Orphaned Son-in-law is Billionaire Heir

Ch. 8- The Miracle

Kirra stood in front of the bathroom mirror at dawn, her hands trembling as she applied lipstick for the third time. Dark circles under her eyes betrayed a sleepless night filled with anxiety and dread.

Connor appeared in the doorway, dressed in his simple orphanage work clothes. "Ready?"

"Ready to be humiliated, you mean?" Kirra's voice cracked. "Connor, this is impossible. A prime downtown office building for five million dollars? They'll laugh me out of the building."

"They won't laugh at you."

"How can you be so confident? You're talking about Jarrah Properties—they deal with billionaires, not middle-class families with charity-worker husbands!"

Connor moved closer, his voice gentle. "I told you, I have friends inside who know about our situation. My charity work has created some unexpected connections."

Kirra stared at him through the mirror. "Charity connections? Connor, we're talking about one of Melbourne's most exclusive property companies. What could emptying bedpans at an orphanage possibly have to do with luxury real estate?"

"Trust me. Just... trust me."

Two blocks away, Milla and Bandicoot sat at a corner table in Grind Coffee, positioned perfectly to watch the entrance of Jarrah Properties through the large windows.

"This is better than Christmas morning!" Milla giggled, stirring her latte with malicious glee.

"I can't believe they actually showed up," Bandicoot smirked. "That delusional cockroach really thinks his orphanage connections will work miracles!"

"Connections!" Milla cackled. "What connections could a bedpan-emptying parasite possibly have? Does he think the janitors at Jarrah Properties will give him a family discount?"

"Remember when I offered them eight million last year?" Bandicoot's grin widened. "They wouldn't even return my calls. But somehow the charity-case husband thinks he can waltz in with five million and walk out with a building!"

"Maybe he'll offer to clean their bathrooms in exchange for the property!" Milla dissolved into hysterical laughter.

"Or volunteer to feed their goldfish!" Bandicoot added. "That's about the level of his professional expertise!"

Through the window, they watched a modest city bus pull up to the curb.

"Oh my God," Milla pointed excitedly, "look! They're arriving by public transport!"

Kirra and Connor stepped off the bus, Connor still wearing his worn orphanage uniform with small stains from his morning shift.

"This is perfect!" Bandicoot pulled out his phone to record. "The great business negotiator arrives in his finest rags!"

"Look at him!" Milla shrieked. "He's dressed like he's going to mop floors, not negotiate multi-million dollar deals!"

"That's because floor-mopping is all he's qualified for!" Bandicoot zoomed in on Connor's humble appearance. "This pathetic worm thinks he belongs in the same building as actual businessmen!"

They watched as Connor walked Kirra to the entrance of Jarrah Properties.

"What's he saying to her?" Milla pressed her face against the window.

At the building entrance, Connor turned to Kirra with a small smile. "Don't worry. This building is mine anyway."

Kirra rolled her eyes and playfully punched his arm. "Very funny. Your charity connections have made you delusional."

"Just remember what I said about trusting me."

"I do trust you," Kirra said softly. "I just hope your orphanage friends actually have the influence you think they do."

Connor watched her disappear through the glass doors, then pulled out his phone to send a quick text message.

Inside Jarrah Properties, Kirra approached the reception desk with her heart hammering against her ribs.

"Good morning," she said nervously. "I'm Kirra Kuranda. I have an appointment to discuss purchasing an office building."

The receptionist's face lit up with a warm smile. "Mrs. Kuranda! We've been expecting you! Please, follow me immediately to Mr. Boroondara's office."

Kirra blinked in surprise. "Immediately? Don't I need to fill out forms or wait in line?"

"Oh no, ma'am! You're our VIP guest today!"

As they walked through the elegant hallways, Kirra's confusion grew. Other clients sat waiting in the lobby, some clearly wealthy based on their designer clothes and expensive jewelry, yet she was being fast-tracked ahead of them.

"Here we are!" the receptionist chirped, opening the door to a luxurious corner office.

Boroondara stood up from behind his massive desk, beaming like he'd just won the lottery. "Mrs. Kuranda! What an absolute pleasure to meet you!"

"Thank you for seeing me," Kirra said uncertainly, still processing the unexpectedly warm welcome.

"Please, have a seat! Can I offer you coffee? Tea? Champagne perhaps?"

"Coffee would be fine, thank you."

Boroondara pressed a button on his desk. "Sarah, please bring our finest coffee service for Mrs. Kuranda immediately!"

Kirra settled into the plush leather chair, feeling like she was in some kind of surreal dream. "Mr. Boroondara, I should explain why I'm here—"

"Oh, I know exactly why you're here!" he interrupted enthusiastically. "And I have fantastic news!"

"You do?"

"Today is your lucky day, Mrs. Kuranda! We're launching a special Community Partnership Promotion!"

Kirra's eyebrows rose. "A what?"

"A community partnership promotion! Any family connected to charitable work gets fifty percent off any property as part of our corporate social responsibility program!"

"Fifty percent off?" Kirra's voice came out as a squeak.

"Exactly! And your husband's outstanding service to the community makes you eligible for our best properties at half price!"

Kirra stared at him in shock. "My... my husband's service?"

"His work with orphaned children and elderly residents is truly inspirational," Boroondara continued earnestly. "Men like him are the backbone of our society!"

"I... I can't believe this is real."

"It's absolutely real! Which property were you interested in?"

"The downtown office building. We have a budget of five million dollars."

"Perfect! That building is normally ten million, but with your community partnership discount, five million is exactly right!"

Kirra felt like she was floating. "This is... this is incredible."

"Here are the contracts!" Boroondara slid a stack of papers across his desk. "Everything is ready for your signature!"

Kirra read through the documents in a daze, hardly believing what she was seeing. The official Jarrah Properties contract clearly stated the purchase price as five million dollars for a building worth twice that amount.

"Is this really happening?" she whispered.

"Sign right here," Boroondara pointed to the signature line with barely contained excitement.

With shaking hands, Kirra signed her name. The moment the pen lifted from the paper, Boroondara stood up and shook her hand vigorously.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Kuranda! The building is officially yours!"

As Kirra walked out of the building in a daze, several employees called out cheerfully from the lobby.

"Congratulations on your purchase, Mrs. Kuranda!"

"Your husband's charity work is so admirable!"

"You're both such wonderful people!"

Connor was waiting outside, leaning against a lamppost with his hands in his pockets.

"So," he asked casually, "how did it go?"

Kirra held up the signed contract with trembling hands. "Connor... they had a community partnership promotion. Fifty percent off for families connected to charitable work."

"Really?" Connor's expression remained perfectly neutral.

"They said your work with orphans and elderly people made us eligible." Kirra studied his face intently. "Connor, do you really have connections at Jarrah Properties?"

"What do you think?"

"I think..." Kirra paused, looking at him with new eyes, "it wouldn't have happened without your connections from your orphanage work as you are such a nice man, that someone might have returned your help back.”