The Homeless Man Who Knew The Future

Chapter 8

The atmosphere inside Richard Lawson's private trading office had completely changed.

Just thirty minutes earlier, the staff had looked at Marcus as though he were an ordinary homeless man Richard had taken pity on. Now, every glance carried curiosity. Some tried to hide it. Others openly stared, wondering how a man accused of destroying his own company had predicted the biggest market surprise of the month with such confidence.

Richard stood before the trading screen with his hands behind his back. The green numbers continued climbing, although at a slower pace now. He wasn't looking at the profits anymore.

He was looking at Marcus.

"I've spent four decades in this business," he said quietly. "I've met Nobel Prize winners, hedge fund managers, economists, politicians... even people who claimed they could predict the market."

He paused before turning around.

"None of them walked into a room with the certainty you had this morning."

Marcus smiled faintly.

"I wasn't certain."

Richard raised an eyebrow.

"You looked like you were."

Marcus took a sip of the coffee that had long gone cold.

"The market punishes people who think they're certain. I only knew the odds were in my favor."

It wasn't the truth.

But it wasn't entirely a lie either.

Richard laughed.

"I've finally found someone who lies as politely as I do."

The tension in the room eased, and even a few traders chuckled.

One of Richard's assistants hurried over with a tablet.

"Chairman, the position has been closed."

Richard accepted the device and glanced at the figures.

Then, without saying a word, he handed it to Marcus.

Marcus looked down.

Net Profit: $24,870,000

He stared at the number for several seconds.

Less than twenty-four hours ago, he had counted seven dollars and forty-three cents with trembling hands.

Now...

One decision had generated almost twenty-five million dollars.

Richard folded his arms.

"So, Mr. Hale..."

"What do you think?"

Marcus looked up calmly.

"I think we sold too early."

The room went silent.

One trader almost dropped his coffee.

Richard blinked before bursting into laughter.

"Do you hear this?"

He pointed at Marcus.

"He just made me twenty-five million dollars..."

"...and he's complaining."

Marcus smiled.

"I'm not complaining."

"I'm being honest."

Richard shook his head, still laughing.

"I like ambitious people."

"No."

He corrected himself.

"I like dangerous people."

Marcus understood exactly what he meant.

A man who could consistently make predictions like this wasn't simply valuable.

He was capable of changing the balance of power in the financial world.

That made him an asset.

Or a threat.

Sometimes both.

Richard dismissed the staff with a wave of his hand.

"Leave us."

Within moments, the trading floor emptied, leaving only the two men behind.

Richard walked toward the window overlooking the city.

"I've been trying to decide whether helping you was a mistake."

Marcus didn't interrupt.

"I've made enemies because of today's trade," Richard continued. "People are already asking how I knew about Skyline. Regulators will review unusual transactions. Competitors will investigate."

He turned around slowly.

"So tell me, Marcus..."

"Who exactly are you?"

Marcus met his eyes without hesitation.

"I'm a man who lost everything."

Richard nodded.

"I know that."

"I'm asking what you are now."

For a moment, Marcus considered telling him the truth.

The lightning.

The visions.

The impossible ability that had rewritten his future.

But reason prevailed.

If he barely believed it himself, why would anyone else?

"I don't have an answer yet," Marcus admitted.

Richard studied him for a long moment before smiling.

"Good."

Marcus looked surprised.

"I was hoping you wouldn't."

Richard walked back to the table and opened a leather folder.

"I had my people investigate you before breakfast."

Marcus wasn't shocked.

He would have done the same.

Richard slid the folder across the table.

"Everything in those reports says Marcus Hale's career is over."

Marcus glanced at the documents but didn't open them.

Richard continued.

"I disagree."

Silence settled between them.

Finally, Richard pushed another document toward Marcus.

"This one is different."

Marcus looked at it.

It was a bank transfer authorization.

His name was printed at the top.

Below it...

Five Million Dollars.

Marcus looked up.

Richard smiled.

"It's your share."

Marcus frowned.

"We never agreed on percentages."

"No."

Richard nodded.

"We didn't."

"I decided this morning."

Marcus looked at the document again.

"You don't owe me this."

Richard chuckled.

"No."

"But I owe myself the chance to work with someone interesting."

Marcus remained silent.

He had learned long ago that nothing in business was ever free.

Richard seemed to read his thoughts.

"I don't want your gratitude."

"I don't want control over you."

"I only want one thing."

Marcus looked up.

"When you make your next impossible prediction..."

"...I want the first phone call."

A smile slowly appeared on Marcus's face.

"That's a better deal."

The two men shook hands.

Neither of them noticed that, through the glass wall of the building opposite, someone was watching.

Evelyn Carter slowly lowered the binoculars she'd borrowed from a maintenance worker.

She had followed Richard's SUV all morning.

At first, she'd expected to expose a hidden financial conspiracy.

Instead...

She had just witnessed Richard Lawson personally shaking hands with the very man the country believed was a disgraced fraud.

"This doesn't make any sense," she whispered.

She quickly raised her camera and zoomed in.

Click.

Click.

Click.

Several photographs captured Marcus and Richard together.

A slow smile spread across her face.

"I finally found my story."

Across town, Damien sat alone in his new office.

The celebration from the previous night had disappeared.

The expensive champagne remained untouched on the table while the television replayed Skyline's shocking rise.

His assistant entered carefully.

"Sir..."

"What?"

"Our investigators have confirmed it."

Damien didn't turn around.

"Confirmed what?"

"Richard Lawson personally traded Skyline Microsystems this morning."

Damien's grip tightened around the glass in his hand.

"And Marcus?"

The assistant hesitated.

"He was with him."

The glass shattered in Damien's hand.

Red wine mixed with blood as shards scattered across the floor.

For the first time since taking over Hale Capital...

Damien wasn't thinking about victory.

He was thinking about survival.

He slowly walked to the window overlooking the city.

"Marcus..."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"What game are you playing?"

Behind him, the television continued repeating the same headline.

MYSTERY INVESTOR EARNS MILLIONS FROM SKYLINE SURGE.

Damien stared at the skyline, unaware that the mystery investor he feared was already planning his next move.

And this time...

Marcus wasn't chasing money.

He was hunting the man who had stolen his life.