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
'The youngest (most unfit) business leader in the world.'
along with a more comical
'College graduate blessed by crazy old grandpa.'
One headline simply read:
Girl Boss
As she made her way through the crowd and the phones taking pictures, she heard a familiar voice calling out from afar.
"Sam! Sam!"
She turned around. "Ms. Gupta, hi."
The woman brisked towards her, gently grabbed her by the arm, and turned her around so they left through the main entrance.
"Please, call me Parmveer from now on," the woman said with the brightest of smiles. "Let's get out of here. I'll explain everything on the way."
For some context, Parmveer Gupta was a prodigy student at Harvard before joining the financial sector as a data analyst. Parmveer worked her way up the corporate ladder with brains and long hours in the office. In a matter of years she became a leading confidant to Christopher Langford, which in turn made her one of the most prominent figures in the corporation.
There were rumors that Parmveer ran things with an iron fist, punishing opposition and demanding loyalty from those beneath her, occasionally making people cry. There were also rumors that Parmveer was close to being fired for those reasons.
Outside a limousine waited for them and they walked past a camera crew that was waiting to record 'Girl Boss' leaving the building.
"Interesting morning, isn't it?" Parmveer asked as they got comfortable in the limo, which drove them away.
"Where are we going? I'm supposed to be working, whatever that's supposed to be."
"Before you work, it's necessary to look the part, especially if you're in the CEO arena."
Samantha looked down at herself. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
"Nothing, if you're a secretary or intern. You're the boss now. Trust me, I know a place."
The ride was silent as they headed to an upscale row of shops in the center of downtown. The limo stopped in front of an exclusive woman's store. Three days ago Samantha wouldn't have dared set foot in this place, now she was going to be personally styled.
Samantha hesitated before entering the store. "I guess I can afford this now."
"Well, this place is under the Langford name, so you own it. You have to get used to dressing like you're rich. Especially during board meetings where it's necessary to show that you're in control."
Is this what power is like? She'd always known Parmveer as being an icy cold woman who rubbed people the wrong way. In fact, Samantha had distinct memories of visiting her grandfather in his main office and receiving zero acknowledgment from Parmveer, none at all.