The Heir They Underestimated

CHAPTER 2

The notification came at 6:47 AM.

Alex stared at his phone screen, reading the message twice to make sure he understood.

"Your employment with QuickBite Delivery has been terminated effective immediately. Please return your company equipment by end of business day."

No explanation. No warning.

He sat up in bed, the springs creaking under him. The apartment was cold. The heating had been shut off two weeks ago.

Alex called his supervisor.

"Chen." Marcus's voice was clipped. "Yeah, I was gonna call you."

"What happened? The message said I'm terminated—"

"Orders from corporate. Someone complained about you. Said you were harassing customers, delivering late."

"That's not true. I've never—"

"Look, I don't make the rules. Corporate wants you gone, you're gone." Marcus sighed. "Sorry, man. You were one of the good ones. But this came from way up the chain. Someone with money wanted you out."

Derek.

Alex closed his eyes. Of course.

"Return the thermal bag and scooter by five," Marcus said. "Security will meet you."

The line went dead.

Alex sat there for a moment, phone in his hand. The apartment was quiet except for the drip of the leaky faucet in the bathroom.

He had only three hundred and forty dollars in his bank account. Rent was eight hundred, and he was already three months behind.

The door to the second bedroom opened. Jake stumbled out, hair sticking up in every direction.

"Morning." Jake yawned. "You're up early."

"Got fired."

Jake stopped mid-stretch. "What?"

"Just now. Terminated."

"Holy shit!" Jake ran a hand through his hair. "That's... man, I'm sorry. What happened?"

"Derek happened."

"The Ferrari guy?" Jake's jaw tightened. "That piece of—"

"Doesn't matter." Alex stood, pulling on yesterday's jeans. "I need to figure something out."

Jake followed him into the kitchen. The fridge hummed, mostly empty except for some eggs, a half-empty jar of peanut butter, and three packets of instant ramen.

"I've got maybe two hundred bucks I can lend you," Jake offered. "It's not much, but—"

"You're already covering utilities." Alex shook his head. "I can't take more from you."

"Dude, we're roommates. That's what we do."

Alex appreciated it. He did. But Jake worked at a coffee shop making barely above minimum wage. He couldn't afford to carry Alex.

"I'll figure it out," Alex said quietly.

Jake opened his mouth to argue, then seemed to think better of it. "Alright. But seriously, if you need anything..."

"I know."

Alex spent the morning returning the delivery equipment. The security guard barely looked at him, just checked items off a list and pointed him toward the exit.

By noon, he was back at the apartment with no job, no prospects.

He heated water for ramen. Waited for it to boil. Poured it over the noodles in their styrofoam cup.

His phone buzzed. A text from his mother.

"How are you doing, sweetheart? Haven't heard from you in a while."

Alex stared at the message. His mother worked two jobs to keep her own head above water. The last thing she needed was to worry about him.

"Doing fine, Mom. Just busy with work. I'll call you soon."

He set the phone down and ate the ramen in silence.

***

The apartment felt smaller in the daylight. Cracks in the ceiling he'd never noticed before. Water stains in the corner.

The couch they'd found on the street three years ago, springs poking through the cushions.

This was his life now.

Alex finished eating and sat on the couch. The afternoon stretched ahead of him, empty and purposeless.

His phone buzzed again.

This time it was I*******m. Someone had tagged him in a post.

He shouldn't look. He knew he shouldn't.

But his thumb moved before his brain could stop it.

The post was from Melissa. A photo of her left hand, a massive diamond ring catching the light. Derek's arm wrapped around her waist.

"He said YES! 💍 When you know, you know. Can't wait to spend forever with my king. #Engaged #LuckyGirl #UpgradeComplete"

Twenty thousand likes already. The comments section was flooded.

"OMG GORGEOUS RING!"

"You two are PERFECT together!"

"Finally found a real man lol"

Alex scrolled down. More comments. Then he saw it.

"Wasn't she dating that delivery guy like two days ago?"

Someone had replied: "She dodged a bullet fr. Saw the video of the breakup. Dude was PATHETIC."

"I heard he got fired today too. Karma's a bitch."

"From loser to LOSER"

"Derek really saved her. That ex looked like he smelled like expired milk."

Alex set the phone down. Face up. Screen still glowing.

The comments kept rolling in. Strangers laughing at him. Dissecting his life. Melissa had made him a punchline, and now the whole internet was in on the joke.

He sat in the dark apartment as afternoon bled into evening.

Jake came home around six, carrying a grease-stained paper bag.

"Got you something." He set it on the coffee table. "Leftover sandwiches from the shop. Not much, but..."

"Thanks."

Jake glanced at Alex's phone, still glowing on the couch. "You saw."

It wasn't a question.

"Yeah."

"Man, forget her. Forget all of them." Jake sat down heavily. "Those people don't know you. They don't know what you've been through."

Alex said nothing.

What was there to say? That they were right? That he was exactly what they thought he was? A nobody going nowhere, fumbling through life while people like Derek and Melissa glided effortlessly above him?

Jake's phone buzzed. He glanced at it and winced.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just..." Jake turned the screen. "The landlord."

Alex read the text.

"Rent is three months overdue. I've been patient, but I need payment by tomorrow or I'm filing for eviction. This is your final warning."

Jake looked guilty. "I told him you'd have it soon. I didn't think—"

"It's fine."

"It's not fine. This is my fault. I should've—"

"Jake." Alex's voice was quiet but firm. "It's not your fault."

They sat there in silence. The apartment felt like it was holding its breath.

***

Around midnight, after Jake had gone to bed, Alex heard something slide under the door.

He got up and walked over.

An envelope. Official letterhead.

He picked it up and opened it.

NOTICE TO VACATE PREMISES

Tenant: Alex Chen

You have 24 hours to vacate the property due to non-payment of rent. Failure to comply will result in law enforcement involvement and a mark on your rental history.

All personal belongings must be removed by 11:59 PM December 8, 2025.

Alex read it three times.

Then he folded it carefully and set it on the counter.

He walked to the window and looked out at the city. Lights stretched in every direction. Thousands of people living their lives, chasing their dreams, building their futures.

And here he was. Twenty-seven years old. No job. No girlfriend. Getting evicted.

The delivery boy who couldn't even deliver himself to a better life.