Gifts and Consequences Read Online Free Page A

into his corner office.  The view of Detroit had once inspired Jonathan, a symbol of all he strove to obtain.  At the time, investment in real estate was a field in which a monkey with darts could succeed.  Jonathan cherry-picked money by the millions.  Three and a half years ago, when he suddenly decided to quit, real estate had reached an all-time high and he retired with a net worth just a fraction shy of one billion dollars. 
    The old Jonathan would not have slept until he made up the dozen million or so.  The new Jonathan would have given anything for five minutes alone with the old Jonathan to try to change his priorities.  He only kept the office as a reminder of the mistakes he had made in life.  A constant and personal Ghost of Christmas Past.
    Organized in neat rows on the wall were over three hundred pictures, mostly of individuals.  The majority were framed in white.  Less than twenty percent had black around them.  Many had yet to receive a frame.  He checked the basket on his desk and saw that none of the photos required updates. 
    He spent the next hour reviewing new folders in his Prospects file.  Most were denied quickly, a handful got More Info stamps, and two were approved with dates penciled in for the following week.
    Marcus arrived as Jonathan finished reviewing the files.  At six foot eight and two hundred fifty pounds, Marcus filled the entire doorway.  People often compared him to Lebron James but Jonathan always saw him more as a young Evander Holyfield. 
    “The concert’s tonight,” said Marcus, picking up the stack of files.
    “I know,” replied Jonathan.  “Tell the swingers I’ll be here tonight to watch this one live.”  He still chuckled at the term that had been applied to the second-shift techs.  Though he set no dress code, he couldn’t remember the last time he had seen any of the four swingers without a sweater on.  In the case of Katherine and Annaya it was high-necked sweaters and full length skirts or pants.  Casey and Paul went back and forth between full sweaters and sweater vests over long-sleeved dress shirts.
    “I’ll be here for this one, too,” said Marcus.  “I need to see how it turns out.  I think we have it covered but there is a real chance this one could blow up in our faces.” 
    The uncertainty thrilled Jonathan.  “We don’t make choices for people, just give them opportunities.”
    “You didn’t give the girl a choice.”
    Jonathan raised an eyebrow, surprised at Marcus’s sudden defiance, and waited for him to continue.
    “Some of the techs were surprised that the girl is getting the concert for free.  They can’t figure it out, but there are two theories.”
    “This should be good,” said Jonathan.
    “Barsaat said it’s because she’s had such a crappy life you feel sorry for her.  Bob says it’s because she stands to lose so much if things don’t go her way.  Like you decided to throw the dice for her.  I know you well enough to realize it’s neither of those, but I can’t figure it out.”
    “Maybe it’s neither,” said Jonathan.  “Maybe she’s just ancillary.  You are right about one thing.  I never give anything away.” 
    “Why?  Can’t you ever just give a gift without putting someone through hell?  A true gift.”
    “That’s not a true gift,” answered Jonathan with a smile, ready for the debate.
    “I don’t think you even know what the term means,” said Marcus, stepping into the office.
    “What you are talking about is an unearned gift.  Give one of those and the person might appreciate it.  They might thank you.  But you would be doing them a disservice.”
    “By giving a gift?” asked Marcus.  “How so?”
    “When a person receives something they did not work for, their faith in natural laws is undermined.  Any time the news airs a story about a lottery winner, most viewers are taught that life and ‘The Universe’ regularly reward people handsomely for insignificant