They Laughed at the Delivery Man, But Their Smiles Faded When They Learned Who He Was
Chapter 7
A year after the delivery incident, Marcus returned to the same lobby.
The receptionist was still there.
She saw him and smiled.
“Mr. Reed.”
“How are you?”
“Good.”
She hesitated.
“I wanted to thank you.”
“For what?”
“For not firing me.”
Marcus smiled.
“You changed.”
“I did.”
“What happened?”
She looked embarrassed.
“I realized I was judging people.”
“Everyone does sometimes.”
“Not like that.”
“No.”
She nodded.
“I took the training.”
“Good.”
“I also volunteered with a community employment program.”
Marcus smiled.
“That’s better.”
The elevator doors opened.
Marcus stepped inside.
On the forty-seventh floor, the boardroom was full.
Daniel stood.
“Chairman.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Don’t.”
Daniel laughed.
“You still hate titles.”
“Always.”
The board meeting began.
Financial results were strong.
Employee retention had improved.
Customer satisfaction had increased.
The company had recovered from the scandal.
But Marcus had one announcement.
“We’re opening a new foundation.”
The board listened.
“It will provide scholarships and vocational training for young people from communities that don’t usually have access to corporate opportunities.”
One executive asked:
“How much?”
Marcus answered:
“Two hundred million dollars.”
The room went silent.
Daniel smiled.
“That’s ambitious.”
Marcus nodded.
“Good.”
After the meeting, Daniel followed him into the hallway.
“You know something?”
“What?”
“You could have spent your life doing whatever you wanted.”
Marcus smiled.
“I am.”
Daniel looked confused.
“Running a corporation?”
“No.”
Marcus looked through the glass toward the employees downstairs.
“Changing how people see each other.”
Daniel nodded.
“You really mean it.”
“I do.”
Later that afternoon, Marcus walked downstairs.
He stopped at the reception desk.
The same receptionist looked up.
“Leaving?”
“Yes.”
“Need a car?”
Marcus smiled.
“No.”
He held up his delivery jacket.
“I’ve got one more delivery.”
She laughed.
“You’re serious?”
“Completely.”
He walked outside.
His old delivery van was still parked at the curb.
Marcus climbed inside.
The company had offered him a new luxury vehicle.
He refused.
The van reminded him of the person he had been.
And the person he never wanted to forget.
He started the engine.
Then his phone rang.
Maya.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Hey.”
“Where are you?”
“Working.”
“Still?”
“Always.”
She laughed.
“You know you’re ridiculous, right?”
“Your mother says the same thing.”
“Mom’s right.”
Marcus smiled.
“Probably.”
He drove through downtown Chicago.
For a moment, nobody noticed him.
That was exactly how he liked it.
