[Chapter 49: Joseph]
A lot of people sympathized with the security guard, but the reality was the reality. The bank wouldn't take him back, and in the end, he had no choice but to quietly accept his fate.
John looked around the now calm lobby, exchanged greetings with Billy and the others, then left the bank headquarters with Zach and Bob.
The three of them reached the parking lot, just about to get into the car, when they spotted the same bank security guard who had been just fired, standing dazed on the street corner.
Seeing the guard looking lost, John felt a tug in his heart and walked up to him. Zach and Bob exchanged a glance and followed along.
"Hey there, big guy. I'm sorry about what happened to you back at the bank," John greeted with a smile as he approached the guard.
---
Joseph Smith was feeling seriously unlucky today. What should have been an easy day turned into the reason he was out of work, and there was nothing he could say in his defense.
He'd just gotten out of the service earlier this year -- and since he'd voluntarily left early, his discharge benefits were minimal. In the military, he was considered a top soldier, a true warrior, but in the real world, he struggled to find a decent job. Life hadn't been kind.
Finally, he landed a security job at Citibank, only to lose it because of his reckless attempt to act like a hero. Talk about bad luck.
He had just left the Citibank building, unsure of what his next step was, wandering the streets in a daze when a voice called out beside him.
"Hey, you talking to me?"
"Yeah, my name's John Leighton. I saw what happened back at the bank, and I'm sorry."
"Thanks, it's nothing. I'm Joseph Smith. Honestly, it's not the bank's fault. I guess I just wasn't prepared -- I thought it was like the military, but it's not..." he shrugged with a smile.
Just then, Zach and Bob joined them. Maybe sensing their approach, Joseph took a subtle step toward John and readied himself to defend if necessary -- that was a natural reaction from years of military service.
"John, are you okay?" Zach asked quickly.
"Oh, it's nothing. Zach, this is Joseph Smith, the gentleman we saw at the bank."
"Mr. Smith, this is my guardian and lawyer, Zach, and this is Bob," John introduced.
Hearing that, John noticed Joseph relax noticeably, and he felt a bit relieved. This guy wasn't bad at all.
From the fierce way he defended against the would-be robbery at the bank to his protective stance as Zach and Bob approached, Joseph showed he was a man of integrity.
...
"Do you regret it?"
"Regret? Maybe. I don't know," Joseph said faintly.
"Really, it's okay. As long as you can look yourself in the mirror without guilt," John replied coolly.
"Looking myself in the mirror without guilt... maybe," Joseph muttered.
"Heh, I heard you're out of work now. Got any plans? If you're between jobs, I might have something for you."
Joseph was stunned by that offer. It was unexpected.
After all, there he was -- a seemingly young man (though with solid build, nearly six feet tall) -- and suddenly this stranger offered him a job right when he was unemployed. It felt a little too good to be true.
"Yeah, I'm actually looking for security personnel. Someone responsible like you would be perfect. Are you interested?"
"Sensei, why bother hiring security? Just talk to Allen -- he'll set you up. Besides, aren't I your bodyguard? You going to replace me?" Bob asked anxiously.
"Relax, Bob. I'm not planning to let you go. But you haven't done security work professionally before, while Joseph clearly has. Don't you think we could use some real pros?"
Hearing Bob's concerned voice, John smiled and explained.
"See? What do you think?" He turned to Joseph, asking.
"Um, what kind of work exactly? I don't want anything shady."
Joseph's question came from the fact that Bob had brown skin, a muscular build, and tattoos, and Zach was African American. Joseph wasn't racist, but he knew that sometimes people of these backgrounds were tied to gangs, so he was cautious.
"Haha, don't worry. I'm a legitimate investor, getting ready to start an investment firm. Zach is my personal lawyer with a valid license."
John glanced at Zach and Bob -- they were staring uneasily at Joseph -- and reassured him with a laugh.
"Oh, sorry. If it's legit security work, then I'm in," Joseph said, sensing the cold looks from Zach and Bob. He apologized to them and then turned back to John.
"Okay then, Joseph, if you're free, how about starting today?"
"Definitely," Joseph answered without hesitation.
"John, I think you're rushing this. You barely know the guy. Hiring him just like that isn't smart," Zach said, looking at Joseph.
"Yeah Sensei, I don't think this is a good idea either. What if the guy's character is no good?" Bob added, unusually serious.
"Hey, you two, sorry about earlier. But rest assured, I'm a Navy SEAL veteran, and I didn't leave because of trouble. I just got tired, and being away from family so long wore me down. I'm not a bad guy, trust me," Joseph said with a smile, trying to break the tension.
"Alright, Zach, let's decide on Joseph. I believe in him. Joseph, mind telling me about your family?"
"Well, there's just my wife at home, no kids yet. We just moved to L.A. recently, and I'm still looking for work," Joseph replied.
"Hmm. If she's open to it, your wife could also help out here. As you can tell, Zach and I live together now -- it's a pain doing the chores with no woman around. If your wife wants, she could help with tidying up and cooking. Honestly, I've been wanting to find a cook for us -- his cooking's terrible," John joked.
"Really? That'd be great! Thanks, boss!" Joseph grinned.
"No problem. But for now, no need for your wife to come over yet. Tomorrow we're checking out some houses. Once we buy a place, she can join us. Zach, let's stop by a car dealership first. After that, we'll look at houses. Driving that old truck won't cut it much longer. You also should think about getting a new car."
"You've already planned everything out. Sounds good to me," Zach laughed.
The four of them climbed into Zach's old pickup and headed toward a busy car dealership on the edge of town.
*****
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