Perspective: Christopher Langford -- Six Months Ago
Dear reader,
Believe me when I say that your perspective on life changes as you get older. I've realized my great error now that I'm frail and nearing the end.
As of this writing, I have 59 billion dollars spread across various accounts, entities, and foundations. Billions more in securities, funds and other assets. My business empire spans the globe and the ventures are still growing.
I should have given more time to my family. My brothers and sisters. Nieces and nephews. My grandkids. My big mistake was not expressing my love. To guide them, to teach them ethics and philosophy. Sadly, I won't have another chance.
Onto the story:
My most trusted business advisors and associates have become crooked in their dealings. Enriching themselves with secret deals at my expense. Flaunting their power to people in lower positions.
My family has grown complacent living off my fortune. Although I have given them good jobs working for me, many of them do the bare minimum, if anything at all. I've spoiled them.
Later this morning, I am secretly meeting with my team of lawyers to fully re-draft my Wills/Trusts.
Upon my death, my granddaughter Samantha will inherit everything. I trust her pure heart. She is forbidden to delegate duties or wealth.
No one, aside from my lawyers, is aware of my intentions. I know it will be a great shock to all parties involved. Although I will not be alive to see the results, I can only pray they will become better people from this.
May everyone forgive me.
I only wish for the best.
All my love,
Chris
Perspective: Samantha Langford -- Present Day
Imagine this setting. You're 22 years old and have just graduated from college. Your mom gets you an office job, which involves you performing menial tasks for managers.
Suddenly you become the CEO of that global corporation.
Reeling from the loss of a grandfather, Samantha found herself in the center of a hurricane, a disaster of epic proportions.
A team of lawyers kidnapped and imprisoned her in the company's main office, doing their best to explain that
she
was the new Chief-Executive-Officer of the company. That
she
was now a billionaire, in terms of overall assets, cash on hand, and stock options.
They showed her Christopher Langford's Will & Trust documents repeatedly, along with all of the signatures to convince her this was real. The lawyers even made charts to show everything that she owned around the world.
Her duties were non-delegable. If she attempted to assign her powers to anyone else -- then according to the Trust -- all assets would be liquidated and the wealth would be given to charities. The entire family would get nothing.
Samantha ran to the nearby bathroom and threw up. Earlier that morning she was in charge of making photocopies and organizing documents. She lived with her parents in a reasonably sized home. Her entire wardrobe was bought at discount prices, heading out to the mall whenever there was a big sale.
Although her grandfather was a wealthy man, he was notoriously cheap, giving family members normal jobs with average pay. The grandfather certainly had his favorites. His eldest children had higher paying jobs. While his youngest children had lower paying jobs.
Samantha's family was at the bottom of the Langford totem pole. They had the least of everything. They had the fewest perks and cheapest gifts, but they were happy with what they had. It was an honest living and they legitimately worked for their money.
"Ms. Langford? Are you okay?"
She lifted her head off the toilet seat. "I'll be fine tomorrow."
Wanting to spare herself the extra embarrassment, Samantha flushed the toilet and tried to stand, instead falling on her bottom where she sat.
"I recommend taking the day off," he said, kneeling beside her. "Regroup, then we'll continue tomorrow when you're better. I'll have the driver take you home, wherever you consider your home to be."
"This is a nightmare, you know."
"No, I disagree with you. Give it time. The best people are at your disposal and you'll be briefed on everything."
"I want to get a lawyer first," she said, resigned to her fate.
"You need to understand, Ms. Langford,
I'm
your lawyer. Every lawyer in the other room is your lawyer. Everyone in this entire building works for you. You own everything now."
She thought she felt elation in the pit of her stomach, instead it was something else, and she brought her head to the toilet so she could throw up again.
***
When she arrived at the downtown building the next day, an image of her face was enshrined in the lobby, in the place where her grandfather's image used to be. It was like the coronation of a new Queen in many ways.
Once invisible arriving to work, now everyone looked at her and offered a handshake. Smiles were on everyone's faces and people stood upright. Was this what being a celebrity felt like?
The news cycle had been relentless. For several hours she was the #1 trend on Twitter, with most of the comments making jokes about the situation. Memes were made of her pretty face. Private security protected her home. Notable headlines dubbed her as