Raymond Cole, a billionaire, was not the kind of person you could trust easily. How could he? For a long time, money had been both his best friend and worst enemy.
Raymond’s empire covered continents at the age of 52. It included tech businesses, luxurious hotels, and private aircraft that flew through the clouds. People in magazines called him “The Invisible Hand of Fortune.” But none of them ever talked about how lonely he was. Raymond often wondered, even with all the people surrounding him, if anyone really cared about him or just loved his money.
Every dinner invitation, every hug, and every “I miss you” seemed orchestrated. He had seen it too many times: phony grins disguising true avarice and words of love hiding ulterior agendas.
The Plan
Raymond called four women to his mansion the next morning. Each one was a different part of his life:
Cynthia, his girlfriend. Beautiful, classy, and enamored with high-end brands. She always had a diamond bracelet on her hand or a fancy bag over her shoulder.
His cousin Margaret. They were related by blood, but Raymond often wondered if her love was real or just because she was always complaining about money problems.
Angela, who he calls his best friend. She had been around since college, but lately it appeared like her relationship depended on how many favors she could get.
And last but not least, Lydia, his maid. She was quiet and not seen by most people, but she cleaned his halls, ironed his shirts, and knew his house better than he did.
Raymond gave the four women a modest stack of envelopes when they all got together. Each one has a shiny black credit card with no limits or restrictions.
Raymond said, “I want each of you to use this card freely for a week.” Get what you want. There are no rules. “Not limited.”
A Week of Buying
The women looked at each other in shock. Margaret let out a gasp. Cynthia’s eyes brightened up. Angela’s lips curled into a wicked smile. But Lydia kept her eyes down, and her hands shook as she took the card, as if it were a burden instead of a gift.
Raymond didn’t say anything else. “Come back to me at the end of the week.” I want to see what you choose.
Each woman had her card for seven days.
Cynthia didn’t spend any time. Her Instagram was full of pictures from Paris and Milan, with people clinking champagne glasses, wearing new jewelry on their wrists, and having their wardrobes filled with couture. She said it was “living life to the fullest.” Raymond glanced through the hashtags without saying anything: #Blessed, #LuxuryLife, and #Spoiled.
Margaret went after her bills. Yes, she bought new clothes, but she also rented a new car, signed a lease for a bigger apartment, and planned a spa vacation “to heal the stress of being poor.” Raymond saw a mix of desperation and entitlement in every receipt.
Angela played a more subtle game. She said she was investing in “business opportunities,” but receipts showed otherwise: pricey meals, VIP concerts, and gifts for new friends she called “partners.” Raymond knew the truth: she was buying attention, not investments.
There was also Lydia, the maid. Raymond didn’t get any notifications or alerts for days. She didn’t tell everyone about her purchases like the others did. She just did her daily shifts, cleaning chandeliers and polishing marble floors as if nothing had changed.
He was curious. What could she possibly be doing with that card?
The Big Reveal
At last, the week came to a close. Raymond called the four women back to his house.
They came up one at a time.
Cynthia came in a dress that sparkled like silver water and had new diamonds dripping from it.
Margaret wore costly heels that made it hard for her to walk and carried shopping bags to show that her life had gotten better.
Angela came late, bragging loudly about her “new ventures,” and she suggested that she may introduce him to her “connections.”
Raymond listened without showing any emotion as each woman showed her preferences.
Lydia came next. As usual, she wore her modest uniform and strolled in softly. There were no shopping bags, jewels, or contracts in her hands. Just a little envelope.
There were receipts inside. Not from fancy stores or expensive trips, but from a children’s hospital. Toys, novels, and blankets. Things for the doctor. The shared kitchen of the staff was also equipped with some food.
Raymond frowned. “Why these?”
Her speech was firm, yet her eyes sparkled.
“Because, sir,” Lydia answered, “I see kids there who have nothing but smile brighter than any diamond.” I don’t need anything else for myself. I only need enough to get by. However, those individuals need someone to notice them.
The Billionaire Couldn’t Speak
Raymond’s throat felt tight for the first time in years. The attractive girlfriend, the spoiled cousin, and the opportunistic buddy all exploited their cards to fuel their greed. But Lydia, the maid he had ignored for so long, had used hers to feed other people.
Her purchases reflected kindness rather than greed. She hadn’t bought a place in line. She had bought hope.
At that point, the billionaire who thought he had seen it all realized that he had seen almost nothing.
To Be Continued…
Raymond Cole’s experiment had provided him more information than he expected. He assumed he would reveal greed—but instead, he discovered grace where he least expected it.
It was still unclear what he would do with this information and what choices he would make with Cynthia, Margaret, Angela, and Lydia.
But there was one thing he was sure of: he felt he was testing other people when he gave them those four credit cards. He didn’t know that he was putting himself to the test.
And Lydia, the maid who spent money on other people’s kids instead of her own, had just changed what loyalty meant to him.
Episode 2: The Decision He Must Make…