Peter arrives at his father’s hotel and demands ownership. His father challenges him to run the hotel for a day. However, a random homeless man disrupts Peter’s plans.
Peter’s jeep stopped in front of the hotel, but he didn’t get out. He remained seated in the vehicle for a long time, waiting for the driver, Arnold, to open the door for him.
Peter had grown up privileged as the only son of a wealthy businessman. It wasn’t long before his wealth went to his head, and he became an arrogant young man who never treated others with respect.
But Peter was no less troublesome as a child. His poor grades often worried his father, who wondered if Peter would ever learn the importance of hard work. But what Peter lacked in discipline, he made up for in resourcefulness. He had a knack for getting himself out of any tight spot.
“How long do I have to wait for the door to open?” Peter snapped at Arnold, who immediately got out of the vehicle, walked over to Peter’s door, and opened it.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Upon entering his father’s luxurious hotel, Peter was greeted by a young woman named Jenny. She asked him if he would like a welcome drink.
“Don’t you know who I am?” Peter glared at her. “I only drink the special blend made for me!”
Jenny had no idea because she had only started working at the hotel a week ago. She excused herself and disappeared into the kitchen to prepare Peter’s drink. Peter turned to his father’s assistant, Marcus.
“Is Dad in his office?” she asked, approaching the man.
“Ah, yes, sir,” Marcus said, looking at him. “He’s waiting for you.”
“Why do you look so disgruntled, Marco?” Peter joked, making Marcus uncomfortable. “How can you work in a hotel if you can’t even manage a smile?”
“I apologize, sir,” Marcus replied politely. “It’s been a very long day, but that’s no excuse. I’m sorry it shows on my face.”
“Look, Marcus, I’m going to take over as owner of this hotel very soon. Then there will be no room for excuses, believe me.”
Without waiting for a reply, Peter headed towards his father Mr. Greenwood’s office.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Peter greeted his father and they sat down opposite each other. His father called a waiter and ordered two cups of coffee.
“I hope it’s better than the last one I had here,” Peter said sarcastically to the waiter.
“It’s okay, Thomas. We all have our bad days. Do it however you like,” Mr. Greenwood said to the waiter, who took the order and left.
“You have to respect everyone around you, son,” Mr. Greenwood said. “Everyone plays a role in this establishment.”
The coffee arrived soon after, and Peter got straight to the point. “Dad, why don’t you consider retirement?” he said. “You’ve worked hard all your life. Let me show you I can run this place.”
“But why do you need the hotel, son?” Mr. Greenwood leaned back in his chair. “You have $5 million in your accounts, set aside for your future.”
Peter explained that he wanted to earn his inheritance, to prove he wasn’t just a rich kid who had inherited his father’s wealth. But Mr. Greenwood refused, knowing Peter couldn’t run the business. However, Peter persisted, so Mr. Greenwood devised a test.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Five businessmen from five different countries were visiting the hotel. Peter’s job was to ensure they had a smooth stay.
“Marcus will be there to help you,” Mr. Greenwood continued. “I’ll be out of the hotel in 10 minutes. Today, you’re the boss.”
“But yes,” Mr. Greenwood added as he was leaving. “Never forget our values, Peter. We treat all guests equally and as we would like to be treated. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
An hour had passed since Mr. Greenwood left. Peter was sitting comfortably in his father’s chair, talking to his friend on the phone, boasting about being the owner of the hotel for the day, when someone distracted him by singing.
It was too loud to ignore, so Peter went over to the window where the sound seemed to be coming from.
A homeless man stood on the sidewalk in front of the hotel entrance, lost in his song.
Peter was furious. He hung up the phone and stormed out of the hotel to scare the homeless man away.
“Hey, you!” Peter approached him angrily. The man’s face was partially hidden by his thick, long hair, and his clothes, though ragged, were not dirty.
“What do you think you’re doing? Singing in front of my hotel?”
“This sidewalk is a public place, sir,” the man replied. “And last time I checked, singing wasn’t a problem.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
“You’re standing right next to the entrance of MY hotel!” Peter snarled. “Influential businessmen will be coming through those doors very soon, and they don’t need your greeting. You’re pathetic, filthy, ragged… Get out of here!”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not leaving, young man. Nobody chooses misfortune or hardship. And I didn’t choose to lose everything overnight. Nobody has the right to belittle me like this! Your hotel may be private, but out here? This is everyone’s space.”
“Do you dare answer me?” Peter fumed.
“Sir, I hope this helps,” Marcus interjected, handing the homeless man $500. “Maybe you can find a nice place to stay for a while and eat well? Let’s not make a scene, please.”
The homeless man accepted the money. “Not many people would do something like this! Thank you.”
As the homeless man walked away, Peter turned sharply to Marcus. “You didn’t have to lose a big bill to get rid of a homeless man!”
“Of course, sir,” Marcus replied. “But the way I see it, I made sure he left with gratitude, not resentment. You never know how these situations can escalate.”
Suddenly, Marcus’s phone rang. “I advise you to go inside, sir,” he said, checking his phone. “Our first guest will be here soon.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Peter forgot about the situation with the homeless man as the businessmen arrived. He gave them a warm welcome, and when they gathered around a table for dinner, he went over to make sure they had a comfortable stay.
“The food is excellent and the service is fast,” said one of the businessmen, making Peter sigh with relief. “I must say I’m really impressed.”
“I’d like to add that the food served here has extraordinary flavors!” commented the Brazilian businessman. “Incredible food!”
“Good food, I agree,” the third one agreed, cutting into his meat pie.
“And the atmosphere is lovely,” the fourth added.
A wave of relief washed over Peter. His customers were satisfied, and that was all he wanted. But his calm was soon shattered.
“Who is that gentleman? It seems he’s taken the wrong path,” commented the fifth businessman, looking towards the reception area.
Peter turned around, blood trickling down his face. The homeless man he had chased away some time ago was standing in the reception area.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
“Don’t worry, sir,” Peter turned to his guests, maintaining his composure. “I’ll take care of it. Please, enjoy your dinner.”
Peter angrily approached the homeless man, demanding that he leave. But the man waved the five hundred dollars he had received earlier and said, “I want to rent the cheapest room here for tonight!”
Peter’s face twisted in disbelief. “What? This isn’t a motel. It’s a luxury establishment.”
“Every establishment, whether high-class or not, is subject to the law. You cannot refuse to serve without a valid reason, especially if I am willing to pay.”
Before Peter could reply, Marcus intervened. “Mr. Greenwood,” Marcus said calmly, “you’re right. As long as you can pay and we have rooms available, we can’t refuse you service based solely on your appearance. And if we do, it could lead to a police report and potentially a hefty fine.”
“All right,” Peter murmured reluctantly, “give her a room. But make sure it’s the one furthest from our guests.”
However, Peter was determined not to let the homeless man stay.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
That night, after dinner, the businessmen were at the bar. The clinking of glasses and soft laughter filled the room. But the atmosphere was soon disrupted by the unexpected entrance of the vagrant.
Peter’s face turned red with anger as he hurriedly approached the man. “What do you think you’re doing here?” he snapped.
“Well, all guests at this hotel are entitled to a free cocktail. Isn’t that right?” argued the homeless man.
Before Peter could react, one of the businessmen, Mr. Roberts, beckoned him closer.
“Yes sir?”
“Peter, it seems there’s a small problem. The hand dryer in the bathroom isn’t working. Could you take a look at it?” he asked.
Peter assured Mr. Roberts that he would take care of the problem immediately. Forgetting about the homeless man, he went into the restroom. There, a glint on the counter caught Peter’s eye. It was Mr. Roberts’s watch, indeed a brand name.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
At first, Peter’s instinct was to return the valuable object to its rightful owner, but then he had an idea. If he placed the clock in the homeless man’s room, it would be grounds for eviction, and perhaps even for his arrest.
And Peter did it. Making sure the coast was clear, he entered the homeless man’s room using the master key. Peter hid the watch under his pillow. Then he went to the security room and erased the recording of his entry into the homeless man’s room.
An hour later, the businessman, Mr. Roberts, was visibly agitated, pacing back and forth in the lobby, talking animatedly with his colleagues. The missing watch wasn’t just any watch; it was a family heirloom.
“Sir, I apologize for the inconvenience,” Peter said. “We take the safety of our guests very seriously. I’ve called the police, who will help us resolve this matter. And—”
Before Peter could finish, two agents entered.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Pexels
Peter approached them immediately. “Officers,” he said. “Tonight I saw a homeless man staying with us acting suspiciously. He was hiding something under his jacket when he went back to his room.”
“Do you have any surveillance footage that could help us in our investigation?” Agent Johnson asked.
Peter feigned disappointment. “I checked the recording earlier, but there was a glitch. However, I can show you the room where the homeless man is staying. Perhaps you can find some evidence there.”
Peter led the officers to the homeless man’s room, where they found the watch. While Mr. Roberts was relieved, the homeless man, who had just entered the room, was perplexed by the sight.
“Do you have any explanation for why this watch is here, sir?” Agent Johnson asked.
“I’d never seen that watch before they found it under my pillow,” the homeless man replied calmly. “I understand it looks shady, but I didn’t take it.”
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
“He must have taken it. Who else? The evidence is right there in his room,” Peter interjected.
“We’ll get to the bottom of this at the station. Let’s not make a scene here.” The officer gestured for the homeless man to follow him.
“Well, if they really find me guilty, I’ll happily stroll behind bars,” the homeless man said as he left with the officers.
The next morning, Peter had just woken up when his father entered the room.
“Good morning, Dad! I hope I’ve shown that I’m ready to take charge of the hotel,” Peter smiled.
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“Yes, you may have impressed the businessmen, but you’ve forgotten the fundamental value of our family and this hotel: integrity. By the way, check your account, Peter.”
Confused, Peter quickly grabbed his phone from the nightstand and opened his banking app. His heart sank when he saw the balance. Where there had once been 5 million dollars, now there was only one dollar left.
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
Image for illustrative purposes | Photo: Shutterstock
“What’s going on? Why is there only one dollar left?” Peter stammered.
“Remember the incident with the tramp and the clock? I was the tramp. A little makeup, some threadbare clothes, and voilà! I became someone you wouldn’t recognize. I wanted to see how you’d handle yourself in a real-world situation, and you failed miserably, Peter.” Mr. Greenwood gestured toward the door.
“You need some time away from the hotel. Reflect on your actions and think about what really matters.”
As Peter walked toward the exit, the weight of his decisions pressing down on him, he realized that the most important lesson in business wasn’t about money. It was about character.
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