Contrary to his assumption, I had earned the money on this trip. While I’m willing to attend Dempsey’s tournament, I’m not stupid enough to try to fleece him with illicit money. So I’d stopped at casinos every night and built my nest egg. Granted, with all the jobs and cons Matt and I have pulled, we had enough money available to pay the fee and deck me out like any spoiled rich kid. However, every dollar had been linked to a use of my gift.
“Matt, not a single penny of what I currently have was the fruit of an illicit act.”
“What about transformed goodies?”
A rough chuckle seeped through my lips as I continued pacing the length of the hotel room. I wouldn’t have begrudged Matt the question if I hadn’t just precluded it. Technically, I hadn’t been explicit, but I considered those things to fall into the same bucket as an illegal act. Technically, the only thing that had to be real was my entrance fee. If there was anything wrong with my funds, Matt wouldn’t get the chance to tell me I told you so.
Everything else was fair game to supplement with my gift, but where’s the fun in that? Besides, it gave me a chance to hone my skills. And with all that work, I had earned enough cash to complete the ensemble, everything from the suit to the suitcase for my entrance fee and everything in between. I sauntered over to the closet and ran my fingers under the suit’s lapel. “Aside from the funds used to start the nest egg, everything I have now is nice and clean, including the handmade silk suit that I’ll be wearing.”
“Silk?”
I pushed the charcoal gray suit aside and pulled out the shirt. “It was worth the money, not to mention the time required to have it made. Same with the shirt. Silk is a luxurious fabric.”
“How fancy do you plan on getting?”
“Just the shirt and suit,” I said, as I rehung the shirt in the closet. “I have other important accessories like a fancy set of cufflinks, a fancy watch, and a truly expensive pair of leather shoes.”
“Aren’t you going a little overboard?”
I tapped the shoes resting on the shelf and shook my head. “As a spoiled rich kid, there’s a certain image I need to maintain.”
“Does that include your car?”
With a broad grin, I sauntered over to the nightstand and grabbed the keys as a soft, warm chuckle filled my suite. “That was an odd experience.”
“What?”
I tossed the keys into the air and caught them as they fell. “I’m pretty sure this is the first car that I’ve actually ever legally purchased.”
Matt’s laughter mingled with mine as I tossed the key onto the second bed.
“That fact is as equally interesting as it is disturbing.”
“Isn’t it?” I pressed the phone to my shoulder with my head as I pulled my wallet out of my back pocket. I cracked it open and thumbed through the contents. “Given my role, I needed to get used to their behavior.”
“Wait a second. What are you talking about?”
“The role I’ve slipped into requires me to hand out money like water. Since that’s not something I normally do, I needed some practice, hence the car.”
Another round of laughter drifted through the phone as my fingers continued to search through the money and scraps of paper in my swollen wallet.
“What’s so funny?” I asked as I withdrew what I’d been searching for.
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