The first recipients of the fund were chosen.
Not by Damien.
By the lawyers.
People who had been where they were.
People who knew what it felt like to drown.
And the cycle of saving began.
---
The meeting was held in the conference room.
Not the old one. The new one. The one with windows that looked out at the city.
Maya sat at the head of the table.
Not Damien. Not Sterling.
Maya.
She had earned it.
"We have twenty thousand applications," she said.
The room was silent.
"We can only choose two thousand five hundred."
David leaned forward.
"That's not enough."
"It's what the fund can cover."
"Then we need more money."
Sarah looked at him.
"Then we ask for more money."
James nodded.
"Then we ask."
The first hour was chaos.
Arguments. Debates. Tears.
Maya pounded the table.
"Enough!"
The room went silent.
"We are not here to fight. We are here to save."
David leaned back.
"Then how do we choose?"
Maya was quiet for a moment.
"The same way we were chosen."
"Potential?"
"Desperation."
"Desperation?"
"The most desperate. The ones who are closest to saying yes to the cartels. The ones who have nothing left to lose."
Sarah nodded.
"The ones who are us."
---
They read applications for hours.
Each one was a story.
Each one was a wound.
Each one was a life hanging by a thread.
Elena. Twenty-three. Law school graduate. One hundred eighty thousand dollars in debt. Lived in her car. Approached by a cartel. Almost said yes.
Carlos. Twenty-five. Law school graduate. Two hundred thousand dollars in debt. Lived in a shelter. Approached by a cartel. Almost said yes.
Priya. Twenty-six. Law school graduate. Two hundred twenty thousand dollars in debt. Lived in a basement. Approached by a cartel. Almost said yes.
Marcus. Twenty-seven. Law school graduate. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars in debt. Lived in a room with six other people. Approached by a cartel. Almost said yes.
They read thousands of applications.
They chose two thousand five hundred.
Not because they wanted to.
Because that was all the fund could cover.
---
Damien was in the hallway.
Waiting.
Maya walked out of the conference room.
"We chose two thousand five hundred."
"Are they the right ones?"
"They're the desperate ones."
David walked out.
"Their debt totals four hundred million dollars."
"Pay it."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
---
Sarah walked out.
"They don't know yet."
"Then tell them."
"Now?"
"Now."
---
James walked out.
"They also need cash to survive. To hold on. To breathe."
"How much?"
"One hundred thousand each."
Damien was quiet for a moment.
"That's two hundred fifty million dollars."
"Yes."
"On top of the four hundred million?"
"Yes."
"Total?"
"Six hundred fifty million."
Damien nodded.
"Do it."
---
Maya stared at him.
"Six hundred fifty million dollars?"
"Their lives are worth more but if we wanna do everything for them with enormous money it will backfire or destabilize global markets and besides if all people were to be rich economic and society will collapse."
"You're not going to negotiate?"
"I don't negotiate with family, i cant do everything but 100k will be enough for people money conscious and financial literary
The first visit was to Elena.
She was sleeping in her car.
Maya knocked on the window.
Elena woke up. Scared. Confused.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Maya. I'm a lawyer."
"I can't afford a lawyer."
"You don't have to."
Elena sat up.
"What?"
"Your student loans have been paid. Your debt is gone. You have one hundred thousand dollars in your bank account to help you get on your feet."
Elena stared at her.
"That's not possible."
"It's possible."
"Who are you?"
"I work for a man who has a big heart for talented struggling students,this is a once in a lifetime opportunity"
Maya smiled.
"I'm you. Six months ago,before damien came into my life and made a difference in my life"
Elena started crying.
Not the silent tears.
The kind that came from somewhere deep.
Somewhere that had been hurting for years.
"I don't understand."
"There's nothing to understand."
"Why would someone do this?"
Maya was quiet for a moment.
"Because someone did it for me.,and he wants to pass it on to more unlucky people. You been choosen for thos wonderful chance"
The second visit was to Carlos.
He was sleeping in a shelter.
David found him in the corner.
"Carlos?"
"Yeah?"
"My name is David. I'm a lawyer."
"I didn't do anything wrong."
"I know."
"Then why are you here?"
David sat beside him.
"Your student loans have been paid. Your debt is gone. You have one hundred thousand dollars in your bank account to help you get on your feet."
Carlos stared at him.
"My mother's surgery?"
"Scheduled."
"My siblings?"
"Taken care of."
Carlos started crying.
"Why?"
"Because someone saved me. Now I'm saving you on hos orders and money
"And who is your boss?"
"Damien moreau"
"Wait the damien moreau??"
"Yeah do u know a different billionaire with that exact name?"
"No i appreciate it alot,i do anything amd everything you need help with"
The third visit was to Priya.
She was in the basement. Reading by flashlight.
Sarah knocked on the door.
Priya opened it.
"Can I help you?"
"My name is Sarah. I'm a lawyer."
"I can't afford—"
"You don't have to."
Priya stared at her.
"What?"
"Your student loans have been paid. Your debt is gone. You have one hundred thousand dollars in your bank account to help you get on your feet."
Priya started crying.
"My parents' medication?"
"Covered."
"Their bills?"
"Paid."
Priya fell to her knees.
"Why?"
"Because damien wamts to help pooe unforunate and doesmt want any of you working for cartel so he is giving you a better life and reason to say no"
The fourth visit was to Marcus.
He was at the diner. Washing dishes.
James found him in the back.
"Marcus?"
"Yeah?"
"My name is James. I'm a lawyer."
"I didn't do anything wrong."
"I know."
"Then why are you here?"
James leaned against the counter.
"Am here to tell you your student loans have been paid. Your debt is gone. You have one hundred thousand dollars in your bank account to help you get on your feet,you got selected by damien with some initial investiments to work for him enjoy and you get further instruction and rewards if you do well ok"
"Ok thanks alot"
Marcus grey stared at him.
"My kids?"
"You can see them now."
"How?"
"Because you're not drowning in debts anymore."
The visits continued for weeks.
Two thousand five hundred people.
Two thousand five hundred stories.
Two thousand five hundred lives changed.
Maya visited Elena.
David visited Carlos.
Sarah visited Priya.
James visited Marcus.
The others visited the rest.
Each visit was the same.
Each visit was different.
Each visit was a resurrection to a hope of a better life outside what their live and background placed them in.
But we all know governmwnt wont watch that go on without trying to destroy everything good.
That night, Christabel put Lena to bed.
Not Damien. Her.
Lena was full of questions.
"Mama, why is Papa happy?"
"Because he helped people."
"How many people?"
"Two thousand five hundred."
Lena's eyes widened.
"That's a lot."
"Yes, it is."
"Can I help people too?"
Christabel smiled.
"Someday, baby. Someday,when you are grown and understand how the world works ok"
"Ok good night mommy"she looked all super cute with her puppy little eyes"
Damien appeared in the doorway.
"She's asleep?"
"She's dreaming,am sure shes in a fantasy land by now"
He walked to her.
Took her hand.
"We saved two thousand five hundred people today."
"I know."
"Their debt is gone."
"I know."
"They have cash to hold on,to do something better with their lives you gave them starter pack with 100K"
"I know,and its good i can do some good for the world"
"Why aren't you surprised?"
She looked at him.
"Because I know who you are."
First Line of Chapter 167 (Teaser):
"The one hundred twenty-second week, the cartels noticed. Not because they were afraid. Because they were losing recruits. The people who had almost said yes were now saying no. And the cartels wanted revenge."