From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34 - A Generous Gift

Aron stepped inside the hall, scanning the room until his eyes landed on the two people he needed to speak with. But just as he began to move toward them, he hesitated.

The look on the young master's face... it reminded me of the one he wore at the Stern family party that night, Aron thought. No... this time, it was worse. Much worse.

His feet rooted in place, he questioned himself. Should I go after him? Be there with him, right now?

Before he could decide, both of Sam's parents noticed the sharply dressed young man standing near the entrance. He stood with perfect posture, his tailored black suit catching the light in a way that made it seem to shimmer, even among the sea of dark mourning clothes.

"Excuse me," Sam's father said gently as he approached. "Are you... the one? A boy told us someone might come speak with us, after the service."

The words pulled Aron from his spiraling thoughts. He straightened up and offered a polite, practiced smile.

This is the first time the young master has entrusted me with something truly important. I won't let him down.

He gave them a respectful bow. "That's correct. I believe this conversation would be best... if the three of us sat down."

Following Aron's lead, Sam's parents were guided to one of the empty tables at the back of the hall. The food had already been cleared away, leaving the space clean and quiet. Aron sat on one side, while Sam's mother and father took their seats opposite him, still carrying the weight of the day in their expressions.

"What's your relationship with that young boy?" Sam's mother asked, her voice cautious but curious.

"Max?" Aron replied calmly. "The two of us share a close relationship. But what I'm here for today... it's separate from that." He folded his hands neatly on the table. "I imagine you're both wondering why I've come, especially on such a difficult day."

There was something in Aron's tone, gentle, measured, that soothed them in a way neither expected. Despite the emotional storm they were in, his presence felt oddly grounding.

"You're right," Sam's father said, glancing at his wife. "The boy, Max... he told us to listen to you. Said you had something important to say. He seemed like a good kid."

"He is," Aron said with a soft smile. "And maybe that's why I'm here now. You see, I heard about what happened a few days ago, your restaurant losing its license. I understand you're in the process of selling the equipment... maybe even the business itself. Is that right?"

"Correct," Sam's mother replied with a quiet nod. "But... with everything that's happened, we honestly haven't had the time to sort anything out."

Even just speaking about it brought a heavy ache to their hearts. Without the business, how were they supposed to make a living? It was the kind of worry that gnawed at you late at night, never letting go.

But now, with the loss of their son, they both felt like they would've gone into any amount of debt just to bring him back. They would've gladly shut the restaurant down a hundred times over if it meant seeing his face again.

And as those thoughts twisted painfully inside them, Sam's father suddenly remembered the last words he'd spoken to his son.

"The news I have for you," Aron began gently, "won't heal your wounds... but it might help ease some of the weight."

He reached into his bag and pulled out a single sheet of paper, sliding it across the table toward them.

"Your restaurant license, the one that had been revoked, it's been reinstated. Your business no longer has to shut down," Aron said, watching their stunned expressions. "And there's more."

He revealed a few more documents, neatly stacked, and placed them on the table.

"This here is an offer. A proposal to purchase one percent of your business."

"One percent...?" Sam's father echoed, caught off guard.

It wasn't the kind of moment where someone wanted to read legal documents, but the situation felt so strange, so unexpected, that he found himself picking it up anyway, scanning the words with wide eyes.

Immediately, one number leapt off the page like a flashing red light.

"Is this some kind of sick joke?!" Sam's father suddenly snapped, his voice rising as he stood to his feet. "On a day like this, you choose now to play games with us?"