They Made Fun of Her for Being Poor — Then a Helicopter Arrived to Show the Truth

They Made Fun of Her for Being Poor — Then a Helicopter Arrived to Show the Truth

Go. Yes. What’s up, man? Hold up. I’m talking to you. What do you want? Sophia, give it back. What is this supposed to be? Please. It’s fake. It’s real. Yo, everybody come see this. Mia says she’s out here wearing a real diamond. Sophia, give it back if it’s real.

 Where’d you get it? Let me guess. Same rich old man with the black SUV. That’s none of your business. That’s what you said about him, too. First, he picks you up in a luxury car. Now, you’re wearing diamonds. You have no idea what you’re talking about. Then, tell everybody who he is. Exactly. You ride that rusty bike to school every day. You dress like this.

 And isn’t your mama just a janitor? Don’t bring my mother into this. Why not? A janitor left her daughter diamonds. Or did she steal it, too? Don’t ever talk about my mother like that. Don’t touch me. know your place. Don’t Sophia, move your foot. Stop. Oops. Why are you pressed? If it’s fake, it ain’t worth anything anyway.

 [sighs] Wait, don’t tell me it’s actually real. I already told you it was. Then there’s only one explanation. You stole it. Stole it. I mean, maybe. Mia definitely can’t afford that. So say it. Where did you get it? My mother left it to me. Your mother. The janitor. What’s going on? Logan, help me up.

Logan, you’re my boyfriend. You know I’m not a thief. Do I, Logan? First that picture with the SUV. Now this. You know that picture didn’t prove anything. Then tell everybody who that man was. I can’t. That’s what I thought, Logan. Please. You know me. You know I would never steal anything.

I don’t need the whole school to believe me. I just need you to please think about what you’re doing. Get your hand off me. Logan, please. I said let go. Damn it. Do you have any idea how much these shoes cost? $3,000. Three grand for one pair of shoes. You could sell that busted bike and still couldn’t afford one of these.

You just kicked me because I touched your shoes. Just shoes. See, this right here is what I’m tired of with you. You don’t understand the value of expensive things. Probably because you’ve never actually owned anything worth something. Logan, you too. He didn’t tell you. Tell me what 3 weeks.

 Three weeks. You told me you love me last night. Mia, you really thought I was going to get serious with a janitor’s daughter? At first, you were interesting. Poor girl. Sweet. Always chasing after me. Then I got bored. Sophia makes sense for me. Her family has money, status, connections. What do you have? Your whole life probably ain’t worth what I got on my feet right now.

 Go get the principal. What’s going on here? She stole a diamond necklace. That’s not true. A janitor’s daughter walking around with a real diamond. Expel her. Mia? Yeah. Mia, expel her. Who? Who did this? Sophia ripped the necklace off my neck. She shoved me to the ground.

 Then Logan kicked me and Sophia stepped on the necklace. What is wrong with you? She’s the thief. Miss Carter, I am deeply sorry. Please give this school a chance to make this right. You’re apologizing to her. Enough. It’s just Mia. I can do it myself. Miss Carter. Mr. Bennett. Yes, Miss Carter.

 I want to go home. I’ll send a car immediately. I don’t need a car. Get my aircraft ready. Your aircraft? Mia, come on. Stop putting on a show. Would you like me to send the helicopter to the school? Yes. Bring it here. Bring it here. And tell my father my mother’s necklace was destroyed.

 Who did it? I’ll tell you when you get here. You done with the little performance? 10 minutes from now. I hope both of y’all are still laughing. Must be some VIP. Miss Carter. Mr. Bennett. Mrs. Carter’s necklace. Yes. Who did this? She did. And Logan kicked me. [laughter]

 You’re acting like that necklace is actually real. That necklace was custom commissioned for Mrs. Carter in Geneva. Its most recent insured value was $480,000. I’ve already informed Mr. Alexander Carter. He would like to know why his daughter was assaulted on school property. Oh my god. Mia Carter.

 Alexander Carter’s daughter. Mia, I didn’t know. Didn’t know what? That I had money. You’re probably wondering why I let everybody believe I was poor and why I ever believed somebody like Logan could love me. to understand what happened next. Miss Carter, breakfast.

Thank you. Why is everybody following me? We’re taking you to school. All of you. Hold on. Mia. Yes. What are you wearing? Clothes. I see that. I’m asking where you got this stuff. It was hard. Hard. Very hard. My closet is nothing but designer clothes. And every time I wear something once, the staff takes it away and replaces it the next day.

Is that true? The staff assumed Miss Carter did not wish to repeat previously worn items. Some of those things I wore exactly one time. We thought you preferred new clothes, Miss Carter. See, it took me a whole week to find these shoes. There’s a hole in one of them. I know. I had to choose between three pairs before I found one that looked naturally worn in.

 You bought torn shoes. Used shoes. There’s a difference. No. Yes. Absolutely not. Dad, the helicopter’s ready. You want me to wear these jeans and land a helicopter at school? That’s kind of defeating the whole purpose. I don’t understand why you have to take this so far. Because I don’t want people being my friend because of our money.

 If I step out of a Rolls-Royce, they’ll see the money before they ever see me. If I show up in that, they’ll know Carter before they know Mia. But if I look like this, there’s nothing for anybody to want from me. I want to know who still wants to be my friend, who still respects me. And one day, who can love Mia without falling in love with Mia Carter’s money? One month.

 You’re saying yes? One month. But security follows from a distance. Dad, not negotiable. Call Anderson. Mr. Carter. No one is to reveal Mia’s identity. Understood. No special treatment. But if my daughter gets hurt. If she gets bullied or assaulted and this school looks the other way, I’ll shut the whole place down.

I understand. Principal Anderson, treat me exactly like every other student. Of course, Miss Crater. I wasn’t finished yet. That’s exactly why I hung up. I’ll be fine. I still want to throw those shoes away. Just you try it. It took me a week to find them. Two of you follow her 200 yd back and don’t let her see you.

 Let me help you. Baby, you’re going to be late to class. Two people are faster than one. A young lady like you. Shh. Oops. Didn’t see it there. Then put it somewhere better next time. Don’t talk to her like that. You’re already cleaning anyway. Girl, it was an accident. So, clean it again.

 You can clean it yourself. Me? Nah, that looks more like your lane. Wait. Is this your mom? Oh, now everything makes sense. The bike, the raggedy clothes, mama working as a janitor. And if she really was my mother, so what? Since when is there something shameful about earning an honest living? Nothing. Long as people know where they belong.

Oops. Let me finish this. No. We started together. We’ll finish together. Logan, you That’s your girl? I heard her mom cleans the school. Logan, she’s calling you, man. I heard her. You’re not stopping without looking back. Nope. You heard me calling you? Yeah.

 Then why didn’t you stop? Look at yourself. What about me? You’re mopping floors in the middle of school. I was helping Mrs. Rosa. That’s her job. Now the whole school thinks she’s your mother. And if she was, this is exactly what I’m getting tired of with you. You’re tired of me? Sometimes I’m embarrassed to be seen with you because I’m poor.

 Because you don’t understand how much image matters. Then why are you still dating me? It’s worded. I’m starting to ask myself the same thing. Are we still going to dinner tonight? No. You promised. I changed my mind. Logan, stop clinging to me, Mia. I got my own life. I love you.

 I know. Seriously, the chain surrendered. I’ve been trying to retire that thing for weeks. Don’t get excited. I’m fixing it tonight. Thanks for coming, Dad. Rough day. I’ve had better. Get in. Oh, Mia. Yeah.

 This is too easy. Sobra. Yeah, she does dress so Mia, you did this. I took a picture. You did the rest. Take them down. Why? Embarrassed people finally know how you get around. You don’t know who that is. Then tell us.

That’s what I thought. Whatever you think happened, you’re wrong. I saw you hug him. I saw you kiss him. And then you climbed into a car that cost more than everything you’re wearing put together. Leave me alone. Logan. Logan, ask your girlfriend. Who is this? It’s not what Sophia thinks. That wasn’t my question.

Who is he? I can’t tell you. You can’t tell me. Not yet. I’m your boyfriend. I know. Then why can’t you tell me who the hell this is? Because it’s complicated. Of course it is. Logan, please. Yesterday, the whole school thought your mother cleaned floors. Today, you’re hugging some rich older man beside a luxury SUV.

 Don’t talk about him like that. Wow. You actually care what I call him. Because you have no idea who he is. Then tell me. Maybe that’s why Mia never cares about money. Maybe somebody else handles that part for her. Shut up. You know what’s crazy? I’ve been embarrassed because everybody thinks you’re poor.

Now I’m embarrassed because I don’t even know what you are. You really believe her over me? I’m looking at a picture, Mia. It’s a picture of me getting into a car after hugging and kissing a man twice your age. You don’t know what you’re talking about. Then give me one reason not to believe what I’m seeing.

 Maybe you’re supposed to believe your girlfriend. Not a photograph, not eyes, not Sophia, me. Give me one reason. That’s what I thought. Don’t come chasing after me today, Logan. No. You made me look stupid. I didn’t do anything. One day you’re going to regret this. What? You’re going to tell me he’s your father? You have no idea how stupid you sound right now.

 So, who is he? None of your business. You still haven’t broken up with Mia? No. Why not? She was interesting at first. Now she’s boring. Sophia, what? You free this afternoon? Why? Come with me. What about Mia? She doesn’t need to know. Logan, [panting]

 you said you were busy today. I am with her. Don’t start. I’m asking a question. I don’t need your permission. I’m your girlfriend and you are terrible. Thank you. If you’re that tired of Mia, why haven’t you dumped her? Because she’s easy. Easy. Easy to control. I cancel plans.

She waits. I don’t text back. She starts wondering what she did wrong. I get cold with her and she tries even harder to love me. So, you keep her around because it’s convenient. Exactly. You are worse than I thought. Don’t sit there acting like you’re better than me. I never pretended I was.

 She’s apologizing to you. Told you I don’t even have to do anything. Mia always comes back. Miss Carr. Nobody says anything. Yes, M. Mia. Much better. Would you like us to prepare the VIP room? No. Close the store?

 Definitely not. I just want to look around for a minute. Pick whatever you like, sweetheart. I plan to. Oh no. What are you doing? Just go with me. Your father said one dress. You said I could get whatever I wanted. I said you could look at whatever you wanted. Miss, you can leave the delivery right here.

 Mia, don’t tell me you work deliveries here now. I’m just doing my job. Wait, so it’s true? School during the day, deliveries in the afternoon. Is this the girl you told me about? the janitor’s daughter. Well, at least she’s working. So, pick it up yourself. Excuse me? My daughter told you to pick it up.

 Your daughter doesn’t work here. Neither do I. You know what? This is probably the only way somebody like you ever gets inside a store like this. Through the employee entrance. Mrs. Diane, is there something I can help you with? Yes. Why is a delivery worker standing in the middle of the sales floor talking to customers? Miss Harris, you know I work for Carter Global, right? I know exactly who you are.

Good. Then you know I can make one phone call if I don’t like how one of our stores is being managed. I want to try this on. Oops. Pick it up. You dropped it. And so pick it up yourself. Excuse me? My daughter told you to pick it up. Your daughter doesn’t work here. Neither do I. You were literally carrying a delivery bag. Not anymore.

 Young lady, somebody should have taught you something a long time ago. There are people who give orders and people who take them. Learn which one you are. I think I understand exactly who taught Sophia to talk to people like that. What did you say? You heard me. You don’t speak to me that way.

 Then don’t speak to me that way either. Don’t disrespect my mom. I’m leaving. I’m not finished talking to you. Let go of me. Don’t ever do that again. Don’t disrespect my mother. Enough. Enough. I want her removed from the store and banned from every Carter property in this district.

 Do you understand me? I understand what you’re asking. See, that’s what happens when you don’t know your place. I’m done here. I’m calling your father. No, they put their hands on you. If they apologize because they find out who my father is, then the apology means nothing. Give them the same service you’d give any other customer.

 And don’t tell them who I am. All right. For what it’s worth, you handled that with more restraint than most people would have. I’m trying to find out who people are, not become like them. Miss Harris, Mr. Carter, I’m sorry to call you directly. Is Mia all right? She says she is. What happened? Your daughter came into Verity this afternoon.

She asked us not to reveal who she was. Sophia came in shopping with her mother. They believe Mia was a delivery worker. They humiliated her. Then Sophia shoved her. Her mother grabbed Mia and joined in. Her mother, Diane? She works for Carter Global. She works for us. Assistant regional retail operations manager.

 I’ve never heard of her. She’s several management levels below your office. She also used the Carter Global name to threat me when she didn’t like how I was handling the store. Did Mia ask you to call me? No, she specifically asked me not to. Of course she did. I know I’m going against what she asked.

But she was physically attacked in one of our stores by one of our own managers. I couldn’t pretend that didn’t happen. You did the right thing. Write down exactly what happened. Have the employees who witnessed it do the same. Yes, sir. Send the statements to human resources and corporate compliance.

 Understood. And tell them I want Dian’s management history reviewed. Yes, sir. It’s Miss Harris. Sir, don’t tell Mia you called me. She wants to finish this her way. I understand. Get human resources for me. What do you want? I came to apologize.

 For which part? the picture, the way I talked to you. I was angry. You humiliated me in front of everyone. I know. And you believed Sophia before you believed me. I shouldn’t have. I don’t care who that guy was. I shouldn’t have made you prove anything to me. Then why have you been treating me like you hate me? I don’t hate you.

I love you. You mean that? Yeah. I love you, Maya. I’ll see you tomorrow. Tomorrow. that I had money. Remember the man in the black SUV? The man you humiliated me over? The man you joked was old enough to be

my father. He is my father. You never asked me what was true. You decided what kind of girl I was because you thought I had nothing. Mia, I’m sorry. I swear I didn’t know. You already said that. I made a mistake. A huge mistake. You kicked me. You watched me lying on the ground.

 And the only thing you cared about was dirt on your shoes. Mia, please. If I was still riding that old bike, if I was still wearing the clothes you were ashamed of, would you be on your knees right now? That’s what I thought. Mia, you didn’t love Mia. You loved what you just found out Mia has. No, that’s not true. Get up, Logan.

 You’re going to get those $3,000 shoes dirty. Mia, [screaming] Mr. Carter is waiting for you. How would you like us to handle Sophia and Logan? Don’t use my father’s money against them. I don’t want them punished because they disrespected a billionaire’s daughter. I want them to face consequences for what they actually did.

 Understood. This was not a misunderstanding. It was a pattern. Effective immediately, you are no longer captain of the cheer squad. You are also suspended in accordance with school policy. All because she’s Mia Carter. No, because of what you did when you thought she wasn’t Mia Carter. The bike again.

 I like my bike. Start at the end of the hallway. When you thought she was poor, you were embarrassed to stand next to her. Now she’s a billionaire’s daughter and suddenly you want her back. At least I didn’t stomp on a necklace worth almost half a million dollars. And you kicked her.

 Don’t act like you’re better than me. You’re just greedier. Mr. Carter, I was told you wanted to see me. Do you know why you’re here? No, sir. Miss Harris called me after an incident at Verity. Miss Harris? She told me you grabbed a young woman inside the store. That girl was disrespectful to my daughter. She was some delivery girl.

I didn’t know. That’s exactly the problem. Do you know who that girl was? No. My daughter. your daughter, Mr. Carter, I swear I didn’t know. I know. MIA didn’t tell me what happened. Then how did you know? Miss Harris called me after MIA left the store. MIA had asked her not to. After that call, I had Mr.

 Bennett look into your record. This wasn’t the first complaint about the way you treated people beneath you. You used your position to intimidate employees. You threatened people with the Carter Global name. Mr. Carter, I can explain. You already did at the store. You thought MIA was poor.

 You thought she was a delivery worker. You thought her mother cleaned floors. And that’s when you decided she didn’t deserve basic respect. Please, I need this job. My daughter didn’t ask me to punish you. She never asked me to do anything to you. You’re not losing your job because you mistreated my daughter.

 You’re losing it because of how you treat people when you believe they have no power. Sir, you’re fired. All because she’s your daughter. No, because of what you did when you thought she wasn’t. Mr. Bennett You got to let go.

I can have that replaced. Don’t. I like that one. you okay? I am now. I heard about Logan and Sophia and her mother. You fired her? I did because of me. No. because of who she was when she thought you were nobody. You never asked me to do anything. I didn’t want you fighting my battles for me.

 I know. That’s why I didn’t. So, did you get your answer? But it can reveal who only respects power. I thought pretending to be poor would help me find good people. Instead, it showed me the bad ones faster. That’s one way to learn. I’m done pretending. Good, because I still hate those shoes.

 They’re staying. Of course they are. I used to think I had to hide what I had to find out who people really were. But people always show you who they are. You just have to believe them when they do.