4 Chapter 4

The day after the charity event and meeting the royal family, Richie began his hard days with immersion in studies.

A week later, he noticed that his memory in this body is much better than in his previous life. Not eidetic, but close to it.

It became clear how the child could learn ahead of the program.

Immediately, Richard did not pay attention to the abilities of his mind because of the abrupt change in the situation and the need to get used to a new skin. But gradually he began to master and notice various little things. The initial stress subsided.

From the very beginning, the boy taught himself to consider Gerald his father and slowly got used to this idea.

Now, when the hitman has settled down a little in Richard's body, he began to wonder how the body change could have happened?

Since, not being a scientist, it is impossible to explain this scientifically, he tried to remember fiction books he had once read.

In science fiction literature, the heroes of the work hit in different ways. Usually they found themselves in another world in their bodies. But it also happened that the soul moved into someone else's body. Usually, the authors of these books used several techniques. The first is the colonization by the will of a higher entity: a god, a demon, an archmage, and so on. Another option is the rebirth of the soul (reincarnation) with the preservation of memories of a past life. The third option is when the hero possessed special abilities: psychokinesis, magic, mutation, a developed and trained mind, and so on. And thanks to these superpowers, the hero of the book could either independently be reborn in another body, or preserve the memory of a past life after reincarnation. In Richie's situation, any of these options was somewhat suitable, and at the same time, none of them.

In a past life, he did not possess any supernatural powers and did not believe in their existence. He was a realist from head to toe, believed in the power of reason and science. He also did not believe in gods, as well as in reincarnation. It is possible that with higher entities as with a gopher, which is not visible, but it is. But since Richard remained a realist even now, he came up with another option - a scientific one. For example, a group of scientists have invented a way to copy information from a person's head. Other scientists have come up with a way of time travel, for which it is necessary to rewrite a person's personality into the brain of a resident of the past. In this case, it turned out that the Richie's , shot down by a cargo gravicar, could be used for experiments for the benefit of science. His memory was read, recorded on a computer and somehow written into the head of a child from the past. Isn't it an option? It is no better and no worse than the instillation of the soul into another body by the will of the higher essence. In addition, in support of this theory, it was said that scientists of the future have long learned to read information from the human brain and used it in virtual and augmented reality technologies.

Not long before his death, an advertisement for a new communicator was circulated everywhere in the holonet, which allows the use of thought communication. This technology was immediately unofficially called "technical telepathy" or technopathy among holonet users. So why couldn't there be a laboratory for the study of temporal movements somewhere in secret research institutes ?!

Richie had no time to be distracted by all sorts of nonsense, he had a goal, which he intelligently divided into many small subgoals. As they say, do not eat the whole elephant - butcher the carcass, store it in the freezer and eat it in small pieces. It was this principle that the hitman followed.

The earliest possible completion of studies was the primary sub-goal. And Richie used his body-gifted memory, absorbing information like a sponge. The tutors couldn't get enough of the diligent young genius they thought. Teachers put new knowledge into the child's head.

In a frantic rhythm, Richard did not notice how another month and a half flew by and a series of exams began, which he had to pass to a specially assembled commission. And the boy passed all the exams for the fifth and sixth grade for the highest "A" marks. It could not be otherwise, because the mind of an adult was hidden in the body of a child with a good memory. The only subject that was counted automatically was physical education. And that is only for the reason that Richard continued to regularly attend the fencing section three times a week, from where he provided a certificate.

Of course, Richard also continued six days a week every morning with aerobics or health exercises under the guidance of an experienced personal trainer. But the certificate from the coach was not quoted, in contrast to the official paper from the reputable fencing section.

The last exam was the most difficult for Richie - English. The guy was so exhausted that he was emotionally devastated. When he returned home, his father was waiting for the boy in the living room. He immediately hurried to meet the child and embraced him.

- Congratulations, Richie! - said the joyful father. - You are smart!

"Thanks, Dad," Richie said wearily. - But the assessments have not come yet.

"They already called me from school and said that you passed perfectly," said Gerald. "Congratulations, you are the first Grosvenor to graduate from elementary school at age eight. Keep it up!

"Yeah," Richie nodded wearily.

Below, from the basement, came the muffled sound of a hammer drill. And although the instrument was barely audible, Richie winced from a slight headache.

- Dad, will the builders do repairs for a long time?

"No, son," Gerald shook his head. "They found several ancient buried underground passages, but they never found the cavity in which the explosion took place. But the guys passed the verdict that our house is completely safe. They are just finishing the repairs and will soon leave. It remains to be patient for a couple of days. Richie, if you want, can we live on another estate?

- Do we have another estate?

Gerald chuckled, patted his son's head and said:

- Sonny, we have a lot of them. Along with this, two large estates remained in Great Britain. There are also villas in Spain, Australia and France. There used to be more estates in Britain, but I donated three of them to my daughters.

- And what should I give my children when they appear? The boy asked.

- Richie, don't worry about this. I took everything into account. When I manage to acquire inexpensive land in prestigious places, I will build three modern estates for your children. But you, son, must try and please me with at least three grandchildren.

- Will try…

Richie spoke in a tone like the process by which babies are born is the hardest job in the world. This caused Gerald to have a lot of fun, which he did not even think to hide. The man laughed cheerfully.

- Dad, what about your promise?

- You mean office work? - asked Gerald. - Have you changed your mind yet?

- No! Richard shook his head. - I want to get a good understanding of family finances.

"Laudable zeal, son," Gerald smiled warmly. - Of course, I will keep my promise, but ... Hmm ... After all, you graduated from elementary school, and this is worthy of an award. Working as a courier somehow bears little resemblance to a prize. Tell me, Richie, what would you like to receive as a gift?

- Dad, can I ask for whatever I want?

- Yes, but within reason, - Gerald smiled slyly and added: - I can't get the moon from the sky for you.

- Pf! Richard snorted, a smile on his lips. - Who needs this moon? You better give me money.

- Of money? - Gerald was surprised. - How much do you need and for what?

- Dad, don't laugh ...

Richard hesitated like a maiden before her wedding night. He simply had no idea how to ask a person for a fabulous sum.

"I promise I'll try not to laugh," Gerald said.

"Okay, then I'll tell you," Richie said. - Dad, you see, I want to learn how to manage capital. I learned a lot from an economics tutor and want to test my knowledge in business. To begin with, I am going to invest in those companies that I consider to be the most promising.

- Oh, what a serious son I have! - said Gerald proudly. - Well, such cases cannot be solved just like that. Let's sit down and discuss everything in more detail.

Richie nodded silently and followed his father. The man and the boy were seated in comfortable armchairs near the fireplace. As if by magic, the duke had a radiotelephone in his hand. He called the servant and ordered tea.

A moment later, the table between father and son was filled with a pair of white porcelain tea cups on saucers, a bowl of sweets, waffles and cookies, as well as a pot-bellied teapot if the gentlemen suddenly wanted more.

Gerald took a sip of the aromatic tea, returned the cup to the saucer and said:

- Richie, what companies would you like to invest in?

"Dad, I have carefully studied the newspapers that you subscribe," the boy began cautiously. - And ... there are no firms in which I would like to invest. In fact, I don't know the names of the companies yet, I need expert advice. One thing I can say for sure - now is such a time that electronics are actively developing. Many companies appear that are engaged in the production of electronic equipment, chips, microcircuits, computers, phones, software, and so on. Their shares are steadily appreciating, and, according to my forecasts, the growth of the securities of such firms will be the best.

- Let's say. And you, Richie, want to invest?

- Yes, dad.

- Myself?! Gerald chuckled slyly.

"Of course not," Richard said wearily. He moistened his throat with tea and continued: "An eight-year-old boy cannot trade on the stock exchange himself. I will need assistants: a broker, a financial consultant who will get information about new companies, and a financial analyst who will predict the prospects for investment.

- So, Richie, are you going to engage in long-term investments? Gerald asked.

- Yes, dad. Long-term investments, often venture investments.

Venture investments are financing of new, growing or competing for a place in the market of enterprises and firms (start-ups), therefore they are associated with a high or relatively high degree of risk.

That is, from the perspective of the elder Grosvenor, who follows a centuries-old real estate business strategy, his son's investment in risky securities in anticipation of high profits is a waste of capital.

- In that case, I can ...

Richard held his breath, eagerly awaiting his father's answer.

"I can…" Gerald continued, "lend you ten million pounds.

- Borrow ?!

Richard's eyes widened in amazement. He didn't know how to react to this. The boy expected his father to give a small amount for him, for example, one hundred or two hundred thousand. Will give, but will not take! But ten million ...

- Yes, yes, son, I will.

Gerald was clearly having fun at the expense of the child. He grinned, and in the eyes of the man danced mad.

- How is it, dad?

Richard wanted to know exactly on what terms the loan would be issued.

"Hmm…" the amused duke hid his grin behind a chuckle. - Son, a savings account has been opened in your name, to which from your very birth until you turn twenty-one, fifty thousand pounds are transferred every month. All this money should have gone to you at full age. At the moment, you have accumulated four and a half million pounds in your account. You can use this money, and I will add another five and a half million to it, but ...

- But?! Richie leaned forward. The boy's breathing was quickened. His palms were sweaty from the experience. He looked forward to hearing his father's verdict.

"But on one condition," Gerald continued.

- What ?! Richard asked anxiously.

The Duke grinned and said:

- Richie, by the time you turn twenty-one, you must have at least twelve million six hundred thousand pounds in this savings account!

- Hmmm ... - drawled the confused Richie. - That is, it turns out that I borrow from myself. So what?

"No, son, you borrow from me," Gerald said. - But you will give the money to yourself, because it is meant for you.

- Dad, but since you set such a condition, then there must be something else, - Richard looked at his father in bewilderment. - And if there is no money on the account?

"In that case, Richie," Gerald replied, "the next nine years after your full majority, you won't be credited with a penny! And live as you want. You will be the poorest Grosvenor in history for nine years.

Richard was hit on the head like a dusty bag. He sat and tried to digest what he had heard. But initially everything seemed so rosy ... Richie began to assert himself in the thought that it was not in vain that he thought about personal capital. He is only eight years old, and his father is already threatening to deprive him of funding right after the age of majority.

"No really! He thought. - We must take ten million while they give! And then they can only give a kick in the ass. I certainly won't waste this money, because even though I didn't teach economics very well in my past life, I remember a lot, and after classes with a professor of economics I slowly began to figure out what's what ".

Breathing in a full chest of air, as if before diving to depth, Richard calmed down and exhaled:

- Father, I agree.

- Did you think well, Richie? - the man looked closely at the child. "If you fail, you will become a beggar.

- He who does not take risks will never become rich, - Richard gave a well-known thought. - So yes, dad, I thought well and agree with your terms.

"That's not all, Richie," Gerald said.

"Well, it's begun…" thought Richard doomily. - New conditions have gone, just not to give money to the child. Although I'm not asking for a couple of coins for ice cream. It is rather about buying an ice cream factory. "

- So, Richie, - continued the sixth Duke of Westminster, - first you will undergo an internship in my company. You learn the intricacies of working with finances and only if you cope with everything and do not change your mind, you will receive ten million pounds.

- Dad, a gorgeous elementary school graduation present! Richard said sarcastically. - You are nominated for the "Best Father in the World" award ... Who else will give his child a job in the office and will lend him money ?! Hmmm ... Daddy, weren't there any Jews in our family?

- Ha ha ha! Gerald laughed good-naturedly. "I'm glad you're not giving up, son. Rest, you will start working the day after tomorrow.

Hmm ... He didn't answer ... Richie thought. "I have some suspicions creeping in."

***

The central office of the Grosvenor Group is located in London at 70 Grosvenor Street. This is the very center of the city not far from Green Park and Hyde Park. The Royal Theater, London Wax Museum, the Royal Academy of Arts and Marble Arch are all nearby. Big Ben is a leisurely walk away.

The office occupies an entire four-story nineteenth-century yellow brick building. The structure stretches fifteen meters, two four-storey buildings adjoin its walls on both sides: beige on the left side and white on the right. In general, the classic development of central London, where buildings of three or four floors are located close to each other.

There is a sidewalk in front of the office, and then a road, part of which is used as a parking lot. There is a sign on a steel post that says that only the company's cars can park here. There is not much space, only enough for parking three cars.

The houses on the opposite side of the road house the modern art gallery "Sofia" and the bank "Gatehouse". A little to the right of the gallery is the Soho coffee shop. There are small tables for two people in front of a large transparent display case on the street. In order not to block the sidewalk, there are not even umbrellas or a canopy, and tables and chairs huddle lonely against the wall.

The house next to the Grosvenor Group office, on which "69" was written, was made in a slightly different style. It has light beige walls, and the front door is hidden under a canopy supported by two round columns. There is a balcony on the flat canopy, which stretches along the entire second floor. This house has the same four floors, but the windows, unlike the rectangular ones in the office, are slightly rounded at the top, which gives them the appearance of arches. The house is only ten meters long. In addition to the common wall with the office, this building is united by a marking for parking on the roadway, it is a continuation of the Grosvenor Group parking lot and can accommodate two miniature cars or one executive sedan. At the moment, a beige Bentley Eight was parked there.

In front of house number 69 on Grosvenor Street, at a distance of one and a half meters from the wall, right under the balcony, there is a high forged fence with a wicket. The vertical steel bars almost rest against the bottom of the balcony, which also serves as a protection against precipitation. The top of the door leading to the basement is visible behind the fence. And if you come closer, you can find that the gate leads to the landing of the stairs, which goes down to the basement.

It would seem, what can be so special in this house? But Richard knew exactly what it was.

When his father told Richard about the family's real estate, he only mentioned estates and villas. But apart from that, the Grosvenors have many other accommodations. For example, a modest house of five hundred square meters, if you count with a basement, located right next to the office.

It is quite logical that from the estate near Chester you do not really run into London. Four hours there, the same back. As a result, you will be skating all day. Another thing is sometimes to come to London on business, clean up the accumulated papers and hang out for two or three days in the "Spartan" conditions of a "small" town house.

And now Richie settled down in a new place. He has already managed to climb the whole house. Visited the basement, the main descent into which was the stairs inside the house. There was nothing special there, only a gym without frills with a pair of exercise equipment, a set of weights, a horizontal bar and free space for gymnastics.

The ground floor is also nothing special: an entrance hall with a small dressing room, a guest bathroom, a kitchen and a dining room.

The second floor was more interesting. There is a large living room with access to the balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows. There was also a bathroom and a small library.

The owner's apartment is located on the third floor. Gerald had an office here, a spacious bedroom with a huge dressing room and a large private bathroom.

On the fourth and last floor, there are three bedrooms. In the largest of them with a private bathroom, Richie settled. The other two rooms share a bathroom and are intended for guests or servants. Now in one of the rooms lived the valet of the young gentleman - John, and in the other an elderly lady - Jane Stein, the housekeeper who looks after this house.

Jane was about sixty years old, she hid her gray hair under a kerchief and dressed in a strict, dark maid dress. She tried to be inconspicuous, but from the state of the house, from the cleanliness, it was clear that the woman was doing her job well.

Mrs. Stein also cooked the food. Of course, her cooking was inferior to those masterpieces that come out of the hands of the personal chef of the Duke of Westminster, but Gerald was not going to take the chef back and forth. Jane's cooking suited everyone, and in extreme cases, you can order food from the restaurant.

And then Richie, dressed in a dark gray suit, accompanied by his father, went out into the street.

A few passers-by were walking along the sidewalk.

Richard and Gerald walked seven meters and went through transparent sliding doors into the Grosvenor Group office building.

The interior was richly decorated. The walls are painted light beige. White marble tile floors.

After climbing the steps, of which there were only four, there was a reception desk to the right, behind it on a chair sat a security guard in a black uniform with a "Guard" patch on his sleeve and a pretty secretary who looked twenty-five years old. The girl was dressed in a gray trouser suit, her black hair boasted a modern hairstyle - it was very lush and loose.

Turnstiles are located a little further. Behind them, the wall was painted green and decorated with portraits of all the Dukes of Westminster. They positioned themselves from right to left from the first duke to the sixth, whose portrait hung not far from the elevator.

The security guard and secretary immediately recognized the main person in the company. Both stood up and drew themselves to attention. The brunette's lips curved into a wide, welcoming smile.

"Mr. Grosvenor, glad to see you," she said.

"Good morning," Gerald said and gave a coy nod to the staff.

The guard immediately opened both turnstiles in front of the duke and the boy.

Richie expected adults to naturally have questions about him. Surely it was, but neither the guard nor the secretary dared to voice their thoughts. And who are they, and who is Gerald Grosvenor, so that he can be told something irrelevant ?! That's just it! Different flight of a bird.

But what could a simple guard and secretary know about Richie? Absolutely nothing. After all, the boy was not a public figure, nothing was known about him either to the general public or to an ordinary employee of the Grosvenor Group. Gerald does not really talk about the family, on the contrary, he tries to keep all information about his children as secret as possible.

Richie and his father took the elevator up to the fourth floor. As they walked down the hallway, all the people quit their jobs and politely greeted the manager. In the eyes of the office workers, the question was read: "Who is this boy?"

Soon, father and son settled in a spacious office with luxurious finishes. There was a massive mahogany writing desk, in front of it was a luxurious executive chair. For visitors, the study had a leather sofa and a pair of armchairs set in front of the table.

Then everything spun like a carousel. Too many experiences for one day. Gerald called the HR manager, nodded at Richie, and "asked politely."

- Stephen, arrange the boy as a courier in the building.

Naturally, no objections from the subordinate, a man with brown hair, brown eyes and a thin face, who looked in his black suit for forty years, did not follow. He just turned to the boy and asked politely:

- What is your name and surname, young man? Do you have documents for registration?

"Richard Grosvenor, sir," the man replied politely. - There are no documents with you, but they can be brought if it is necessary.

The head of the personnel department, it seemed, was forever lost to society. His eyes began to resemble toads, so they climbed out of their sockets. He stretched out, as if sitting on a stake, swallowed convulsively and said in a slightly trembling voice:

"Uh-uh ... No, Mr. Grosvenor ..." He glanced sideways at Gerald. "You don't need documents, right, sir?"

- No, no, - the sixth Duke of Westminster objected with light cheerful notes in his voice. - Stephen, - he turned to the chief of personnel, - do everything as it should be. The documents will be brought to you now.

- What ... - Stephen drawled in fright. - And let the new employee fill out the questionnaire?

"Of course, Stephen," Gerald nodded. - Everything should be as usual. No favors for a new courier.

- Uh-uh ... - Stephen caught the blue screen of the still non-existent operating system. - No favors, sir! When will the young man start work?

"Today," Gerald replied.

- Uh-huh-huh, - Stephen began to nod as the dummy. - But, sir, - he turned to the head, - according to the law, for hiring a minor, we must obtain permission from the local authorities.

"It is, Stephen," Gerald said.

- And also, sir, - the head of the personnel department dared, - a young man of this age cannot work more than twenty-five hours a week or two hours a day, if that day there are classes at school. And after four hours of work, the young man will have to take a break for an hour.

"Stephen, don't worry about school," Gerald said. - Richie recently graduated from elementary school and is currently on a long vacation before going to high school. And in general - which of us works in the personnel department? Steve, don't bother me. You are well aware of the labor legislation, so correctly distribute the working hours of the new courier. I suppose the young man can handle four hours a day from eight to noon, five days a week. It is so? - he turned his gaze to his son.

- No problem! - the boy showed a white-toothed smile to the adults. - Mister, - he turned to Stephen, - will you show me everything here and bring me up to date?

- Yes, of course, Stephen agreed immediately. - Can we go, sir? He asked the elder Grosvenor.

- Of course.

Gerald released Stephen and Richard with an imperious gesture of his right hand.

This is how his everyday life began. It's funny to think - a small child, the son of a billionaire, works as a courier at half the rate. Whom to tell - they will not believe.