They say kindness costs nothing—but for one young woman, it changed everything.
Richard stood outside one of his company’s final branch offices, the cold wind biting through his coat. For the past month, he had visited multiple locations, each time pretending to be a man in need. His goal? To find someone—anyone—who still embodied the values he had spent a lifetime building into his company: compassion, humility, and respect. So far, he had found none. This office, managed by a man he once mentored, was his last hope.
Years ago, Richard had been a respected business owner. But after a terminal diagnosis, he decided to go undercover—not as a CEO, but as “Richie,” a man who appeared to have nothing. He wanted to see his staff for who they truly were, without titles or influence.
As Richard approached the office, a man brushed past him with a glare. “Watch where you’re going,” he muttered. Richard said nothing. He was used to reactions like this by now.
He entered the building, hoping for a better reception. The security guard looked him over skeptically. “What do you want?” the guard asked. “Just a bit of warmth, maybe something to eat,” Richard replied. “Could you call Tom? He might remember me.”
The guard scoffed. “Tom won’t want to talk to you.” But reluctantly, he made the call. As they waited, a young woman entered the lobby. She smiled at the guard, then noticed Richard.
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