Rags To Riches: The Rise Of Mr. Nobody.

Chapter 7: Loyalty.

He collapsed into his chair the moment he got home, a lingering smile still on his face from when he had left. He wasn't completely alone in the world after all.

He was still reminiscing over everything that had happened when a voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Man, it is getting seriously hard to understand you lately,” Grayson said, narrowing his brows as he walked into the room. “Last week you were completely moody, and now you're sitting there smiling like you just won some illegal money.”

Jayden’s smile faltered slightly. Was he going to tell them the truth? That he had found his little sister, the one who was supposed to have died fourteen years ago? No. He couldn't risk her safety. Instead, he just forced another smile.

“It's just good to see you happy for a change,” Nathan chimed in, tossing his jacket aside. “Let's go grab a drink to celebrate your good mood.”

“Alright. My treat,” Jayden said.

Both of his friends stopped in their tracks, their eyes widening in shock.

“Where exactly did you get the money for a treat?” Nathan asked, tilting his head suspiciously.

Was he going to tell them he was secretly a billionaire heir? Definitely not.

“I... I won a lottery on my way home today,” Jayden lied smoothly.

Grayson sat up straight, lifting his gaze to challenge him. “How? You're never the type of guy to do something like that.”

Jayden scratched the back of his neck, playing off the awkwardness. “Someone gave me a small cash token at the bakery earlier. While I was scrolling on my phone on the bus, I saw a lottery app with good reviews, so I just decided to try my luck.”

Nathan narrowed his eyes at the excuse, clearly unconvinced, but pressed anyway. “So, how much money are we talking about here?”

“It's... five thousand dollars!”

“Wow!” Grayson rushed forward, his skepticism instantly vanishing. “Now I completely understand why you're so happy and taking the initiative to treat us. Let's move!”

Nathan shot Grayson a brief glare before looking back at Jayden. “You know you could have kept that money for yourself, right? You need it.”

“Yeah, but you guys are always the ones looking out for me,” Jayden insisted, offering a genuine look of gratitude. “Just accept this gesture as a thank you.”

Nathan let out a sigh and nodded, while Grayson beamed. “Let’s go!”

---

The next day was Jayden’s official day off from the bakery. He lay flat on his bed, his gaze glued to the pages of a book titled ‘How to Become a Successful Businessman.’

After a few minutes of dense reading, he yawned, dropping the book onto the mattress beside him. He stared up at the cracked plaster of his ceiling and sighed heavily.

*Can I really navigate a world like that?* he thought, a familiar anxiety creeping into his chest.

He braced himself and grabbed his phone to dial a number he had saved under a heavy mental weight: Mr. Rodriguez.

The call went through and was answered on the second ring. “Good afternoon, Mr. Hart. How can I help you today, sir?”

“Can you please schedule a meeting for me with the board members?” Jayden asked, his voice steady.

Mr. Rodriguez paused, replying almost immediately, “Are you sure, Mr Hart? You can take more time to prepare if you need it.”

“I'm sure. The earlier we do this, the better.”

“If that is the case, I will schedule an emergency meeting with the board for this afternoon,” Rodriguez agreed. “But I’d like us to discuss a few things beforehand. The Chairman gave me specific instructions regarding your transition.”

“Alright. I'll meet you at the company headquarters in a few minutes,” Jayden said.

In no time at all, Jayden stood in front of the towering building of Apexium. He walked through the grand entrance and went straight toward the executive elevators. As he passed, various employees bowed their heads slightly in respect.

Jayden felt a wave of awe, mixed with a touch of irony. The last time he had been in this building, security had practically dragged him out like a common criminal. Now, the entire floor was treating him with absolute respect.

He chuckled quietly to himself as the elevator doors closed. *Money truly controls everything.*

When he reached the lobby outside the Assistant Chairman’s office, the secretary immediately stood up. “Please, come right in, sir.”

He walked inside to find Mr. Rodriguez sitting behind a massive sleek desk in a leather swivel chair.

“Welcome, Mr. Hart. Please, have a seat,” Rodriguez said, standing up and gesturing to an empty armchair.

“Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez. You said there were things we needed to discuss before the board arrives?” Jayden started, sitting down.

“Yes, about the board. I have officially scheduled the meeting; it is set to commence in exactly one hour,” Rodriguez explained, checking his watch. “But as I warned you during our first conversation, several of these members are going to be violently against you taking the position of CEO. They are going to try to pull strings behind the scenes.”

“I'll keep them grounded,” Jayden spoke up, his gaze unblinking. “They'll have to accept me whether they like it or not.”

Mr. Rodriguez’s eyes flashed with approval, and he nodded. “They will try to play games with your intelligence, but we aren't going to give them the satisfaction they want.”

“I’ll do my best, Mr. Rodriguez.”

“That's all we need. The Chairman will be incredibly proud of you,” Rodriguez said with a warm smile.

Jayden squinted slightly, a thought that had been troubling him finally slipping out. “Mr. Rodriguez... why are you so loyal to my grandfather? You hold an immense amount of power here. You easily could have kept his inheritance a secret and taken the company for yourself.”

Mr. Rodriguez broke into a hearty laugh. “Mr. Valdez isn’t just my employer, Jayden. He is my best friend. He was my benefactor when I had absolutely nothing, and being disloyal to him would be completely unconscionable. He made me the man I am today. He didn't just treat me like an assistant; he treated me like a brother. He gave me privileges and trust that no ordinary boss would ever give an employee.”

Jayden nodded slowly, the image of his grandfather softening in his mind. He must have been a truly good man to earn this kind of loyalty.