He just opened his eyes and looked around, soon he needed to ride down from the interstate bus, 4 nights and 5 days of the trip, and his body complained all over, a little stretch would be nice, if not because there's a huge guy next seat to him, well, 5 days ago he was awakened by the security and his ex-business partner telling him to leave right away, he was sleeping in his office with R&D people, all of them were dumped outside the building with anything they could grab quickly or else wait weeks to receive the packages, in his case, he was escorted to a small meeting room, there, Police and few suit people were waiting, according to them, they were some undisclosed federal agency and his work with A.I. and quantum was "dangerous", mostly because the "national interest", so they have to close the project and also suspend his banking accounts because some "questionable" movements have been made in the last 18 months, involving other business people with foreign interest.
He was sitting there, numb, without knowing where to move, another suit guy came and gave him a Divorce file, a date was showing: 2 weeks ago.
Suddenly, all his belongings, cars, houses, properties, banking accounts, cards, everything was gone, he was too dependent on technology, all he had was maybe 35 dollars, more in his other suits but that was in his office, he prefers electronic payments, the divorce papers came with a restraint order, he was (near) 67 years old, with no money and place, as he was seating in the sidewalk, a car stopped and open the door from inside, 5 people were inside.
"Jhon, why you are here? We heard they took all of you, Is it true?"
In the driver's seat, a woman close to 50 years old asks him, his assistant, Melinda, whom he hired when she lost her job in the cafeteria John used to ask for express food, but the restaurant closed leaving their employees without jobs, Jhon asked food and coffee that night, it was late but he forgot the hour, when the delivery came, a young age Latin guy named Raul, gave the food and told him it's was the last time, explaining further the situation, Jhon told him to work for him, Raul made a complicate face, explaining he was young and no responsibilities, he feels bad for his coworkers, adding if the chance could be given to one of his coworkers, Jhon accepted all of them, but no under his company, he took some of his shares as collateral to the Bank and gave the loan to the cafeteria, his company have more than 3 thousand employees, enough to support the food catering business and the old cafeteria.
Raul was sponsored to College, Logistics, and Trade, now with a degree.
Melinda, showing her face between the seats, inside the open-door car, made hand signals to Jhon to come over, Jhon woke up and went inside, after she drove to the cafeteria building, and parked there, they got inside the private room, usually used in birthday parties or any other people like privacy, the Building also has a bar, the owner, now retired, proposed to sale to them, being the chance to have all the building they accepted, it's more a nostalgic type of bar and cafeteria, being the kitchen shared in the middle of the two businesses, they seat in the cafeteria corner used to be the VIPs or employees place, as soon as he took a seat, a huge cup of Arabica coffee made to his front on the table.
"Thank you", being outside cold and poorly dressed made him notice he was trembling, not feeling his hands and barely his warm cup, someone poured some sugar and he lifted the cup, sipping a little, feeling some whisky mixed, another hand pours some milk and more sugar, he now notices the sugar it's brown color, remembering they use sugar cane sugar.
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Melinda: "Jhon, what the heck happened?"
Someone beside him writes something on order books they use to take food orders and show to him, he barely reads, it's been some years he needs to start using glasses to be able to read, the note says: "Some people using fancy stuff to follow you and hears everything", he then looks up and see Raji, his ex-employee now, right next to him.
John: "I don't know, I woke up by the security people and they told me all my assets have been frozen, now I just have a few dollars on me and nothing else"
Melinda: "OK, We know you and We want to offer a temporary job here, in the warehouse, if not being a trouble for you, warm food and bed, minimum wage, until you can do something, being honest I don't know what do can do, after being millionaire and all" she winks twice looking at the phone on the table, his phone was taken and now except 2 phones, all it's disarmed, Ragi took one and show to him, he turned off, he kept the phone showing and 3 minutes later started itself on.
Melinda: "What do you think? nothing fancy"
Jhon: "ok, I appreciate your help, don't worry about me, I'm just, still in a daze"
Melinda: "ok, first, some food, then let me show you your room, and let's see, you can have dinner here or in the common room, We only have available small rooms down by the laundry and cold rooms"
He did know this building was an old type of structure, with over a hundred years of history, and being that old, having many secrets, when he did have the opportunity to buy it 20 years ago, to help Melinda and everyone, never thought this will be this big in real state affairs.
"It's been a that long time" he murmurs to himself since he did like to help the people from the cafeteria, things kept growing in scale, the neighborhood was suffering from gangs and violence, and the crushing blow was from the economic crisis, the Banks didn't know what to do with so many properties, he did have shares that raised their value without even knowing, his best friend took him with some financial advice and before knowing the group he wanted to help increased, but the properties have great plus and repairs and construction funds came from the same Banks using his shares as payments or collateral too, his best friend Noah did put money or to be accurate: he was the one with the financial structure, the little kids from the neighborhood and their dysfunctional families created some kind of Clan or Guetto mentality, most of them still living under this umbrella, some of them got degrees or technical education, lawyers, Accounting experts, engineers, repairmen and more.
The original property was an urban tale about the connection with the prohibition era, Mr. McDowell, the former owner of the bar, explained two decades ago to Jhon that originally it was brewing and warehouse, the upper floor apartments and stores, 12 floors up and 4 down, those were expanded, Jhon kept following Johan in corridors, some double doors and to the elevator, went down, 2, 3 and 4, Johan look at him and say:
"Sorry Jhon, We know all it is yours, but Melinda told Us some dubious people are following you, here should be fine, to be at ease, still, Rafael wants you to change all your clothes, We are on the other side of the block, another property, this was built as a speakeasy bar, but in this area have a nice Condo, you can stay there, there's a landline phone there, you can call Us anytime or if you need food, tomorrow please be at the breakfast, We will come to pick up you"
They were ready to leave the elevator and he didn't why there was an electric golf car there he needed to ride with Johan, after ending his message, he stopped right in front of a nice door, and Johan gave him a card,
"This it's your key"
Jhon used the card and opened the door, surprised to see a fully equipped apartment, he quickly the entertainment room, freezer, and food shelves, and a note on the table: "Hi, please dial 1200, if you want something, groceries, fruits or real food, Matilda, PS: Your number it's 5100"
He nodded and just thought: "I am on the fifth floor?", walking to the supposed to be windows, but nothing it's there, just some big screen in replace of the windows showing the streets, he then walked to the front door and check the map there, He is 5 floors down!