to deploy it, Gray." Jonathan chuckled.
Gray dragged a hand through his hair.
’So this is how the one‑percent say thank‑you?’
"I— I don’t even have a background with managing a store." he blurted, half‑laughing, half‑panicking. "You understand how unreal this feels, right?"
Jonathan’s eyes twinkled before he let out a loud laughter. Instead of answering, he stood up and fixed the way his suit was folded.
"That’s not my problem anymore, Gray. Chloe will give you the number of a trusted director of our company to help you start..." Jonathan answered as if what Gray said was no problem.
"So, good luck, Gray. I want to see how you’ll run this store."
=====
A/N:
Thanks to those who dropped so Golden Tickets into the novel!
brewhse, SnusDax, Mark_4727,
I’d also like to say thank you again to Mark_4727 for dropping another gift!
I appreciate it, guys.
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