The Homeless Man Who Knew The Future

Chapter 5

Marcus barely remembered how he made it through the rest of the night.

By the time the first rays of sunlight crept over the city, he was sitting alone beneath a bus shelter, staring blankly at the business card Richard Lawson had given him. His clothes were still damp from the storm, his muscles ached from the lightning strike, and every time he closed his eyes, he saw the same scene.

Skyline Microsystems.

Shock merger.

Shares up 247%.

It wasn't fading.

The vision was as clear now as it had been in the park.

Marcus rubbed his temples and laughed bitterly.

"Either I've lost my mind..."

"...or fate finally decided to apologize."

His stomach growled loudly enough to interrupt his thoughts.

He reached into his pocket and counted what he had.

Seven dollars and forty-three cents.

The hundred-dollar bill Richard had forced him to accept.

A total of one hundred and seven dollars and forty-three cents.

It was laughable.

Twenty-four hours ago, he could have spent that much without checking the price.

Now...

It was everything he owned.

Marcus stood and looked across the street.

A giant television inside an electronics store was broadcasting the morning financial news.

The smiling anchor adjusted her papers before speaking.

"Today promises to be another quiet day on the market as investors continue reacting to yesterday's dramatic leadership change at Hale Capital."

Marcus's expression darkened.

His own face appeared on the screen.

The headline beneath it read:

FALL OF A BILLIONAIRE.

The customers inside the store began whispering.

"That's him."

"The fraud."

"They say he stole almost a billion dollars."

Marcus smiled faintly.

Yesterday, those same channels had called him a financial genius.

People were strange.

They never waited for the truth.

They only followed the loudest voice.

He turned to leave when another headline flashed across the screen.

SKYLINE MICROSYSTEMS TO HOLD EMERGENCY PRESS CONFERENCE AT 10 A.M.

Marcus stopped walking.

His heartbeat quickened.

The vision.

It was starting.

He looked at the time.

Nine twenty-three.

Thirty-seven minutes.

The merger announcement hadn't happened yet.

Which meant...

He still had time.

Marcus hurried toward the financial district, weaving through the crowded sidewalks.

Every few minutes he glanced at the electronic billboards displaying live market prices.

Skyline Microsystems.

$12.91

Almost exactly what he'd seen.

His breathing became heavier.

"This has to work."

Then reality hit him.

Even if he was right...

What could one hundred dollars possibly become?

He clenched his jaw.

No.

That wasn't how successful people thought.

His old mentor had once told him something he never forgot.

"The size of your first investment doesn't determine your future. The courage to make it does."

Marcus smiled.

"I guess today's the test."

Inside a busy brokerage office, dozens of investors watched giant monitors as traders shouted orders across the room.

Marcus walked toward the reception desk.

The young receptionist looked up with a practiced smile.

"Good morning, sir. How can I help you?"

"I'd like to open a trading account."

"Of course."

She pushed a tablet toward him.

"Your identification, please."

Marcus handed over his driver's license.

The smile on her face disappeared almost immediately.

She looked back at him.

Then at the computer.

Then at the television mounted in the corner.

Marcus's face was still dominating every business channel.

Recognition filled her eyes.

"I'm... sorry."

Marcus already knew what was coming.

"Our compliance department has flagged your name."

"I can't open an account for you."

Marcus sighed.

"Because of the news?"

She nodded awkwardly.

"I'm afraid so."

Before Marcus could respond, another employee walked over.

Unlike the receptionist, this man didn't bother hiding his disgust.

"So this is Marcus Hale."

He folded his arms.

"I never thought billionaires begged for trading accounts."

Several customers turned to look.

Marcus remained calm.

"I only want to invest."

The employee laughed.

"With what?"

"Stolen money?"

The room burst into quiet laughter.

Marcus looked at the man for several seconds before speaking.

"If you enjoy laughing..."

"I suggest you laugh a little harder."

The employee frowned.

"Why?"

"Because life has a habit of making people cry right after."

The man's smile disappeared.

"Security."

Two guards immediately approached.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Marcus looked around the room.

Every face reflected the same thing.

Disgust.

Suspicion.

Contempt.

Not one person believed him.

He nodded once.

"I'll leave."

As Marcus turned toward the exit, a woman standing near the trading screens lowered the report she had been reading.

She had watched the entire exchange without saying a word.

Her name was Evelyn Carter.

Senior Financial Analyst.

She wasn't interested in Marcus because of the news.

She was interested because of something else.

When Marcus had entered the building...

He hadn't looked around in confusion like most first-time investors.

His eyes had gone straight to Skyline Microsystems.

Almost as if...

He already knew what was about to happen.

Evelyn frowned.

"Who are you?"

Marcus stepped back onto the street.

Another door had closed in his face.

He looked up at the sky.

"Fine."

"If nobody will let me invest..."

"I'll find someone who will."

Just then, a familiar voice called his name.

"Marcus!"

He turned.

Richard Lawson's black SUV pulled to the curb.

The rear window rolled down.

Richard smiled.

"You look like you could use some breakfast."

Marcus hesitated.

"I'm not looking for charity."

Richard laughed.

"Good."

"Because I wasn't offering charity."

"I was offering a conversation."

Marcus looked at the luxury SUV.

Then at the crowded financial district.

His instincts told him this wasn't a coincidence.

Slowly, he opened the door and climbed inside.

As the SUV pulled away, Evelyn Carter watched from the brokerage window.

Her eyes narrowed.

The license plate.

She recognized it immediately.

Impossible...

That vehicle belonged to one of the most influential men in the country.

Why would someone like Richard Lawson personally pick up a homeless man accused of financial fraud?

She quickly grabbed her handbag.

"Cancel my meetings."

Her assistant looked confused.

"What?"

"I'm following them."

Without waiting for a reply, Evelyn hurried toward the elevators.

She had no idea that the answer she was chasing would soon shake the entire financial world.