The Last Branch: A Test of Character

Richard approached the last branch office of his company, the cold air biting at his skin as he pulled his threadbare coat tighter. The past month had been an exercise in grueling disappointment. He had visited every branch, hoping to find just one person who still embodied the core values he had worked a lifetime to instill. Each time, he was met with indifference, outright disdain, or instant rejection.

This branch was his final hope. It was managed by Tom, a young man Richard had personally mentored since his university days, pouring his knowledge and experience into guiding him through the business’s complexities. Now, disguised and alone, Richard was about to discover whether his efforts had made any difference at all.

He remembered a time when his visits had been grand affairs: staff lining up with champagne and warm smiles, eager to impress the company's owner. Now, lost in thought, he collided with a man entering the building.

“Watch where you’re going, you bum!” the man spat, shooting Richard a disgusted look before disappearing inside.

Richard didn’t respond. Over the last month, he had become accustomed to such insults. He was no longer the powerful owner; he was just Richie, a homeless man looking for a bit of warmth and human kindness.

Disguised as someone who had fallen on hard times, he had been denied entry to every office he visited. Steeling himself, Richard entered the lobby and approached the security desk.

---

The Cold Shoulder and the Warm Hand

The guard looked Richard up and down with a scowl. “What do you want, bum?” he asked harshly.

Richard, keeping his voice steady, replied, “I just need to warm up and maybe get something to eat.”

The guard shook his head, his face set. “This isn’t a homeless shelter. You need to get out of here. Now.”

“I’m only asking for some food,” Richard pleaded softly. “Can you call Tom? I think he would help me.”

The guard laughed bitterly. “Tom? He’ll throw you out the second he sees you.”

“Please,” Richard whispered, hoping for a small act of mercy.

The guard sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes before finally making the call. While waiting, Richard glanced at a comfortable-looking couch nearby, tempted by the thought of resting his weary body.

“Don’t even think about it. Stay where you are,” the guard barked.

Richard nodded, stepping back. Moments later, a young woman walked into the building. She greeted the guard with a friendly smile, but paused when she saw Richard’s worn appearance. Her expression softened instantly.

“Sir, are you alright? Do you need help?” she asked with genuine concern.

“I just need to warm up, maybe get something to eat, and some water, if possible,” Richard replied.

She quickly handed him a bottle of water from her own bag. “Here, take this. Let me take you to the office. We have food there.”

“But it’s your water,” Richard said, surprised.

“It’s no problem at all,” she reassured him. “Please, come with me.”

As Richard started to follow her, the guard stepped in front of them. “Tom said not to let anyone in without his explicit permission.”

The woman frowned. “But this man just wants to eat. What’s your name, sir?”

“Richie.”

“Richie just wants to eat,” she repeated to the guard.

The guard crossed his arms, unmoved. “Tom’s coming down now. Until then, this bum isn’t going anywhere.”

The woman’s expression hardened with indignation. “What disrespect! He’s a person just like you and me. Why should he be treated any differently?”

Before the guard could respond, the elevator doors opened, and Tom stepped out, visibly irritated. “What is going on down here?” he demanded.

Richard spoke calmly. “Good afternoon, sir. I just wanted to warm up and have something to eat.”

Tom’s face twisted with immediate disdain. “Do I look like a volunteer? Get out of here! Now! You’re ruining the company’s reputation. What if a client sees a bum in the office?”

The woman tried to reason. “But Tom, he just wants to eat.”

Tom turned on her sharply. “And what’s it to you, Lindsay? You’re just an assistant! Go back to work!”

Without waiting, Tom barked at the guard, “Get him out!” He then pointed at the woman: “And you, follow me.”

As she passed by Richard, she whispered quickly, a determined look in her eyes, “Go to the back entrance. I’ll take you to lunch myself.”

Richard barely had time to nod before the guard grabbed him by the elbow and roughly shoved him out onto the cold street.

---

Lunch with Nancy

Richard shivered slightly as he approached the back entrance. A few minutes later, the young woman emerged, her warm smile a stark contrast to the cold.

“Let’s go. There’s a nice little restaurant nearby. It’s nothing fancy, but the food is really good,” she said, nodding toward the street.

Richard followed her, deeply grateful. “I don’t even know how to thank you. Lindsay, right?”

She smiled, shaking her head. “My name is actually Nancy. Tom never gets it right. He gives me a new name every day. I guess he thinks it’s easier that way. But really, there’s no need to thank me. It’s the least I can do.”

They soon reached the restaurant. Despite the waiters' disapproving glances, Nancy led Richard to a clean table and sat down.

“Order whatever you want; it’s my treat,” she said, pushing the menu toward him.

“Do they pay you so well that you can buy food for a stranger so easily?” Richard asked hesitantly.

Nancy sighed, her smile fading slightly. “Not really. When I interviewed for the job, Tom promised me a much higher salary. But then he decided it was too much for a girl fresh out of university.”

Richard clenched his fists under the table. Tom, his former protégé, had become everything Richard despised: arrogant, dishonest, and cruel.

Nancy quickly noticed his anger and added softly, “But it’s no big deal to treat you. My grandmother always taught me that kindness is its own reward. Even if it’s not, I genuinely like helping.” She blushed a little. “Oh, that probably sounded insulting. I didn’t mean to imply you need charity…”

Richard gently interrupted her. “It’s alright, Nancy. I do need help, and your grandmother was a very wise woman.”

Nancy smiled warmly, then insisted on paying for the entire meal before Richard could finish. She even packed him some extra food to go, handing it to him with a genuine smile. Richard accepted, realizing he had finally found what he had been searching for: someone who truly cared.

---

The Legacy of Kindness

The next morning, Nancy walked into the office. The usual hum of activity was replaced by frantic whispers and tense huddles.

“What’s going on?” Nancy asked a trusted colleague.

“The owner of the company has died,” her colleague explained, eyes wide with shock. “Since he had no children, no one knows who will inherit the company. Tom thinks he’s next in line—the owner’s protégé, after all. We’re all waiting for the lawyer.”

As if on cue, the elevator doors opened, and the lawyer stepped out. Tom rushed over eagerly to greet him.

The lawyer ignored Tom completely. “I’m not here for idle talk,” he said briskly. “I need to see Nancy.”

A hush fell over the entire office. Nancy felt her heart race. “Me?” she whispered.

“Are you Nancy?”

“Y-yes.”

“Then you’re the one I need to speak with. Can we discuss this privately?”

Stunned, Nancy led the lawyer into the conference room. As soon as the door closed, she burst out, “I don’t understand what’s happening!”

The lawyer placed a thick folder on the table. “You are the new owner of the company. Congratulations.”

“WHAT?!” Nancy’s voice echoed off the walls.

“Here are the documents, already signed by Richard,” the lawyer said calmly. “All you need to do is sign, and the company is yours.”

“But… why me?” Nancy felt overwhelmed.

“Richard bequeathed the company to you,” the lawyer stated. He reached into his briefcase. “Oh, and there’s a letter, too—I almost forgot.”

Nancy tore open the letter, eager for the impossible answer.

---

Dear Nancy,

Six months ago, I was given the devastating news that I was dying. The thought of my life’s work having no steward weighed heavily on me. I had no wife, no children—at least none I knew of.

About a month ago, I made a decision. I chose to visit every branch of my company, but not as the owner. I disguised myself as a homeless man. I wanted to see the true character of the people working for me—how they treated those who seemed to have nothing.

Nancy, I was profoundly disappointed. I was met with greed, indifference, and disrespect, and I had almost lost all hope. That was until I met you.

You and your kindness restored my faith. Despite your youth and inexperience, I see in you a heart full of compassion and a spirit of integrity. These are the qualities that matter most, far more than any skill or knowledge Tom could ever possess.

Please stay true to who you are. Lead the company with kindness and wisdom, and everything else will fall into place.

Yours truly,

Richard (or, as you knew me, Richie)

P.S. Your first task as the new owner is to fire Tom and call him Timmy.