Julian helped his mother stand up from the floor, keeping his arm firmly around her shoulders as if she might vanish if he let go. He did not care that her blue uniform was damp or that his expensive suit was now ruined from the cleaning soap on the marble. He turned around to face his top corporate lawyer, who was standing nearby with a thick leather file folder tucked under his arm.
Julian: Cancel all my meetings for the rest of the week right now. Call our family estate attorney immediately.
Lawyer: Yes, Mr. Vance. Should I prepare the papers for the housing transfer we discussed last month?
Julian: No. I want my mother put into the penthouse apartment at the top of this building today. And transfer half of my corporate stock into her name right now.
Martha: No, Julian, I cannot take your money. I am used to living simply in my small basement room downtown.
Julian: You saved my life, Mom. Everything I own belongs to you because you gave me a second chance to live.
As they walked toward the private executive elevator, the local building manager came running out from his office with a worried look on his red face. He did not realize who Martha was and only saw a simple janitor walking next to the primary property owner. He stepped directly in front of them, holding a plastic clip board in his right hand while frowning at Martha's wet clothes.
Building Manager: Excuse me, Mr. Vance, but this cleaning staff member has not finished her morning shift in the main lobby yet.
Julian: She will never clean another floor in this city for as long as she lives.
Building Manager: Sir, she signed a strict work contract with our agency. If she leaves now without permission, we will fire her without pay.
Julian stepped forward, his eyes flashing with deep anger as he looked down at the nervous building manager. The air in the hallway grew cold as the billionaire chief executive officer spoke in a low, dangerous tone that made the manager tremble in his black polished shoes.
Julian: You are fired as of this exact second. Pack your office items and leave my skyscraper before noon today.
Building Manager: Mr. Vance, please! I was just trying to follow standard company cleanup procedures!
Julian: This woman is my mother. And you just lost your job for speaking to her like she is nothing.
The building manager dropped his clipboard onto the floor in total disbelief as Julian guided his mother into the private gold elevator car. The heavy glass doors slid shut silently, leaving the shocked staff members standing alone in the bright sunlit atrium. For the first time in twenty years, Martha felt safe as the fast elevator carried her up toward the bright blue sky above New York City.