BILLIONAIRE WEARING OLD CLOTHES AND ACCEPTING BEGGARS INSIDE HIS OWN MALL TO FIND THE NEXT HEIFER — IN THE MIDDLE OF OPRIVATION, A HAND HOLDS HIM TIGHTLY AND CHANGES EVERYTHING
THE LAST TEST OF THE OLD MAN
Don Eduardo is in the twilight of his life. At the age of 75, he has everything—billions of pesos, dozens of companies, and the famous Grand Imperial Mall. But despite his wealth, he is alone. His wife has passed away, and they have no children.

He learns that his life is limited due to Stage 4 Cancer.

“Who will inherit all this?” Don Eduardo asked himself as he looked out the window of his mansion. “My savage nephews? The board members who look like money? No. What I have worked so hard for will only be ruined.”

He wanted to give his empire to someone with a pure heart.

One morning, he made a decision.

He ordered his Loyal Butler to get some old clothes. Don Eduardo wore a torn polo shirt, grease-stained pants, and flip-flops of different colors. He put dirt on his face and applied perfume to make himself smell like a “grease man.”

“Sir, are you sure?” the Butler asked worriedly. “This is dangerous. People might hurt you.”

“I have to do this,” Don Eduardo replied. “I’m going to the Grand Imperial Mall. I’m going to find someone who will look at me not as trash, but as a human being. Whoever helps me will be my heir.”

Carrying a sack full of cans, the billionaire walked towards his own kingdom.

THE CRUELTY OF THE WORLD
As soon as Don Eduardo entered the Grand Imperial Mall, he could feel the cold—not from the air conditioning, but from the people’s gaze.

The social shoppers were moving away from him.

“Eww, that stinks! Why did they let him in?”

“Guard! There’s a beggar!”

He approached a Fast Food Chain. He was hungry and thirsty.

“Miss,” Don Eduardo’s voice was raspy. “Water costs money. Even just water.”

The cashier looked at him with disgust. “Hey dad! Get out of here! Soliciting is prohibited! You’re ruining the customers’ view!”

He was kicked out.

He walked towards a High-End Clothing Store. He stared at a beautiful coat.

Suddenly, the Manager, Mr. Romy, came out. Romy was known for being a sucker for the rich and cruel to the poor.

“HEY!” Romy shouted. “Get away from the mannequin! You’ll dirty our merchandise! Do you know how much that is?! You won’t earn that even if you have ten lives!”

“I’m just looking…” Eduardo replied weakly.

“Get out! Guard! Guard! Why did trash get in here?!” Romy shouted.

The two security guards arrived. Because they were afraid of Romy, they followed his order.

“Excuse me, Dad, get out,” the guard said, pushing Don Eduardo away.

Don Eduardo fell to the shiny floor. His bones hurt. The people around him laughed at him. No one helped. No one felt sorry for him.

Don Eduardo felt his hope crumble. Are there really no good people left in the world? Is money all that matters?

He tried to stand up, but his knees were weak.

Suddenly… Mr. Romy came closer again. He was holding an Alcohol Spray.

“You stink! You even touched me!” Romy shouted. He sprayed the old man’s face with alcohol. “You’re disgusting! You should be thrown out!”

Romy was about to kick Don Eduardo so that he would crawl out.

Don Eduardo closed his eyes, waiting for the pain.

But the kick didn’t land.

THE HAND OF HOPE
Instead of pain, he felt a hand grip his arm tightly.

A warm and rough palm.

Don Eduardo opened his eyes.

In front of him, a small, thin woman wearing a Janitress uniform stood in the way. She held Don Eduardo’s arm with her left hand, and her right hand was wrapped around Manager Romy’s leg.

Mia. A simple janitress working to get medicine for her mother.

“DON’T!” Mia shouted. Her voice was trembling with fear but full of courage. “Sir Romy! Don’t hurt her! She’s old!”

Everyone was shocked. A janitress, scolding the Manager?

“What—” Romy angrily pulled her to her feet. “Mia?! What are you doing?! Let go of that trash!”

“He’s a human, Sir!” Mia replied, while helping Don Eduardo to his feet. “He’s someone’s father. If he’s dirty, it’s my job to clean the floor. But it’s not in our Job Description to hurt others!”

Mia slowly stood Don Eduardo up. She wiped the dirt off the old man’s arm with her own handkerchief.

“Father, are you okay?” Mia asked softly. “Don’t worry. I’m here.”

Don Eduardo stared into Mia’s eyes. He saw the fear there—the fear of losing his job. But pity prevailed. This is it. This is what he was looking for.

“Mia!” Romy shouted. “Because of what you did… YOU ARE FIRED! You are fired! Give me your ID and leave with that beggar! You are both trash!”

Mia burst into tears. She needed this job. But she couldn’t leave the old man.

Mia took off her ID and placed it on the floor.

“Okay, Sir,” Mia said. “What will I do with the job if I lose my soul?”

Mia put her arm around Don Eduardo. “Let’s go, Dad. I’ll just treat you to some food at the cafeteria outside. I still have some money.”

They walked away. Romy and the people were whispering and laughing.

“Good riddance!” Romy shouted.

When they were near the Exit, Don Eduardo stopped.

“Sister,” the old man said. “Wait a minute.”

“Po? Why, Dad? Does your foot hurt?”

“No,” Don Eduardo smiled. “I just want to give you your ID back.”

“Sir? Sir Romy already has it…”

“No,” Don Eduardo shook his head. “Because I’m the one who will say who is removed and who is not.”

THE REMOVAL OF THE MASK
From the pocket of his torn pants, Don Eduardo pulled out a Gold Whistle.

He searched for air in his lungs and… PRRRRT!

He whistled loudly.

Within ten seconds, the world inside the Mall changed.

From different corners, Twenty Bodyguards in Barong Tagalog ran. They surrounded Don Eduardo and Mia.

The General Manager of the entire Mall arrived, panting.

“D-Don Eduardo?!” the General Manager shouted upon seeing the old “beggar.”

Mia was shocked. “D-Don?!”

“Yes, Ma’am,” the General Manager replied, bowing deeply to Don Eduardo. “Excuse me, Sir! We didn’t know you were coming in like that!”

Don Eduardo removed his hat and the fake dirt from his face. He stood up straight. The “beggar” who had been being bullied earlier, now exuded an authority that could shake the building.

The people who had been laughing earlier fell silent. Others took out their cellphones.

Don Eduardo walked back to Manager Romy’s place. Mia was left in the middle, stunned, surrounded by bodyguards.

Manager Romy, who had previously been like a king when he shouted, was now pale and his knees were shaking.

“W-Who are you?” Romy asked, although he already knew the answer.

“Me?” Don Eduardo asked. “I am the only ‘trash’ you pushed. And I am also the owner of the floor you are walking on, the store you are guarding, and the mall you are proud of.”

Romy fell to the floor. “Don Eduardo! I’m sorry! I didn’t

I know! I thought he was just a beggar!”

“Because you think he’s a beggar, it’s okay to hurt him?” Don Eduardo asked coldly. “A person’s true character is revealed not by how he treats his bosses, but by how he treats those who have nothing to give him.”

“Security!” Don Eduardo shouted.

“Yes, Sir!”

“Get this man out. Ban him from all my companies. Make sure he can’t even enter the parking lot.”

“Sir! Have mercy! I have a family!” Romy cried as he dragged her out—just like he wanted to do to Don Eduardo earlier.

THE HEIR
Don Eduardo turned to Mia.

He approached the girl. Mia was still shaking, holding her broom.

“Father… this… Sir… sorry,” Mia said, about to bow.

But Don Eduardo grabbed Mia’s hand—the same hand that had held her earlier.

“Don’t bow, Mia,” Don Eduardo said. “You were the one who lifted me up when no one wanted me. You were the one who defended me when everyone turned their backs.”

Don Eduardo took the mic from the mall stage. He spoke to the entire crowd.

“Listen up, everyone!”

“All my life, I have sought wealth. But now that I am about to die, I have realized that goodness is the most valuable wealth.”

He raised Mia’s hand.

“This woman… Mia… who is a Janitress… is willing to lose her job just to help an old man she doesn’t know. She has the purest heart in this building.”

He looked at Mia.

“Mia, do you accept the challenge?”

“Challenge?” Mia asked.

“I don’t have a family anymore, Mia. And I’m looking for someone to inherit all of this. I don’t like smart people but bad manners. I want someone with a heart.”

Don Eduardo took out a document from his pocket.

“Starting today, you are no longer a Janitress. You are the new Executive Vice President of Grand Imperial Mall, and upon my passing, you will own all my property.”

Everyone’s jaws dropped.

“S-Sir?! Sir, I can’t do that! I didn’t study!” Mia cried.

“Business can be learned, Mia,” Don Eduardo smiled. “But a pure heart? That’s not taught in school. I’ll guide you. You’ll learn. And I’m sure, you’ll be a good boss.”

Mia hugged the old man. “Thank you… Thank you…”

END: THE NEW EMPIRE
Five years have passed.

Don Eduardo has passed away, peaceful and happy because he knows that his hard work is in good hands.

In the CEO’s office, sits Ms. Mia. Elegant, intelligent, and respected by everyone.

But she’s different from other bosses.

Every morning, she goes down to greet the guards and janitors. She knows them by name. She raises their salaries and gives them benefits.

The Grand Imperial Mall is no longer just a store. It has become known as “The Mall with a Heart.”

One day, while Mia was walking down the hallway, she saw a new Janitor being scolded by a customer.

Mia immediately approached.

“Excuse me, Ma’am,” Mia said calmly but authoritatively. “Employees are not allowed to yell here.”

“Who are you?!” the customer asked.

Mia smiled. She remembered the hand that had grabbed her before.

“I am the owner,” Mia replied. “And in this mall, respect is not based on what you wear, but on being a person.”

The customer left, embarrassed.

Mia patted the janitor on the shoulder. “Are you okay, Kuya? Just keep working. I am proud of you.”

Don Eduardo’s legacy continued through Mia—the janitor who became a queen because of a simple decision to be kind to others.

THE END