5 – Cody’s Past

[ Past, 20 years ago ]

Cody sat on the cold, hard concrete, huddled in the corner of the alleyway. He pulled his threadbare jacket tighter around his thin frame, trying to ward off the chill of the winter night. Tears streamed down his face as he thought about the events of the past few months.

It had all started when Cody's parents died in a car accident. He had been just eleven years old at the time, and he was left completely alone in the world. With no other family to take him in, Cody was forced to fend for himself on the streets.

At first, Cody had been terrified. He had never been on his own before, and he didn't know how to survive. But he quickly learned that he had to be tough if he wanted to make it. He scavenged for food in trash cans and dumpsters, and he begged for money from anyone who would give it to him.

As the weeks turned into months, Cody began to feel the full weight of his situation. He was constantly hungry and cold, and he was always on the lookout for danger. He had to sleep in the same alleyway every night, never knowing if he would be safe or not.

But despite the hardships, Cody refused to give up. He was determined to make a better life for himself, no matter what it took. And as the months passed, he slowly but surely began to gain the strength and resilience he needed to survive on the streets.

But even as Cody grew tougher, he never forgot the pain and loneliness of his parents' deaths. He carried that pain with him everywhere he went, and it served as a constant reminder of the struggles he had endured.

And though he knew that living on the streets was hard, Cody was determined to never give up. He would keep fighting, no matter what it took, until he had built the life he deserved.

[ Present ]

Jordon grinned wickedly at Cody as they sat in their office discussing business plans for the upcoming quarter.

"I have a surprise for you," Jordon said, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Cody raised an eyebrow, curious. "What is it?"

"I placed a high paying ad in the newspaper for an assistant for you," Jordon said, enjoying the confused look on Cody's face.

"What do you mean?" Cody asked, perplexed.

"I mean, you've been working so hard lately, I thought you could use some help. The ad specifies that the applicant should be able to keep up with all your demands in all manners," Jordon teased, winking at Cody.

Cody's face turned red with embarrassment. "Jordon, you know I don't need an assistant. And what do you mean by 'all manners'? Are you trying to insinuate something?"

Jordon chuckled. "Oh, come on Cody. You know I'm just messing with you. But in all seriousness, I think it's time we start expanding and hiring more people. We can't keep up with all the work ourselves."

Cody sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, you're right. But an assistant? Really?"

"Yes, really. And if you're lucky, maybe you'll even find someone who can help you get your rocks off," Jordon teased, winking again.

Cody rolled his eyes, but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. "Thanks, Jordon. But I think I can handle my own personal life, thank you very much."

"Suit yourself. But remember, the ad is running correlation to the role.

Cody shook his head, still unable to believe that Jordon had gone through with this. But deep down, he knew that Jordon was only trying to help in his own mischievous way.

"Fine, fine. I'll look into hiring an assistant. But no more jokes, okay?" Cody said, giving Jordon a stern look.

Jordon held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I promise. No more jokes. But if you do hire an assistant, make sure they're up for the task. You know how demanding you can be."

Cody groaned, but couldn't help the small smile that still lingered on his face. Jordon may be a pain in the butt sometimes, but he was a good friend and business partner. And at the end of the day, that's all that mattered.

Rosy, Jordon's assistant, called Cody on the phone. "Hello, Mr. Cody. I just wanted to let you know that the interviewer is here and ready for the interview. She's standing outside in the lobby, waiting for you."

Cody glanced at the clock, surprised that the time had flown by so quickly. "Thank you, Rosy. I'll be right down."

He hung up the phone and grabbed his briefcase, heading downstairs to the lobby to meet the interviewer.

As he stepped into the lobby, he spotted a woman holding a clipboard and a folder.