I created Robin for a micro-fiction story competition and he has been a character that has lived in my mind since I created him.
In the summer of 2025, I felt very jaded by the world and how all the CEO and companies were rising up, and the workers were left behind. So, I set my modern-day Robin Hood out to make it right.
Enjoy my modern Robin Hood-like thriller short story as a single man tries to bring power to the people
Robbin’ by Jarrett S. Smith
He took everything from me
Robin reread the message, and placed a forceful hand on his leg, trying to keep it from nervously bouncing. He looked up from the phone and around the spacious waiting room. The sound from the nearby water feature helped keep his anxiety in check.
The water streamed down from just a foot or two below the ceiling on the far wall. It flowed down and around the textured rocks that jutted out. As he examined it, he thought about how much money had been wasted here.
Robin had to look away. Too many people depended on him to play the part; he needed to be focused.
The task seemed easy enough. He just had to get Brody to accept a deal to buy the fake company his crew had created so that they could get inside his account.
Robin turned his attention to the blurred figure behind the frosted glass double doors. There wasn’t much to see, apart from a man sitting at his desk.
One woman sat behind the desk just to the right of the doors. She slumped over, while she worked on her computer. Her phone beeped. She took a deep breath before lifting the receiver to her ear.
She didn’t say a word for a moment before whispering, “Okay,” and then returning the receiver to the cradle. The woman stood, forced a smile, and strode over toward the waiting area, where Robin had focused his attention on his phone. He quickly shot off a message to Sherwin, Going in.
“Mr. Costner, thank you for waiting. Mr. Brody is ready for you,” the young woman said. Her brown eyes looked at him, pleading for kindness.
He smiled as he stood. His phone buzzed with a message from Sherwin, Don’t mess it up.
Robin tapped his phone screen a few times, starting a recording, before he returned his phone to his pocket. “Excellent,” he said. “Thank you…”
She straightened her back and flashed a true smile. “Elaine,” she answered before turning toward the door.
He couldn’t imagine many of the people who came through here treated her as anything more than a feature of the room. Robin returned the smile and gestured for her to lead the way.
Once she turned, he closed his eyes and tried to take a calming breath. He swallowed, hoping that the lump in his throat would go with it. It didn’t. The hopes of all the people who depended on this meeting, who didn’t even realize it, threatened to choke him.
Elaine pushed the frosted glass doors open. Benson Brody sat at his desk typing away on his computer, acting as if he were too busy even to look up. “Mr. Brody, Robin Costner to see you,” she said.
Brody looked sharp. His dark hair had been perfectly coiffed back and to the side, still retaining some bounce. His black suit looked more expensive than anything else in the room, while a crimson tie drew Robin’s attention.
Robin entered the room, thanking her as he walked past.
She lingered a moment longer as if she wanted to say more, but she simply whispered “thank you” as she exited.
Robin waited for Brody to acknowledge him, but the businessman never took his eyes off the screen. Power-hungry men like Brody loved to play these games. Robin had even expected it. He would play, or at least make it look like he was playing the game.
Instead of making for the chair across from him, he pivoted and walked to the wall. Robin clocked the Fairey painting on the other side of the office, right next to the Basquiat. That one wall alone could have paid a couple of warehouse workers’ salaries.
The other wall Robin inspected had various newspaper clippings blown up into wall art. One claimed Brody to be a genius and a future business tycoon, while another questioned his aspirations to one day run the country.
Robin had to clamp his jaw to keep from gagging at the self-aggrandizement.
But he also wanted to provoke the man at the desk. Robin reached up to the enlarged newspaper article, which featured a staged photo of Brody smiling. The headline above the picture read, The Next Great American President? He tilted the photo under the pretense of straightening it.
“Those are for admiring, not touching,” Brody said.
“You look very focused here,” Robin said. He ran his hand over his jacket, smoothing out all the lines. Then he spun around to face Brody.
Brody stood behind his desk now. His eyes moved from the article on the wall to Robin.
“Mr. Costner, have a seat,” Brody said.
Robin had to control his smile. “Thank you for meeting me.”
“Of course. Your email claimed it would be worth my while. After researching you and your company, I wanted to see the pitch,” Brody said. He glanced away from Robin, as if he had something more important to deal with. “Should we just cut to it then?”
Robin grinned. “Why waste time?”
Brody’s eyebrows furrowed as he said, “I don’t understand your deal.”
Robin chuckled and steepled his fingers. “It’s simple, really. Buying my company will help you consolidate your portfolio going into the election. No one else has been able to replicate our targeted sentiment-analysis algorithms. Plus, it would bring me into your executive team.”
“And why would I want you?”
“Honestly,” Robin sighed, opening his hands in resignation, “I can help you win the election. And we need you to win that election.” He motioned toward the article on the wall.
Brody’s face relaxed.
Robin took a quick calming breath. He couldn’t appear too eager. “I think with you in office, we could do better than anyone could imagine.”
“I think we could,” Brody nearly shouted.
“This country needs someone like you in command,” Robin said. Appealing to the ego of men like Brody opened them up a little more. “You have taken this company from nothing to the top in just a few years. I can only imagine what you would do as someone who could actually affect change.” He paused and moved his hand to his chin before continuing. “I just—I have to know. Can you tell me how your company managed to make so much money this year?”
Brody’s sleazy grin softened slightly. He leaned back in his chair and pressed his fingertips together. “It was all about reducing the workforce, honestly.”
Robin narrowed his eyes. “We’re already running a skeleton crew. There has to be something else. Some magic that only you could discover.”
Brody looked at the wall. He took a deep breath, as if weighing Robin’s worthiness. Yet, he said nothing.
Robin wanted to move to the edge of his seat, eager for Brody to divulge everything, but he stayed put.
Brody shook his head. “I’m telling you, it’s trimming the workforce. People are expensive.”
Robin shrugged. “I guess it’s just luck,” he said, testing how Brody would respond to criticism.
Brody shrugged but remained tight-lipped.
“I just don’t understand how you managed the logistics of it without the union stepping in.”
Brody squirmed. Then he leaned forward, as if someone else might hear him, even though they were alone. He raised his eyebrows and said, “We took over the union and then cut the work force to the bone.” He paused with pride. “You can always get rid of people. They cost too much—insurance, taxes, days off. Just get rid of them. They want a vacation, they can take one, but they aren’t coming back.”
Brody flashed a self-satisfied smirk.
Robin cocked an eyebrow. “You reduced your workforce, but your production increased?”
“We raised quotas,” he said. “The remaining workers are thankful they have a job and work even harder. We saved so much just letting those people go and motivating the rest.”
Robin gave his phone a gentle pat and thought about Daniel. It was his message that had started this entire crusade.
“Did you worry about what would happen to the ones you let go?” Robin asked.
“We gave them a severance,” Brody said. “I might have lost a few votes, but I’ll be fine.” He flashed a half-smile.
Robin’s fist clenched. He thought back to when he was little and his dad was handed a similar deal. Before then, his dad would leave before he woke up, and only sometimes come home before Robin would go to sleep. He would be too tired during that hour to play with Robin.
But he tried.
At the time, Robin felt like his father chose his job over his family every time. As he grew, Robin realized his dad worked so hard to provide for them. After his dad was let go, they ended up spending more time together, but everything else at home ran out.
He didn’t want that to happen to Daniel and his family.
“Workers are a dime a dozen,” Robin agreed.
“That’s more than I pay them,” Brody snickered.
“So, we have a deal?” Robin asked.
Brody’s smile faded like a stock ticker dropping to the red. “I don’t see any value in this deal.”
Robin’s body tightened.
“The value?” Robin asked. He leaned toward Brody’s desk. “This is a hell of a deal. A profitable acquisition and access to our tech.”
Brody shook his head. “Or I could just wait for you to run out of money and then buy your entire operations for pennies. If you are coming to me with this deal, you must be hemorrhaging money.”
Robin tried to relax. This deal wasn’t dead yet.
“I hadn’t heard of you or Expenditures Inc. until you requested this meeting. So, I’m a little suspicious of this entire thing. Your tech intrigued me, but since I haven’t heard anything about it before, it must not be that good.” He fixed Robin with a glare.
“You’re right,” Robin said. He dropped his gaze to his shoes. “I don’t like the limelight. And you have every right to decline the deal. You know, Slater didn’t believe in our tech either—but he made a deal. We got him elected.” He stood to leave.
Brody blinked. “Slater?”
Robin shrugged. “Thomas Slater, the Senator.”
Robin looked to Brody for any signs of hope, but Brody had turned his attention back to his computer screen and paid Robin no mind. Robin moved toward the exit.
“What does he have to do with anything?” Brody asked without looking up.
Robin turned back and sighed. “Well, I got him elected. Although he didn’t follow through on our agreement.”
“How did you help?”
“That’s my little secret, but my company’s tech systems are pretty connected. It helped build a groundswell online. Full-court media push across all the relevant social media channels, late-night TV, access to high-profile content creators.”
“He won in a landslide.”
“Because of us,” Robin said. “And he never mentioned what my company could do, which was part of the deal. I can just imagine what you’d do with the tech after you got elected.” Robin flashed Brody a solemn smile. “Hopefully, all those workers you let go don’t rally against you.”
Brody didn’t respond. Instead, he pivoted back to the screen.
“You know Slater. Get a hold of him if you need a reference,” Robin called out. The lump in his throat returned. Sweat broke out on his brow as he continued to the door.
He exited without looking back. As he passed the reception area, he forced a smile, something he rarely did.
Elaine tilted her head in response.
His brain scrambled, trying to think of any other way he could get into Brody’s account. Without that connection, they couldn’t do anything.
He once again thought of his father, and the depression that had followed his firing. The company had gone on to brag about record-setting numbers, but had cut ten percent of its workforce. Its CEO had received a twenty percent pay raise for cutting costs. At first, it had made him sick, but now, it made him driven.
He could hardly keep his head up as he moved toward the elevator.
Once inside the elevator, he pushed the lobby button and looked to Elaine. She had the phone pressed to her ear, but she focused on him.
As the doors closed, she called to him. “Mr. Costner? Mr. Brody asks if you could return to his office. He said he’d like to discuss further.”
Robin’s forced smile evolved into something real. With a little spring in his step, he exited the elevator and crossed the lobby.
His heart raced, but he tried to remain as calm as possible. His mind swirled with scenarios; he knew one wrong move could land him in jail.
As he reentered the office, Brody stood, a half smile on his face. “I called Slater,” Brody said.
Robin froze. A dark feeling in his stomach joined the lump in his throat. He hadn’t expected Brody to reach out to Slater, someone Robin had never really met before. If he needed to retreat, it would only be three steps to exit the office door, but he would never make it down the stairs. He glanced around the room, checking for any signs of his ruse coming to light.
“You can help me like you helped him?” Brody’s voice cracked with desperation.
Robin couldn’t stop his smile. He took a deep breath. “Only if you do your part.”
Brody’s face tightened. He shook his head before asking, “How do I know this will work?”
Robin waited and then shrugged. “You don’t. Your polling isn’t showing you where you think you should be. The layoffs have affected your perception. What do you have to lose?”
“Those simpletons will never vote for me,” Brody admitted.
“I think those simpletons will be excited by your next move. We just have to spin it in the right way. That’s where my people come in.”
Brody looked at the computer screen and then at Robin.
Robin had to force his lungs to breathe normally. He tried to will Brody to make the deal.
Brody bent down to key in something at his computer. Robin flinched, unsure if Brody was making the deal or alerting security.
Brody looked between Robin and the screen, then to the keyboard. Finally, he straightened up and regarded Robin. “I’m having my CFO initiate the deal.” His expression sharpened as he turned back to Robin. “You better not be swindling me.”
“What would I have to gain?” Robin countered, remaining cool even though he wanted to run.
Brody relaxed. He beamed with excitement. Robin matched his joy before glancing toward the door. His mission here was complete. Now, he needed to get out.
“Excellent,” Robin said. He raised a clenched fist.
“What do we do first?” Brody asked.
“Schedule a press conference for next week,” Robin said. “I’ll check with my team about what we’re going to say. But for now, keep going about your business as usual.”
“Without a plan?” Brody asked, the eagerness dripping off him. His eyes blazed with hunger.
Robin’s phone buzzed. He lifted a finger towards Brody and relished making him wait. “If my people say the deal has gone through, they’ll get started immediately.” The notification on his phone read: Done. Get out.
“That’s them. I’m going straight there to prep,” Robin said as he replaced the phone in his pocket. He reached out for Brody’s hand, but Brody didn’t notice. He looked lost in a daydream.
“Should we celebrate?” Brody asked.
“We should,” Robin said, but he didn’t stop moving toward the door. It wouldn’t take long for Sherwin to get all the money out of the account. “I’ll give you a call once I prep the team.”
Robin froze at the door. He felt compelled to say something else. “Thank you. Truly. You won’t believe what’s next.”
Instead of heading for the elevator, Robin stopped by Elaine’s desk. She looked up at him with a warm smile.
“You are due much more than what you are getting,” he said. “Things will get better.”
He widened his smile and then turned to leave.
The elevator doors opened, and he skipped in. He pushed the button and grinned. He took a moment to bathe in his success, but kept it small since he hadn’t escaped enemy territory yet.
Once the elevator began to descend, he reached for his phone. While his main goal had been the money, the sound bites he collected from Brody’s office would help dismantle any hopes Brody had of winning his race.
After the elevator moved a few floors, Robin pressed the button to the floor above the lobby. As he waited, he glanced upward, remembering the details of his escape plan. It wouldn’t take long for Brody to realize that his millions of dollars had vanished. Going straight to the exit would be the play, but he didn’t want to risk the guards waiting for him when the elevator doors opened.
The doors opened to the mezzanine. Three people waited for Robin to exit the elevator before they entered. He smiled at each one as they passed.
Robin moved to the railing overlooking the lobby. He watched as everyone milled about or headed for their next stop. It was the rare place in the building where the workers and the rich orbited each other.
Near the front door, he noticed a rustling. Two guards hustled down the long stretch of the lobby toward the elevator. Brody must have seen what happened. Robin would have to get out quickly before everyone in the building went on high alert.
Robin stepped back from the railing so as not to be seen and moved toward the stairs. As he marched toward the front door, he worked on controlling his breathing. The more nonchalant he could appear, the better.
As he neared the exit, a guard held a finger to his ear and then scanned the area.
Robin held his breath as he walked. The guard near the door examined everyone as they walked by. Robin continued on, as there was no other way out.
As he breached the threshold to exit, the guard at the door stretched his hand out, blocking Robin. Robin regarded the guard with a raised eyebrow. He feared that his heart would beat so loud it would give him away.
“Everything okay?” Robin asked. “I heard there was some kind of commotion.” Robin turned back to examine the lobby.
“Do you work here?” the guard asked, his eyes scrutinizing Robin from top to bottom.
“Uh, no,” Robin admitted. “I was just having lunch with someone up in the mezzanine.” Robin pointed his thumb toward the ceiling.
The guard turned his attention to the screen on his podium. “What’s this friend’s name?”
“Jessica,” Robin said, willing his cheeks to turn red, “Jessica Rollins.” Robin leaned in toward the guard, again hoping that the pounding in his chest wouldn’t be noticeable. “I think she really likes me.”
The guard chuckled and nodded. “So, I guess I’ll be seeing more of you in the future, then?”
“I think that ball is in Jess’s court,” Robin said with a smile.
The guard waved Robin through with a pat on the back.
The cool, dirty air of the downtown area greeted him as he exited the massive building. He picked up his pace as he nearly sprinted around the corner. He removed his tie, throwing it away in the nearest trashcan without missing a step. His coat came next, which he draped over a man sleeping on the stairs of another skyscraper.
As Robin rounded the corner, his phone rang. Sherwin’s face winked at him on the call screen. He answered, “Tell me something good, Sherwin.”
“Well, I saved your ass for one thing,” Sherwin said. “I figured you’d do something off-script like that, so I’m glad I had set the computer to reroute his phone.”
“Ah, I should have known,” Robin said. He chuckled to himself. “Based on the security I saw running towards his office, we got at least some of it?”
“We got it all. Moved it around like a shell game. He’ll never find it.”
“Excellent,” Robin breathed a sigh of relief. “And the funds won’t be traceable once they get to the workers?”
“Nope. The workers won’t even know anything apart from that someone is reaching out to help them.”
“Amazing,” he said. “Once I get back to base, I have some audio to upload and send out. I’m sure the press would like to hear some of this. Did you get into his computer as well?”
“Yeah, I got in before you reached the office. And good thing too. I was able to reroute his call to Slater to here.”
“Ah, thanks for that,” Robin said. “We found anything yet?”
“Haven’t had enough time yet, but I will. His security is worse than my grandma’s. This guy isn’t as clever as he thinks.”
“No, he’s not. Let’s just find what we need and share it with the world, quick. I’m sure they will have someone inspecting the computers already.”
“They’ll never find me,” Sherwin said.
“True, but I’d rather not have things lingering. We need to stop him ASAP. Hopefully, the audio we release will keep him too busy to worry about the money for long.”
“Not enough to take all the money? You have to ruin him, too?”
“Just trying to reduce the workforce,” Robin said. “Once the workers have all the power, hopefully they terminate his employment.”
Sherwin laughed. “Power to the people,” he said.
Robin ended the call and continued down the street with a smile.
Further Reading
If you enjoyed this short story, make sure you check out Robin’s first appearance.
Also, make sure to stop by my library to find your next great short story or novella.
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