Chapter 5

• RICHARD
• "The payment went through," Jake said half to himself in a tone of disbelief as he looked around the room.
• Gasps, and murmurs echoed around the room. Grinning from ear to ear, I reflected that I would gladly have given a million dollars more just to continue seeing the look on James's face as he stared at the screen.
• "What?" he shouted. "How is this possible? Is this some kind of sick joke?" He dragged his gaze from the machine to me, and then to the salesman. I smiled, watched him wrestled with himself as he sought for an explanation to what just happened. "The machine. It is faulty. It has to be. Check, confirm if he actually paid that amount in. In fact, I want to check it myself," he ordered.
• Jake nodded, turned his computer so that it faced James before he refreshed the page for payment. There, right on top of the other deposits made that day, was my name in bold, right next to the amount I had paid- one million dollars. James stared and stared at the screen. Abruptly, he spun around and pointed an accusing finger at me, his face contorted with rage.
• "So you're not just a pauper, but a thief," he raved. "How the hell did you manage to steal that kind of money? I'll report you to the cops and make sure that you rot in jail for this."
• "Jail for what? For buying a condo? For winning a bet?"
• "For stealing, damn you! That's the only way you could have been able to afford this." James paused, looked around the room and recalled that we had an audience, most of whom were eyeing him with distrust, and me with respect. James sensed this too, because he addressed the audience. "Listen to me, all of you. I know this man. I know him very well. In fact I know where he lived or should I say, used to live. He married into a wealthy family, but couldn't scrape up enough cash to get him and his wife a decent apartment. So he's been living at his in-laws house and guess what? His wife just kicked his sorry, broke ass out of the house. Good riddance if you ask me. Tell me, people, how does such a man get a million dollars to pay for a condo? Is that even possible? The only explanation is that he's a crook, a thief who has gotten hold of someone's hard earned-"
• "The only explanation for the nonsense you are spouting is that you are a coward who can't accept defeat."
• He took a threatening step towards me. "Don't you dare call me a coward."
• "And if I do? What are you going to do about it?" I pointed to the floor. "Before you get kicked out, kneel at my feet and let's get this over with."
• "Me? Kneel? Never!"
• "The bet-"
• "Screw the bet," he bellowed. "Explain how you got the money."
• "It's none of your damn business... coward."
• James went purple with rage and raised his fist just as someone said, "What on earth is going on here? What's all the ruckus about?"
• We all turned to see a big, heavily mustached man striding purposefully into the lobby. At the sight of him, the workers quickly dispersed.
• "Mr Hayes. Thank goodness you're here," James breathed. "You remember me, don't you? I'm James. I've done business with your firm before."
• "Of course, Mr James." Hayes nodded and gave James a distracted smile.
• I stirred. "You are the manager here, I take it."
• Hayes inclined his head. "Yes. What is the problem?"
• "Well, I placed a bet with James here. The terms were simple. If I was able to purchase your most expensive condo, he would get kicked out of this place and go down on his knees and grovel. The same thing would happen to me if I lost. Turns out I won the bet. I just paid a million dollars for the condo but James has refused to fulfill the conditions of the bet."
• "That's because he's a pauper, a thief, a-"
• Hayes silenced James with a wave of his hand. He turned his cold, blue eyes on Jake who had paled considerably. The blonde guy was nowhere in sight.
• "Is what this gentleman says true?" the manager asked.
• Jake's head bobbed up and down. "Yes, sir."
• Hayes thought for a moment. "I'm afraid, Mr James, that you will have to fulfill the conditions of the bet."
• The blood drained from James's face as he gawked at the manager.
• "You can't be serious," he murmured.
• "Oh, but I am, sir. A promise is a promise."
• "Nonsense! If any of you think for a moment that I'm going to grovel at this beggar's feet, then you all have lost your minds."
• "Have it your way, then." Hayes pressed a number on the telephone, placed the receiver on his ear. "Security. Get in here at once."
• James' eyes widened in disbelief. "You called security on me?"
• "Only because you reneged on your bet, sir."
• James picked up his briefcase, headed for the exit. Two security guards appeared before he could make it half way.
• "Grab him. Bring him here and force him to grovel at this man's feet," ordered the manager.
• As one, the guards grabbed him, dragged him to me and forced him onto his knees. They held him there, ignoring his shouts of protest and his struggles.
• "How does it feel down there, James?" I asked him.
• He let loose a string of profanities that had the manager coloring up in embarrassment. I laughed long and hard.
• "What do you want us to do with him now, sir?" Hayes asked me.
• "Throw him out," I replied.
• "Very well, sir."
• He nodded at the guards who yanked James up and away while he screamed and cursed. As the doors closed behind him, the screen appeared before my eyes but I was the only one who could see it.
• [ TASK COMPLETED. YOU HAVE RECEIVED ONE ULTRA POINT]