The Arrangement

The door opens behind me. The ornate office is filled with the soft hum of his wheelchair as he pulls around to face me across the fine oak desk.

"GrandFather." I give the slightest bow of my head in greeting.

His piercing gaze doesn't even twitch at the salutation.

"I see you have it."

I involuntarily clench the little, black book in my hand. The infernal waster of paper has ruled my every waking thought for ten years. Ten years of sleepless nights, fulfilling every demand. The old geezer knew I would have it. This was the day I would get rid of the thing. Today, I will show him just what I am capable of.

"Of course, Grandfather." It was the only reply I could give. The rest would be apparent before I leave this office.

"I trust you have completed each of the tasks."

I try not to show the pride that begins to swell in my soul. Time to commence my presentation.

"I have." The emotionlessness of my response is worthy of note in and of itself. It is quite the feat given my currently inner whirlwind.

"Good." The old man finally starts to show emotion. The gaze slackens and the tiniest smile caresses his lips.

"How much money did you spend?"

This is it. The time to show just how brilliant I am. He will know that there is none who can compare. No one else is even worth considering to inherit his vast company. I alone stand far above the rest. At this, the pride is too much. I allow some of the pressure to be released with a curt smile. My voice sounds different, lighter, though I doubt he could hear it.

"$10,000." It is an absurd about given the momentous tasks I had to complete. It was brilliant. The greatest business men and Wall Street gurus would easily spend over $5000,000 to do what I did. The housing alone should have cost twice the $10,000 I used the entire ten years. But I was able to work my magic. A few well timed lawsuits, threats, blackmail, cut corners, pure genius.

"Is that all?" There is something in his voice. I cannot quite place it. He is probably to astonished to know how to feel.

"That is all."

I watch for the astounding pride to shine through the old man's eyes. It does not come. Instead, his face becomes heavy. There is amazement for sure, but it is overshadowed by disappointment.

He waves to someone standing behind me.

Joe, Jim, or maybe John, whatever my grandfather's manservant calls himself, enters my view. He is carrying four large briefcases.

I simply watch, unable to process the purpose of his deep disappointment. I did as he asked. Every last stupid task on that ridiculous list. I did so while saving an astronomical amount, a small fortune. I did more with less than anyone, ever. My greatness is business is unmatched.

I barely notice what's-his-face setting one of the briefcases on the desk. My mind is too focused on the insane reaction to my genius. I stifle the anger that begins to rise, surely he has a good reason. Grandfather did not build the largest business in New York City by being unwise or foolish.

The top of the briefcase obscures my view of Grandfather as he rifles through the contents. I stare down the golden latch as I wrestle with the savage beast within. I did not accomplish my astounding feats of genius by losing control of myself.

Snap!

The closing gase ia an explosion in the silence. Grandfather tosses something across the desk.

I stare at the envelope for a moment. My eye drift back up to Grandfather's. There is something off about his face. The emotionlessness of his gaze is far more unsettling than it had been before. I cannot explain how, but I sense a change in dynamics.

I slowly reach for the bulging envelope.

"What is this?"

"Your reward." His voice cuts to the bone.

I open the paper and find stacks of bills. I can't tell how much it is, but it can't be very much. The lump of rage is festering in my throat. Another riddle.

"$20,000"

$20,000?! What is the meaning of it? There must be something more.

"Is that all?" I know my mistake, I lost control of my mouth for just a moment, but that was all it took to lose control of the situation.

"Yes, my boy, that is all."

Black leather meets white paper as the book and envelope become one in my fists. The pathetic bills are fire in my hands. The air is thick as I make the conscious decision to squeeze the life form the paper instead of my grandfather.

"Is there an issue? I am doubling your investment. That is a generous reward, is it not?" My anger is fed by the jab, swallowing my pride.

"That was not mentioned in the arrangement." The venom seeps from my lips. How dare he? I slaved over that stupid book for ten years. I gave to the poor, I wasted time and money on the rabble of disease infested squalors. I called in very expensive favors and made deals with the worst sort of villains imaginable. I earned this business. I gave my soul for it!

"The arrangement was for you to spend ten years completing the list I gave you. The arrangement was for you to track the money spent. The arrangement was that I would reward you for your efforts. I had decided before I ever gave you that book, that I would double whatever you spent completing those tasks."

Silence resonates between us as I process the information given me. It was ludicrous. Why would he make such a deal without telling me? I had been so certain the prize was his company...I even vaguely remember that being the agreement, but was it?

"Why would you not tell me this before? How was I to know the purpose of this fruitless exercise if you never mention it?"

"Your brain is so full of knowledge, yet so empty."

Another insult. How dare he treat me like this? Like a child. I have respected and admired him my entire life. I grew up wanting to be him. Why would you toy with me?

"My dear boy, you failed to understand the purpose of all this without this knowledge. It is impossible for you to have learned it with this knowledge."

More riddles. What does he mean by such foolishness? I knew he had some reasoning, some logic. He always did, but my emotions are blocking my ability to rationalize with myself.

"Tell me. In all your endeavors, do you recall their smiles? In all the tallies of money spent, did you count the tears of joy and gratitude that fell?"

Nothing. I am stunned by the question. It was such an unusual one. Of all the logic and reasoning I was anticipating, this question does not factor into any of them.

"That, my boy, is why I fear you will forever be a poor man."