Chapter 2: The Name On The Paper
The woman placed the folder on the small counter of the food cart.
“My name is Claire Bennett,” she said.
“I’m Gabriel’s legal advisor.””
Luis didn’t touch the papers.
He kept staring at Gabriel.
The boy he once fed leftovers to was standing in front of him as one of the wealthiest men in America.
But Luis didn’t see a billionaire.
He saw the eleven-year-old child who used to sit behind the cart after closing time, quietly reading old newspapers because he was afraid to go back to the place he called home.
“You should have told us who you were,” Luis said.
Gabriel looked down.
“I wanted to.””
“Then why didn’t you?””
Gabriel looked toward Marta.
“Because I was afraid you would think I came back because I had money.””
Marta’s eyes softened.
“Oh, Gabriel.””
She touched his arm.
“We never cared about money.””
He smiled.
“I know.””
A quiet moment passed.
Then Claire cleared her throat.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have much time.””
She opened the folder.
Inside were property records, purchase agreements, and photographs of the street.
“This company purchased several buildings around this block three months ago.””
Luis looked confused.
“So?””
Claire pointed to the documents.
“The original agreement included this corner.””
Marta looked at Gabriel.
“The cart?””
“Yes.””
Gabriel’s jaw tightened.
“The previous owners planned to remove the cart and replace the entire area with luxury retail space.””
Luis looked down.
“So we were right.””
His voice was tired.
“We were just another old thing standing in the way.””
Gabriel immediately shook his head.
“No.””
His answer was firm.
“You were the reason I bought this property.””
Luis looked surprised.
“What?””
Gabriel walked around the cart slowly.
“When I was a child, I had nowhere to sleep. I was hungry. I was scared. Everyone walked past me.””
He touched the old wooden sign.
“But two people stopped.””
Marta looked away as tears filled her eyes.
“I still remember that first night,” she whispered.
Gabriel smiled.
“I remember too.””
He laughed softly.
“You gave me tomato soup.””
“And you hated it,” Marta said.
Gabriel smiled wider.
“I told you I didn’t.””
“You made a face.””
“I was eleven.””
“You were dramatic.””
For a brief second, the billionaire disappeared.
He was just their Gabriel again.
Then Claire placed another document on the counter.
The mood changed.
“This is why we need to act quickly.””
Luis looked at the page.
“What is this?””
“A transfer request.””
Gabriel’s expression hardened.
“The company that originally purchased the property filed paperwork claiming this cart was abandoned and unauthorized.””
Marta frowned.
“But we have been here every day.””
“I know,” Gabriel said.
Claire nodded.
“And that’s why the claim is false.””
Luis looked at Gabriel.
“Who filed it?””
The question hung in the air.
Gabriel looked toward the street.
His voice lowered.
“A man who worked for my company.””
Marta noticed his expression.
“You know him?””
Gabriel nodded.
“I hired him myself.””
The silence that followed felt heavier than before.
Luis folded his arms.
“Why would someone in your company try to hurt us?””
Gabriel didn’t answer right away.
Because he already knew the reason.
The person responsible had access to his business.
His contracts.
His decisions.
And more importantly…
He knew Gabriel’s history.
Claire slowly pulled out one final document.
“There’s something else.””
She turned the page around.
At the bottom was a signature.
Marta leaned forward.
Her eyes widened.
Because she recognized the name.
“Wait…”
Her voice became a whisper.
“That person…”
Gabriel looked at her.
“You know him?””
Marta’s hands began to shake.
“I knew him when he was a child.””
Gabriel stared at the page.
“Who?””
Marta looked up slowly.
May you like
And the name she said next changed everything.
“Your brother.””
