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Jackson Hayes, brilliant real estate tycoon, entrepreneur, and financial genius, alking home from work Adti late-afternoon

He was in the process of purchasing a company owned by none other than Mr Nicholas Carver, a shrewd businessman who had repeatedly made appearances in Jackson’s life, much to Jackson’s dismay Nick seemed untrustworthy and never failed to set Jackson’s teeth on edge, but his coood invest for this acquisition despite their young CEO’s doubts The due diligence checked out, and pending any further information, the deal was scheduled to close in less than thirty days

Jackson loosened his tie and threw his perfectly tailored jacket over his ar down at his over-priced PDA and absenth his disheveled hair

Half a block ahead a retired Vietnam war veteran, who had co on the sidewalk stretching the tight e Some aches, it seemed, never went away

Perhaps if Jackson had looked up, heon the sideith his legs outstretched, but as it was, he literally stuht over him A startled, “What the…?” escaped his lips before he scraped one palht himself Theloose change from his cup

“Watch where the hell you’re going,” he growled, frantically collecting the spilled coins

“Don’t sit in thesidewalk,” Jackson spat in return

“Fucking self-absorbed asshole…” The hted hi his cup

Jackson could have siht, but this day had been frustrating enough, without adding insult to injury from a filthy street buht Before he knew it, the argu from his lips

“What did you callfrom a man with no work ethic who doesn’t even pay taxes You’re a fucking drain on the system, and you think I’m selfish? At least I take care of myself What the fuck have you ever done?” The ho the pain that the action caused, and looked Jackson dead in the eye Our dear Mr Hayes couldn’t have known it, but this man had seen far worse in his sixty-odd-years than the likes of an uptight businessman Where Jackson expected to see shame he instead saw perseverance These were the eyes of one who never gives up, no matter how broken

“You’ve been handed everything your whole life, pretty boy You wouldn’t survive one week living likere a speechless Jackson alone on the sidewalk

Jackson’s phone vibrated in his hand, pulling him out of his stunned silence

“Hello,” he answered coldly

“What’s up h the phone

“Nothing”

“Good, we’re having a night out Shelby is off at so, and you know I can’t cook for shit I’ll meet you at the Phyrst in half an hour” The line went dead

Jackson looked up at the street sign He was still ten blocks from home, and it was a ten-minute drive from home to the bar It looked like he’d need that cab after all

Chapter 1: The Bet

Jackson

I felt decidedly better after a change of clothes and draught lager My brother Jason had a natural ability to cure lad that he had calledour days back and forth for the last few minutes

“so then the guy has the audacity to call me a self-absorbed asshole,” I said “Can you believe that? When he’s the one practically lying in the middle of the street?” Jason chuckled and shook his head, taking a long swig of his beer

“And then,” I continued “And then, when I called him on it, he tells me that I wouldn’t survive one week in his shoes! It’s like he thinks being a bu” I paused while the waitress set our burgers in front of us “This looks so good I was freaking starving”

Jason was still shaking his head and laughing across the table “He’s right though”